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Bourbon & Whiskey News Highlights. This note contains a collection of article links from April. The articles are grouped by industry, distillery, awards, festivals, and bottle releases. https://lnkd.in/ghNP_cb4

The Campbeltown region. 🥃 It’s tiny. In fact, it’s the smallest of the 5 Scotch whisky producing regions, but once a thriving hub of Scotch whisky production. Where is Campbeltown? The Campbeltown region is located by the Campbeltown Loch on the remote Kintyre peninsula of western Scotland. How many distilleries belong in the Campbeltown region? Three. Sorry, three? 😲 Yes, you read that correctly. They are Springbank Distillers Ltd, Glen Scotia and Glengyle Distillery. Why is the Campbeltown region so small? It once was a thriving region of whisky production with more than 30 distilleries in the area. However, the effects of WW1 and WW2 as well as the American prohibition took its toll on the region and distilleries struggled to continue. For many years, the region’s distilleries amounted to just two – Glen Scotia and Springbank - but in November 2000 Glengyle (which had originally closed in 1925) re-opened its doors, producing whisky under the name of Kilkerrin. Are any other distilleries set to open? Yes, Witchburn Distillery, Dal Riata Distillery, and The Machrihanish Distillery are set to open in the coming years. Does Campbeltown whisky have a particular flavour profile? Not really. It produces whisky that encompasses many different flavour profiles from fruit to spice and even a bit of smokiness. Can I visit? Definitely. In fact, it’s a great region to visit. A visit to one of the distilleries is like stepping back in time 150 years, as little has changed in terms of production methods since then. In fact, Springbank even has a malting floor, which is a very rare thing these days. Any festivals I should know about? Yes, every year in May the town hosts the Campbeltown Malts Festival where the distilleries, and Wm Cadenhead Ltd (Scotland’s oldest independent bottler) throw open their doors for tours, masterclasses, live music and special bottlings. Are you a fan of Campbeltown whisky? Have you visited before? Let me know in the comments. 💫 FOLLOW me for more whisky-related insights. 🔗 CONNECT with me if you are interested in content for your business, brand or website. #whisky #scotchwhisky #scotland

 A good case study for trends in  #customerexperience and  #retaildesign where you come to a branded space NOT to do shopping; you come to meet each other, intimately,    #chivasbrothers #brandstorytelling #scotchwhisky

WHAT IT MEANS TO WIN AT THE London Competitions? North Uist Distillery | Certified B-Corp that won the 2023 London Spirits Competition with its award-winning Downpour Gin from Scotland share a few insights with our team. Downpour Scottish Dry Gin, from the North Uist Distillery Company in the Outer Hebrides of Scotland, was the highest scoring spirits brand with 98 points in the 2023 London Spirits Competition. Here’s what it meant to the distillery owners Kate MacDonald and Jonny Ingledew: “Being a gold medal winner at the London Spirits Competition has had a significant impact on our sales. One of our business goals for the year was to gain more traction in the on-trade. Recognition from London Spirits Competition has acted as a seal of approval in this respect as the competition is judged by some of the world’s leading figures from the hospitality sector. Not only this, judging is undertaken with the end consumer in mind, so you know the judges can genuinely see a space for your products.” “Often it is difficult to identify a tangible link between awards success and specific listings, however, I can point to several new partnerships as a direct result of our London Spirits Competition medals. This includes a listing with a high-end UK-wide department store whose buyer was on the judging panel. This also includes the opening up of a new export market after we were approached by an importer who had seen coverage of our success.” “This is no coincidence. The LSC team did a superb job of promoting the competition and providing a platform for the medal winners. We have won top medals in other competitions and it was a flash in the pan, whereas LSC has sustained the coverage throughout the year. We really appreciate it – thank you!” #brandsuccess #globalrecognition #brandstory North Uist Distillery | Certified B-Corp | Kate MacDonald | Jonny Ingledew The Deadline for entry to the London Competitions is February 22.⌛️ Enter while you still have time: https://lnkd.in/dRVxt6b PS: Image proudly showing LSC sticker on top of the bottle. 😍

Whisky Defined- Three Whisky Competitions, One Global Whisky Champion.    We are introducing the Global Whisky Challenge, the world's first whisky competition to evaluate whiskies made within three geographical regions. The Global Whisky Challenge will define excellence in whiskies worldwide. The 2024 competition is now accepting entries.   Wine Country Network, Inc., the premier producer of professional beverage competitions in the USA, organizes the GWC. They are most famous for the Denver International Spirits Competition and the North American Bourbon and Whiskey Competition.    The Global Whisky Challenge aims to define excellence in whisky production worldwide and permit distillers of all sizes from all locations to compete globally. The judging is focused entirely just on whisky/whiskey. No Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, or Brandy will be accepted.    2024 Global Whisky Challenge Competitions: •UK (Scotland, Britain, and Ireland) and Europe Made Whisky-April 2024 •Japan, Asia, and Oceana Made Whisky-May 2024 •North American Made Whiskey-June 2024   Our senior judges will taste the top winners from each competition again. They will select the 2024 Global Whisky Champion.  #scotchwhisky #bourbon #singlemalt GLOBALWHISKYCHALLENGE.COM            

How San Francisco Became the World's Most Important Whisky Competition San Francisco's whisky competition has become a global leader in the industry. 🥃 - 🌉 Established reputation in the spirits industry - 🏆 Rigorous judging standards and esteemed panel - 🌎 International participation and recognition - 🍀 Diverse range of entries from around the world - 🌱 Focus on innovation and quality #WhiskyLovers #SanFrancisco #SpiritsIndustry 🔍 **Additional Insights:** - 💡 San Francisco's whisky competition draws entries from top distilleries worldwide. - 🌟 The competition's credibility is built on its meticulous evaluation process. - 🌐 Winners often gain international acclaim, boosting their brand recognition. - 🍀 This event celebrates both traditional and emerging whisky brands. - 🎉 The competition promotes industry growth and excellence in whisky making. How San Francisco Became The World's Most Important Whisky Competition https://lnkd.in/gK2rQHJD

There's some incredibly exciting whiskies being produced right now. Across the world but also in newer Scottish locations. Anyone who has ever talked whisky with me knows my love for Ardnamurchan Distillery (Adelphi Distillery ltd), which gets a nod in this wonderful article. But alongside them, there's mention of Isle of Harris Distillers Ltd. (I opened my bottle of The Hearach last night and it was a knockout), Isle of Raasay Distillery, which has a cask policy for the geeks, and Torabhaig Distillery too, which is due some new releases this year to follow up from its amazing launch liquids. The list continues to grow. But what struck me as being fascinating is how any new distillery now is able to do two things the older and more established can't. 1 - they can build a sustainable distillery from the ground up. No retrofitting and having to work around old equipment. Obviously, this is a big thing for the whole world, not just whisky. 2 - they can start with stills that offer variety and innovation from the start. There is romance to the old stills that have been labouring for decades but the excitement of having something shiny and new that can produce so many styles of new make - that's special. It's still early days but it just goes to show how much more important new make spirit is now compared to just a few years ago. These younger distilleries want it to shine through. And that can only be a good thing for drinkers looking for their next favourite expression. https://lnkd.in/e7VE-ZYH

🎥 Step inside one of our cherished distilleries and witness the magic of whisky-making firsthand! 🥃✨ Tag a friend who loves whisky! Comment below if you know the distillery or tag a friend and put them to the test! 😉 #WhiskyMaking #BehindTheScenes #whiskylover #Scotch #Whiskycasks #WhiskySolutions

## Artisanal or Alarming? The Hidden Dangers in Craft Gin Production 🍸🚫 I recently stumbled upon a video that left me shaken, not stirred 😱 - and not in a good way! It showed someone hand-shaking gin before bottling. While it might look quaint and artisanal, it raises some serious red flags 🚩 **Safety Concerns vs. Public Perception:** - 🦠 Potential contamination risks - 👏 Yet, consumers often praise these "handcrafted" methods - 🏆 Some of these products even win awards in competitions! **The Blind Spot in Blind Tastings:** Judges in blind tastings can't "see" these questionable techniques 🙈 They focus on: - 👃 Aroma - 👅 Taste - 🎨 Appearance But what about the unseen dangers? 🕵️♀️ **HACCP and Regulatory Concerns:** - ❌ Likely non-compliant with HACCP standards - 🏭 Violates good manufacturing practices - 🧼 Lacks proper sanitation controls **The Bigger Picture:** It's concerning that products made without proper health controls are not only sold but celebrated 😕 This raises questions about: - 🏅 The criteria used in spirits competitions - 👨🍳 The romanticization of "artisanal" techniques - 🧑🔬 The need for better consumer education on food safety While we all love a good craft spirit, shouldn't we prioritize safety over spectacle? 🤔 Let's appreciate the art of distilling without compromising on health standards! What do you think? Is the charm of "handcrafted" worth the risk? Share your thoughts below! 💬👇

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