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Tag: whiskey

  • Shinsegae and Lotte to compete in wine and whisky market

    Shinsegae and Lotte to compete in wine and whisky market

    South Korea’s top two retailers — Shinsegae Group and Lotte Group — are going beyond retail to jump into the whisky and wine markets, which have been seeing rapid growth since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Lotte Chilsung Beverage Co. announced in a report released early this year that it will expand its production of whisky, recruiting employees and signing contracts with whisky experts from Scotland to set up a whisky brewery.

    The company reportedly plans to build a brewery on one of the parcels of land that it currently owns. Construction is expected to begin next year at the earliest.

    Shinsegae L&B Ltd. also plans to put a start to the whisky business as it is now recruiting experienced employees, with a goal of setting up breweries of its own.

    Both companies are expected to compete in the wine market as well. Shinsegae Group purchased 299.6 billion won (US$243 million) of real estate in relation to the Shafer Vineyard in the U.S. last February.

    Its subsidiary, Shinsegae L&B, plans to take the offensive by expanding the number of its Wine and More stores and introducing new series of wines including those from the Shafer Vineyard.

    Lotte Chilsung Beverage continues to broaden its presence in the wine market by importing and selling a wider variety of wines, generating 83.2 billion won in wine sales last year, up by 34.4 percent from the previous year.

    The company reportedly received acquisition proposals from a number of winery companies interested in selling their products.

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  • Boutique Tasmanian distillery Battery Point releases first whisky

    Boutique Tasmanian distillery Battery Point releases first whisky

    For head distiller Jack Lark Whisky distilling runs in the blood but it’s the Battery Point Distillery teams’ patience, creativity and vision that he believes sets them apart, “We’re a small team and so we’re not rushing to get things out. Everything is by-hand and we refuse to cut corners – we will only release the best quality barrels and the best quality spirits.”

    Achieving this, however, has not been left to chance, “With whisky you aren’t reinventing the wheel – it’s still all made with the same three ingredients, but we really took our time over selecting the best of those ingredients.” Made using a specifically selected premium Tasmanian malt mash, a unique combination of yeast cultures and of course the purest 100% Tasmanian water, Battery Point whisky is combining traditional Scottish double-distillation methods with small cask and barrel finishing.

    This first release brings together port, sherry and bourbon small cask whiskies in a unique blend. It is then aged in an apple brandy barrel before being finished in a muscatel. It’s this creativity with flavour and barrel influence that sets Battery Point Distillery apart. Delivering a bold, full-bodied and rich drop this whisky promises layers of complexity without being overly demanding or complicated.

    As is intended with all future Battery Point offerings, this is a limited release of 200 bottles. Future small volume releases will be available when they are at their peak and ready – “we aren’t in a hurry and want to bottle the best quality we can” says Jack.

    The bottled look was designed to reflect the bold sophistication of the product. The packaging inspired by the detailing of the barrels that characterise the whisky, offers a confident and contemporary take on the traditional category, much like the whisky itself.

  • New era for single malt whisky with Ailsa Bay’s launch in Australia

    New era for single malt whisky with Ailsa Bay’s launch in Australia

    Independent family-owned distiller, William Grant & Sons has announced the launch of Ailsa Bay in Australia. The single malt is the first whisky in the world to index ‘sweetness’. Following its successful launch in the United Kingdom and Nordics in 2016, Ailsa Bay will now be landing in Australia to serve and content all the Australian whisky enthusiasts.

    Ailsa Bay is created based on an industry-first “sweetness” index which enables the scientific measurement of sweetness.

    This complements a precise calculation of ‘peatiness’ to create a balance between smokiness and sweetness – all driven by advanced technology.

    This method was developed by Malt Master Brian Kinsman at William Grant & Sons.

    Alongside its liquid, Ailsa Bay’s packaging features dynamic artwork which takes its inspiration from the creativity of science, reflecting the boundary-pushing technology at its Girvan distillery.

    Ailsa Bay is available in Australia through Vintage Cellars, select First Choice stores only and Liquorland select stores in December.

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  • Rare bottles of whisky fetch record US$1m each at HK auction

    Rare bottles of whisky fetch record US$1m each at HK auction

    Two bottles of rare 60-year-old Macallan whisky fetched a total of more than US$2 million under the hammer on Friday in Hong Kong, Bonhams said, with both sales shattering the previous world auction record for the spirit.

    One bottle, bearing a label designed by British pop artist Peter Blake – who helped create the sleeve of The Beatles’ album “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” – was sold for HK$7.96 million (S$1.36 million).

    The other bottle, whose label was designed by Italian artist Valerio Adami, went for HK$8.63 million, a new world record for whisky sold at auction.

    Both 750-milliliter vintage bottles were distilled in 1926 and matured in a sherry hogshead cask until being bottled in 1986. Only twelve of each Macallan were ever produced.

    “These two bottles are not meant for sale. They were given to some of the Macallan’s most loyal business partners or clients,” said Daniel Lam, head of wine and whisky at Bonhams in Hong Kong.

    Whisky prices have soared in recent years, with buyers shifting their attention from bigger names to rare bottles from Scotland and Japan among others, according to Bonhams.

    In 2014, a bottle of malt whisky – Macallan ‘M’ Decanter 6-litre Imperiale – set the last record of HK$4.9 million at a Sotheby’s auction in Hong Kong.

    The value of Macallans 18 years and older has doubled in value over the past year, Mr Lam said in an interview.

    While new whisky tends to be more industrialised, in the ’80s and before that it was handcrafted, Mr Lam said, adding that well-kept whisky can last forever.

    In April, two other 60-year-old Macallans from 1926 were sold at a Dubai airport retailer for US$600,000 each, breaking the record for the most expensive whisky sold in retail.

    There is growing interest in whisky in Southeast Asian countries such as Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia, as well as in China, Bonhams said, especially among a younger generation of collectors.

    “Whisky is more like a young generation drink now, compared to cognac or even red or white wines,” Christopher Pong, wine and whisky specialist at Bonhams said.

    Wealthy Asian buyers have shown frenzied interest and deep pockets at art auctions in recent years, with sales of paintings, diamonds and ancient ceramics shattering world records.

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  • Enjoy A Good Dram At The Third Edition Of The DFS Whiskey Festival

    Enjoy A Good Dram At The Third Edition Of The DFS Whiskey Festival

    DFS Group, the world’s leading luxury travel retailer, is to host the third edition of The Whiskey Festival at Singapore Changi Airport. Taking place from now until June 17, the festival is set to celebrate some of the world’s finest whiskies and provide travelers with a platform to expand their whiskey knowledge and immerse themselves in some of the classics.

    Throughout the festival, travelers will be invited to taste some of the world’s best whiskies, including rare and limited-edition items, some of which are exclusively available only at DFS. A line-up of interactive masterclasses will take place each weekend, where leading brand ambassadors will be on hand to guide guests through an interactive tasting of handpicked whiskies and offer expert advice.

    “As interest in whiskey continues to grow, we aim to provide our customers with the best selection of products as well as a unique and engaging retail experience,” said Wilcy Wong, DFS Group Managing Director, Singapore and Indonesia. “DFS Singapore, Changi Airport is home to the largest assortment of single malt whiskies in Southeast Asia, so we feel education is important. The Whiskey Festival offers guests an opportunity to really understand our brands, their craftsmanship and their heritage.”

    The Festival activities will take place at The Whiskey House, located in Terminal 2 (T2) and Terminal 4 (T4), at DFS Singapore, Changi Airport. Since opening in July 2016 in T2 and in November 2017 in T4, The Whiskey House has been a popular spot for travelers and whiskey aficionados alike. The space offers an intuitive and experiential shopping destination where guests can enjoy complimentary tastings of over 100 different whiskies from across the globe.

    Ms Teo Chew Hoon, Group Senior Vice President for Airside Concessions, Changi Airport Group, said, “Together with DFS, we reignite the senses as we showcase a rich blend of the world’s most loved whiskey at Changi Airport’s Whiskey Festival. The exquisite whiskey tastings and calendar of activities will craft one-of-a-kind experiences for travelers as they journey through Changi Airport. ”

     

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  • Most expensive whiskey in the world

    Most expensive whiskey in the world

    A rare Japanese whisky just became the most expensive ever sold at auction.

    The Spirits Business reports that a limited edition bottle of Yamazaki 50-year-old single malt fetched $300,000 at Sotheby’s Finest and Rarest sale in Hong Kong.

    That’s more than double its pre-sale price estimate of $140,000.

    Paul Wong, specialist at Sotheby’s Wine, Asia, said: “We are absolutely thrilled with the new world auction record set by the Yamazaki Aged 50 Years NV, the highest price achieved for any single bottle of Japanese whisky, illustrating a whisky market in full swing.”

    Assuming that the bottle contains a fifth of its ultra-rare nectar, each pour is worth around a staggering $16,500. That’s one helluva hangover.

    While the Yamakazi may sound absurdly expensive, it’s a long way off from the priciest whisky ever sold. In 2014, a bottle of Macallan Imperiale M set the record with a $628,205 price tag at Sotheby’s.

    Granted, the faceted crystal decanter held 6 liters of hooch and took 7 craftsmen 50 hours to complete.

    For something a little more affordable but probably just as delicious, check out our boozy lists of the 10 best single malt scotches, 10 rare whiskey collections, and the absolute best whiskeys of 2017.

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