I caught up yesterday with Mark Reynier—Managing Director of Bruichladdich a fiercely independent distillery on Islay, about the state of the Scotch Whisky Industry and the implications of the Johnnie Walker plant closure slated for Kilmarnock.

Mark talks candidly about large conglomerates, mircrodistilling and the direction of the industry. Needless to say it was a thought provoking interview for me and I think you’ll enjoy it.

New Jack Daniels videos went online recently, check out the famous Old No. 7, Single Barrel and Gentleman Jack on  Singlemalt TV!

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Several weeks ago I was talking with Paula Erickson, VP Of Global External Communications & Brand Public Relations at Beam Global regarding the Knob Creek Shortage. As Paula regaled me with tales of the clever marketing tactics employed by Beam Global to satiate Knob Creek loyalists I couldn’t help but laugh at their ingenuity.

To larger accounts Beam Global sent a safety-glass encased bottle of the precious Kentucky Straight Bourbon. “Break in case of emergency,” read the packaging mocking a fire extinguisher.

To other contacts Beam sent an empty bottle of Knob Creek and a note proclaiming “thanks for nothing.”

To 16,000 website subscribers Beam Global sent a T-shirt and note, you can guess what it said.

I thought the campaign was brilliant (albeit obviously something that few brands could pull off). She explained that the reaction to the shortage had been good, with Knob Creek lovers taking it in relative stride. The Bourbon, a bestseller among the four small batch varieties offered by Beam, will be all but gone by labor day. The Clermont, KY warehouse is empty now. Because Knob is aged nine years a several-month discrepency between the last batch and the upcoming batch (set to be bottled in November) will leave shelves empty for a bit.

The following morning I received an email from Paula informing me that shirts were on the way for our crew. They arrived a few days ago—thanks to Paula and Beam Global Wine & Spirits.

A few members of the SMTV crew model our gratis Knob Creek tees.

The “Keep Striding Forward March” is now underway in Killie.

Over 20,000 people were expected to turn out for a day of food and music catalyzed by a shared anger at Diageo’s decision to close a historic bottling plant in Kilmarnock. We’ll bring you coverage of the event tomorrow, if you haven’t seen our interview (filmed Friday) with Jim Buchanan of East Ayrshire Council watch it here.

Also, we’ll pay $100 for any film clip from the march used in our news service! Click here to submit your videos!

Had a great interview today with Jim Buchanan of the East Ayrshire Council. He filled us in on what has been an eventful week in the crusade to stop Diageo from closing the Kilmarnock bottling plant that has historically retained the link between Johnnie Walker and its birthplace. Not only would the closure effectively dissolve 189 years of history (Walker opened his famous Killie grocer in 1820) it would pulverize the economy of the area.

Buchanan spoke to us about all of the efforts thus far to reverse Diageo’s decision, he also filled us in on plans for  march/ rally in Kilmarnock this Sunday that will include live music and food, Buchanan said 20,000 people are expected to attend. Celebrated local poet Rab Wilson will read his latest work blasting Diageo, aptly named “Stridin’ Forrit!” A petition supported by East Ayrshire Council has received over 10,000 signatures both online and in person.

Tomorrow campaigners dressed as Johnnie Walker will be out in force around Glasgow, working to mobilize supporters and gain signatures for the famous petition.

Diageo maintains that 400 jobs could be made up by expanding operations at another packaging plant in Leven, Fife.

Check back this afternoon for our full interview with Jim Buchanan coming online soon!

On the forty-year anniversary of the notorious “Summer of Love” in America what could be a better salute for whisky lovers than Maltstock?

With a peace sign as its logo, the whisky event is the brainchild Teun Van Wel and his friend and co-conspirator Bob Wenting, having traveled the world and attended a plethora of whisky events the men decided it was time to do something a little different. Hence Maltstock, a three-day event that combines whisky tasting, camping, eating and socializing was born. Situated in Nijmegan (about 125 km from Amersterdam) this gathering should be nothing short of a whisky enthusiast’s paradise.  A broad invitation to whisky clubs of the world has yielded about 100 confirmed guests so far, a number which Teun hopes will climb between now and September.

Maltstock organizers are asking attendees to bring a bottle (or more) of whisky to share, the emphasis being on relaxation, sharing a few great drams and networking with fellow whisky lovers.

A special treat? Bruichladdich’s Jim McEwan will be present, promising a few choice stories around the campfire.

Check out our interview with Teun.

Planning to attend Maltstock? Leave us your thoughts on this innovative event!

Continuing the my intriguing local discoveries this week, I’ve just gotten off the phone with Jonathan Forester, cocktail aficionado and partner in the soon-to-be constructed Penobscot Bay Distillery. Fresh off the road from Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans Forester spoke to me from his home in Winterport, Maine spitting distance from Winterport Winery and the grounds that will house his distillery. Forester moved to Maine a mere two years ago when he was writing about the state’s wineries. Having developed a friendship with Mike Anderson of Winterport Winery the men found that they could combine their passions to create a brewery/distillery and set to work on executing the plan.

Forester, who harbors a penchant for the history of the cocktail, looks forward to producing a bourbon, a rye whiskey and an American single malt. Additionally he’ll add a trio of brandies: peach, apple and pear. To make use of the leftover casks he’ll round out his offerings with a blackstrap rum. The rye whiskey and the peach brandy will be modeled after the quintessential “farmhouse” spirits produced in the 1800s, as Forester’s collection of antiquarian distilling books and traditional recipes have served as paving bricks for his vision. Though the brewery portion of the distillery has produced several beers, outfitting the distillery has been a lengthy  process. Forester likens the set-backs (mostly equipment related) to waiting for back-ordered items, but seems confident that in the long-term his patience will persevere.

Forester’s involvement with artisinal or “craft” distilleries throughout the country has allowed him unique perspective on the emergence of the American small-batch spirits movement. He also uses his multifaceted culinary background (he’s trained as a chef) to influence the flavor profiles he’ll cultivate in his spirits. About that American single malt? Forester envisions a heavier new make spirit, one that can stand-up to charred barrels without being overwhelmed, he explains that it would more like a barley wine in its initial stages than a traditional single malt Scotch (not that it would be a Scotch anyway since its distilled in the USA).

We’re looking forward to meeting Jonathan and learning more about the Penobscot Bay Distillery next week, stay tuned for an interview coming to SMTV!

Let us know what you’d like to see on Singlemalt TV by weighing in via the comments section of this blog.

In my constant quest to taste new whiskies (and bourbons) I am always delighted to discover a new place owned by someone with an appreciation for the amber-colored libations. On Saturday we ventured to a little place we always think of, but don’t patronize as much as we should (and will now) seated on the deck and shivering a little as the sun set I thought it an appropriate night for a dram. Casually glancing at their list I supressed a squeal of excitement. Not only were all of the whiskies in their proper places (Scotch, American Whiskey and Irish Whiskey each with a heading) the little seaside eatery had a veritable boat load of all three!

I began to rattle on about each one, at least as much as I knew, having just finished Kate Hopkin’s 99 Drams of Whiskey I felt as though I could relate to her descriptions of entering cavernous and foreign whiskey shops and being floored by the selection. I finally settled on bourbon, Blanton’s, since I had just written a bit on the history of Buffalo Trace and had never tried this building block of their current array of bourbons.As the world’s inaugural single-barrel bourbon it had a certain mystique about it anyway.

It arrived generously poured over rocks, and in front of my boyfriend (naturally), while his Greyhound was delivered to me. I believe the waitress was close to fainting when I greedily grabbed the bourbon and dismissed the tropically colored fruit drink.

The deep-red bourbon was delicious. Smooth and a bit spicy. Needless to say after a few sips I was pleasantly relieved from any chill in the air.

As we departed the owner, parked at a corner table with a friend, sipped what appeared to be a whisk(e)y from my position across the deck. Desiring to compliment him on his selection I approached and was awarded handsomely with a taste of Jefferson’s Reserve (though not on the list the man loves his bourbon and keeps it to enjoy with friends). It was impeccable, sweeter than the Blanton’s but pleasantly so with strong vanilla notes.

I’m looking forward to speaking with this fellow more about his choices, stay tuned to SMTV. Do you have a favorite local haunt with a great whisk(e)y list? Fill us in!

In digging up more and more about the Diageo layoffs one usual suspect has seemed uncharacteristically absent, where in the world is the Scotch Whisky Association?

I understand their need to preserve diplomacy, especially when their funding comes from a consortium of industry heavyweights, but for pete’s sake (or “peat’s” sake as the case may be) a MAJOR Scottish institution is at stake, you’d think they’d have something to add. As a watchdog group diligent about preserving the integrity of Scotch Whisky arguably to the point of fanaticism in some cases, you would assume that the closure of the Kilmarnock bottling plant responsible for maintaining the final link between Johnnie Walker the man and Johnnie Walker the Scotch would be a priority. Or at least publicly on their radar. It’s the last dinosaur folks, surely you have something to add?

I contacted the SWA, understanding that they (legitimately) have a strict policy of not commenting on specific company actions (i.e. Diageo) and received a polite albeit obtuse statement issued in the wake of the Diageo announcement last Wednesday:

“We have no doubt these will have been difficult decisions to take. The Scotch Whisky industry is working hard to invest to secure its sustainability and competitiveness, which is so important to the Scottish economy. We continue to believe whisky has a strong long term future as shown by Diageo’s own commitment to investing in new and expanded facilities in Scotland.”

Ditto on a phone call, though I was strongly encouraged (yet again) to look at the “long-term” nature of the industry.

Still, I wonder how the SWA can go to such lengths to pursue legal action against say, Glenora Distillers, but remains somewhat ambiguous when Diageo is performing a veritable gut-job on a Scottish institution dating to 1820.

There’s a petition boys, the SNP is involved. HUNDREDS of jobs are at stake. Six days in and it is really getting ugly.

These things aside, to beg the question of the SWA’s role in all this we must focus on their interest, to the best of my knowledge that interest is Scotch Whisky.

So if Scotch in all of its historic “long-term” glory is the name of the battle for the SWA why is Johnnie Walker’s history not worth fighting for, yet a teeny distillery in Glenville, Nova Scotia that’s not hurting anyone (but calls their product “Glen Breton”) gets flogged in the figurative village square for almost ten years? Is it a simple case of role reversal, with Diageo now assuming its rightful position as the Goliath?

I know you have opinions on this one, let’s hear ‘em.

A multifaceted outrage has ensued following an announcement last week to close both the Port Dundas Distillery and a historic packaging plant in Johnnie Walker’s hometown of Kilmarnock. Both facilities are to be casualties of a “restructuring” plan set forth by drinks behemoth Diageo. The company announced last Wednesday that it plans to restructure it’s operations in Scotland, cutting 900 jobs. Though a potential addition to a Fife packaging plant could make up 400 of the jobs, employees and politicians have struck out vehemently against Diageo’s plan, citing not only the devastating job loss but the historical travesty of severing Johnnie Walker’s ties to Kilmarnock.
Singlemalt TV is following the story.