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The International Whisky Competition moves to Las Vegas

Published on July 6, 2017 (Updated on July 7, 2017) by John Paddon

The 8th annual International Whisky Competition was held in Las Vegas on May 3, 4, 5. All whisky are sampled double blind so the participants don’t know anything about the whisky in the glasses except what they see, taste and smell in the glasses. The whiskys are rated on a 100 point scale that is a total score from 15 sensory categories. This year’s overall winner is Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Exclusive which scored an astonishing 97.3 Full results available at: https://www.whiskycompetition.com/2017-results/

A new distributor gives small brands an even footing

Published on July 6, 2017 (Updated on July 7, 2017) by John Paddon

In an era of craft everything, how do small startup brands find traction in a marketplace dominated by big brands with enormous advertising budgets? A common problem in the restaurant industry is alcohol buyers know what they want but no idea who they can buy it from. Also many smaller restaurants struggle to meet prohibitive minimums. LibDib seeks to solve all of these problems in one online platform. Only operational now in California and New York, LibDib is the first online app to meet the qualifications as an alcohol distributor in a three tier system in the U.S. Because […]

Master Distiller of the Year 2017 Named

Published on July 6, 2017 (Updated on July 7, 2017) by John Paddon

Dr. Bill Lumsden has been on quite a run. Named Master Distiller of the year for 2016 by the International Whisky Competition on the strength of the magnificent Glenmorangie Signet (97 points) and he repeated again in 2017 by winning whisky of the year for his Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Exclusive. It is an amazing feat to blend incredible unpeated whisky as well as deliciously balanced heavily peated whisky. His whiskies do great credit to the distilleries of both Islay and the Northern Highlands.

IWC Top Whisky of the Year

Published on July 6, 2017 (Updated on July 7, 2017) by John Paddon

Ardbeg Kelpie Committee Exclusive (97.3 pts) Kelpie is this year’s limited release from Ardbeg. In 2004 Ardbeg began producing limited distiller’s editions. The Committee Exclusives are only for the Ardbeg Committee club members, but Ardbeg is releasing a version of the Kelpie to the general public. Both versions are non-chill filtered but the Committee Exclusive is bottled at 51.7% ABV, but the public release is blended at 46%. Both will be heavily peated in the finest Ardbeg tradition. Get your bottles soon. All of the limited editions from Arbeg always sell out and are highly sought after under normal circumstances. […]

Be careful what instructions you give Employees

Published on April 15, 2016 by John Paddon

I actually appeared on an episode of Brew Dogs, and got a chance to meet the founders. A really good time all around, and I like that they really push the boundaries having topped their own world record for alcohol content several times, but it has been a bad week for brew dogs. They have been taking a beating in the press this week over lack of profitability and disgruntled shareholders. They really did not need this latest news. Brewdog worker prints ‘Mother ——‘ on cans Source: the drinks business by Neal Baker 14th April, 2016 […]