Chivas 18 by Pininfarina – Chivas Regal

The ultra-premium Scottish whisky, Chivas Regal, and Italian designer, Pininfarina, joined forces to create Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Limited Editions, which rolled out January 2, 2013 in over 30 countries.

The series includes two Chivas 18 collectible display cases and one made-to-order display unit, an artistic piece of furniture hand crafted in Italy by Pininfarina. Each includes a bottle of Chivas 18 with Pininfarina’s design notes and Italian company logo proudly displayed. The limited edition design theme is “The Drop” which dictates the shape of the pieces.

The first edition from Chivas Regal, based on a streamlined drop, a delicate shape in a rich blue metallic finish with a wood veneer, represents the oak barrels used during the aging process of Chivas 18, capturing 85 flavors in each drop. Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Limited (Edition 1) is priced at $145.

The second edition features a larger drop shaped case and solid wood inlay. Included are the limited edition bottle along with two glasses each individually numbered to symbolize the exclusive status. Chivas 18 by Pininfarina Limited (Edition 2) is priced at $585.

The third edition, with its smooth sleek shape, incorporates both Chivas 18 and Pininfarina’s values in luxury designs as well as the collection’s drop theme. This elegant piece of furniture features an oak internal structure, covered in aluminum. A light at the base brings this creative piece to life.  At this time, the retail price is still unknown.

Chairman of Pininfarina, Paolo Pininfarina said: “Italian style means a sense of proportion, simplicity and harmony of line and we applied this sensibility to the designs we developed for Chivas 18.”

Crown Royal XR LaSalle

We’re proud to announce the newest edition to the Extra Rare Whisky Series from Crown Royal – Crown Royal XR LaSalle.

If you are looking for that perfect gift for the person who has everything or if you’re looking to give an extraordinary gift that speaks for itself … consider Crown Royal XR LaSalle.

The new Crown Royal XR LaSalle is exclusive and limited and represents the ultimate of Crown Royal luxury and craftsmanship.

This latest edition to the Crown Royal Extra Rare Whisky Series includes a reserve of the final batch of whiskies that were saved from the renowned LaSalle Distillery, closing its doors in 1993 after nearly 70 years.

Featuring a unique bottle shape, this premium whiskey also features a deluxe glass stopper and iconic velvet bag. The new Crown Royal XR is available this holiday season with a suggested retail price of $129.99 for a 750 ml bottle.

So if you want to enjoy the finest blended Canadian whisky, try the new Crown Royal XR LaSalle from premium whisky maker Crown Royal.

1494 is a private, members only club that uniquely unites individuals in the collection and enjoyment of single malt Scotch whisky.

New York City based 1494 was officially launched on June 1, 2012 and celebrates the spirit’s 518th anniversary. The organization’s name honors the first written record of Scotch Whisky’s distillation at the orders of Scotland’s Renaissance King, James IV on June 1, 1494.

1494 has partnered with Connoisseur Golf and developed an exclusive Founders Golf and Distillery trip to Scotland in June 2013.  In addition, 1494 will also utilize Connoisseur Golf’s luxury services for its members and for follow-on trips to Scotland.

Connoisseur Golf provides bespoke luxury golf travel for both individuals and businesses looking to experience an ultimate golf vacation to beautiful Scotland.

Scotland has over 500 golf courses and Connoisseur Golf affords their clients the opportunity to make their own little piece of history, and follow in the footsteps of the world’s most famous golfers.

Saint Andrews

The Founders Golf and Distillery trip will include:
. Private Jet: New York – Edinburgh roundtrip
. Welcome Cocktails and Dinner
. Personal Chauffeured Mercedes 24/7 with Concierge/Driver
. Golf on The Old Course, St. Andrews; The PGA Centenary Course; Gleneagles; Royal Troon and Turnberry
. Helicopter Transfers
. Full Scottish Breakfast overlooking the Courses each morning
. Private Dinners
. Six nights in Executive Suites at The 5* Old Course Hotel, St Andrews
. One night in a Member Room at an exclusive private championship course
. Meet Host Member Gordon Sherry (Former British Amateur Champion/Walker Cup Player)
. Clay Shooing at the Gleneagles Gun School
. Two nights in Deluxe Ocean View Suites at The 5* Turnberry Resort
. 3 VIP Distillery Tours arranged by 1494

This history and outstanding personal service, makes Connoisseur Golf the perfect partner for 1494 and its discerning members.

Setting the gold standard for the New York City private-membership experience, 1494 has spared no detail
in perfecting a membership model that features exclusive benefits and privileges befitted to royalty.

Annual dues for a 1494 Founding membership is $175,000.

The Macallan – Annie Leibovitz

The Macallan offers an outstanding single malt scotch whisky that has been distilled in Speyside, Scotland since 1824. The Macallan single malt is definitely a favorite with malt whisky drinkers all around the world and has won many prestigious awards. The Macallan was also recognized in July as the “Most Expensive Whisky Sold at Auction” by Guinness World Records.

The Macallan is a brand also known for championing the art of photograph. The company’s Masters of Photography series has included famous photographers such as Albert Watson and Rankin. The tradition continues with a new series that includes one of the world’s most famous female photographers – Annie Leibovitz.

Through the creative interpretation of Annie Leibovitz, the project’s end result is stunning, displaying four powerful images that capture the ultimate moments of enjoying The Macallan. The final shots depict four single cask variants of The Macallan through photographs featuring Scottish actor (and former distillery hand at The Macallan) Kevin McKidd.

This incredible special series collection includes only 1,000 limited edition bottles worldwide. Each contains one of four unique single cask whiskies released for the first time. Suggest Retail Pricing is $2,750.

The Macallan – Annie Leibovitz

Tasting Notes:

Cask No 7023 – 1991 Sherry Oak Puncheon
Availability: 285 bottles to accompany ‘The Bar’ print
Color: Dark Rosewood
Nose: Intense, dried fruits, ginger, nutmeg and clove. Ripe apples give way to rich sweet notes. Vibrant oak makes a statement, but is refined enough not to dominate
Palate: Ginger and cinnamon spice with rich dried fruits. Mature oak is in balance, with citrus fruits – a story to tell on its own
Finish: Medium to long finish, smooth
ABV: 50.8%

Cask No 12251: 1989 Sherry Butt
Availability: 285 bottles to accompany ‘The Gallery’ print
Color: Dark copper
Nose: Perfumed, chocolate orange and date. Burnished oak giving out a rich intensity
Palate: Sweet, fruity, raisin, wood and spices. Then the oak, which shows its hand in a subtle roasted manner
Finish:Rich finish could stay slightly dry, but teases
ABV: 56.6%

Cask No 14007: 1995 Sherry Oak Hoghead
Availability: 145 bottles to accompany ‘The Library’ print (For Global Travel Retail, Distillery and private sale only)
Color: Red Mahogany
Nose: Rich raisin sultana and chocolate orange arrive almost together, followed closely by toasted apple, ginger and clean oak
Palate: Toasted apple, ginger and oak note their intent, but are not to be outdone as orange and dried fruits step out
Finish: Long lingering, full
ABV: 59.6%

Cask No 10019: 1996 American Oak Butt
Availability: 285 bottles to accompany ‘The Skyline’ print
Color: Light Gold
Nose: Lemon, citrus fruits, vanilla, cream soda. Freshly cut wood in background balanced out by sweet dessert notes
Palate: Viscous; initially oak flits in then departs to allow cinnamon, citrus, toffee apples to show their hand, only to reappear later
Finish: Medium finish but full bodied
ABV: 55.5%

Learn more about The Macallan Masters of Photography series by visiting – www.themastersofphotography.com

The Dalmore – King Alexander III

The Dalmore  is an exceptional single-malt Scotch whisky brand that’s widely regarded as having one of the oldest and rarest whisky stocks of any highland distillery.

The strong heritage of The Dalmore is without argument. Since 1839, the The Dalmore has been proudly producing whisky in the stunning Scottish Highlands.

In addition, the whisky brand is recognized for its unique artisanal production process that forgoes modern technology for a handcrafted approach.

Below are several outstanding tasting Scotch whiskies from The Dalmore.

King Alexander III – the only single malt whisky to mature in six different types of wood providing a range of complex tastes including warm flavors of crushed almonds and rich citrus fruits, hints of wild berries and fleshy ripe plums and warm whispers of vanilla and creamy caramel. Retails for $265

The 18 – this expression tastes of vanilla, Colombian coffee, truffles and rosemary. The 18 won a Double Gold medal in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2011. Retails for $165

The 15 – This expression tastes of mandarin, vanilla, ginger, crushed apples. The 15 won a Gold Medal in the International Whisky Competition in 2010. Retails for $84

We’d also like to share several interesting facts about The Dalmore brand’s unique history:

· The Dalmore’s King Alexander III, which retails for around $250, is the only single-malt to be matured in SIX different types of wood

· The Dalmore has won numerous awards and accolades from around the world including gold and silver medals from the International Whisky Competition, Scotch Whisky Masters and San Francisco World Spirits Competition

· The Dalmore’s Master Distiller, Richard Patterson, has been with the brand for over 40 years

· The Dalmore 62 Year Old sold last year in Changi Airport, Singapore, for $195,000, making it the most expensive bottle ever sold in retail

Get more info at http://www.thedalmore.com/

The Chivas Regal 12 Year Old “Made for Gentlemen” limited edition shoe collection, by Tim Little is the brand’s most recent collaboration.

Celebrating heritage, modern craftsmanship and style, Chivas 12 and Tim Little’s handcrafted shoes are both borne from the investment of time and skills passed down from generation to generation and remain a contemporary mark of discernment, style and luxury.

The new shoe collection by British designer Tim Little is bold, expressive and masculine and also includes the Chivas 12 “Made for Gentlemen” collectible tin and a bottle of Chivas Regal 12 Year Old Scotch whisky.

Creative Director and Owner of iconic British luxury shoe label Grenson, features a slick deconstruction of the classic wardrobe staple, the hand crafted brogue.

The new luxury shoe collection will definitely be coveted by modern gentlemen.

You can purchase the new Chivas Regal 12 Year Old “Made for Gentlemen” shoe collection by Tim Little next month. The suggested retail price is £25.39

Sir Peter Blake is considered by many as the “godfather” of British Pop art and celebrated his 80th birthday on June 26th. The English pop artist is best known for his creative design of the record album sleeve for the Beatles’ album Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band.

Sir Peter has a long-standing partnership with luxury whisky brand, The Macallan and they have collaborated once again. The two first worked together to design the first 12 bottles of the highly collectable Macallan 1926, which was bottled back in 1986.

The result of the latest project is based on Macallan and Sir Peter Blake celebrating eight decades with an oak box that’s divided into eight sections. Each decade has a backdrop and artefact designed, inspired or chosen by Sir Peter Blake. There’s a miniature of The Macallan distilled in that decade (1930 through to 2000’s) including labels that were designed by Sir Peter. Also included is a small book of illustrations and text about Sir Blake’s successful life.

The artefacts included in this incredible box were sourced by art director Stuart Newman based on Sir Peter’s guidance. They represent the four elements of water, fire, air and earth, as a direct connection to the whisky making process.

The eight whiskies found in the box convey a journey through the character of The Macallan from the 1930s up to the 2000s. The journey begins with a number of extremely rare single malts taken from The Macallan’s prestigious Fine & Rare collection through the decades, to a stunning whisky from 2002. The oldest whisky in the collection is a 1937, then progressing to a 1949; 1952; 1969; 1976; 1989; 1997; 2002.

This is a very limited whisky art collection as only 250 boxes are available for sale. There’s no doubt this collection will achieve high rarity value due to its limited availability. A small number of boxes are available via www.themacallan.com and the remaining are allocated to key markets around the world, with a guide price of £4,500.

We recently reported that The Macallan  was recognized as the “Most Expensive Whisky Sold at Auction” by Guinness World Records.

Macallan 64 Years Old in Lalique, Cire Perdue Whisky

It’s taken about two years since the significant event, but the Guinness World Records has awarded The Macallan the distinction of being  the “most expensive whisky sold at auction.”

Now the definitive world record holder, David Cox who is the Director of Fine and Rare Whiskies for The Macallan was quoted, “We are absolutely thrilled to have been awarded the Guinness World Record(tm) for the most expensive whisky sold at auction. This major accolade from such a world-renowned and respected organization proves once and for all that The Macallan is the world record holder.”

The Macallan was founded in 1824 and is proudly one of the world’s most admired and awarded single malt whiskies.

Back in November 2010, The Macallan and Lalique teamed together to auction off the oldest whisky ever bottled by the distillery to benefit charity.

The Macallan’s 64 Years Old in Lalique, Cire Perdue sold at that Sotheby’s auction in 2010 for a record breaking price of $460,000!

The 64 Years Old Single Malt whisky is a one-of-a kind Lalique crystal decanter that housed the oldest and rarest Macallan ever bottled by the famous whisky distillery. The whisky had been vatted from three casks, all built from sherry seasoned Spanish oak.

DEWAR’S

With Father’s Day just around the corner, looking for that perfect gift for your dad? Consider DEWAR’S 18-Year Old Scotch Whisky.

DEWAR recently introduced its brand-new packaging in time for Father’s Day. Although the iconic Scotch whisky inside remains the same, the new leather package and masterfully redesigned bottle reflect a blending of the rich DEWAR’S heritage with the modern aesthetic of today’s man.

A bit of history … DEWAR’S was actually founded by a father-son team (John Dewar Sr and sons John Dewar Jr. and Tommy Dewar), so we think it could be a great fit for dad!

DEWAR is widely known for its unique bespoke double-aging process, an extra step taken to give DEWAR’S 18-Year Old its remarkable smoothness and depth of character.

This extra step creates a smoother blend, with a long, lingering finish. DEWAR’S is as famous for its quality taste as it is for its family heritage, making it the perfect gift for the refined and sophisticated man in your life, who appreciates the family history and the cultural significance behind this iconic brand.

DEWAR’S has perfected its master blend from generation to generation, starting with John Dewar Sr. in 1846, and continuing with his sons, John Dewar Jr. and Tommy Dewar, who worked to build DEWAR’S into one of the largest whisky brands in the world, and the top selling blended Scotch whisky in the United States.

Make a bottle of DEWAR’S 18-Year Old Scotch Whisky the perfect Father’s Day gift. Just as the Dewar’s brothers honored their father’s legacy by making Dewar’s the best-selling Scotch Whisky in the world, honor your father on June 17th with a gift that’s worth giving.

Glenfiddich

Glenfiddich is the world’s most awarded Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Glenfiddich is celebrating 125 years of pioneering achievement and recently held an exclusive 150 person anniversary gala on Liberty Island in New York. The luxury event was hosted by actor Adrian Grenier.

The highlight of the evening was definitely the auction of the first U.S. bottle of the world’s most valuable single malt – only one of eleven available.

The auction sale of the Glenfiddich bottle of whisky shattered the record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold at auction.

The 55-Year-Old Glenfiddich Janet Sheed Roberts Reserve raised $94,000 becoming the most expensive whisky ever purchased at auction.

The event was co-hosted by Glenfiddich Malt Master Brian Kinsman who travelled from Scotland to oversee this auspicious occasion and kick off the brand’s year-long 125^th Anniversary celebration.

Lindsay Prociw, Senior Brand Manager for Glenfiddich was quoted, “We’re so excited to have kicked off our 125^th anniversary year in such an unprecedented and memorable way.”

Glenfiddich auction proceeds went to Grenier’s SHFT Initiatives, a worthy charity that is dedicated to sustainability causes.

Universal Whisky Experience

I have a love/hate relationship with Las Vegas. I’ve experienced two disastrous work-related conferences, lost all of the cash I had on me, and had my shoes vomited on by a drunken stranger. But on the flip side, I was astounded by multiple amazing Cirque du Soleil shows, tasted the most exquisite food and wine, and most importantly, Vegas was where my fiance proposed.

I vowed to never return to Vegas after each calamitous encounter, but the allure of luxury and the promise of adventure always kept me revisiting Sin City. It looks like next March would be another excuse for me to escape my day job for a weekend and sneak away to the Universal Whisky Experience at the Wynn Las Vegas.

Taking place on between 2-3 of March in 2012 is world’s first premier luxury whisky show, the Universal Whisky Experience. Created by commercial real estate mogul, Mahesh Patel, these shows are designed to promote super-premium whisky.

Mahesh’s great passion in life is whisky, namely “Scotch” whisky. A connoisseur and enthusiast, he frequently attends exclusive whisky events and gatherings both domestically and abroad. He has been a collector of fine and rare whiskies for more than 20 years.

An event unlike any other, it attracts globe trotting whisky aficionados, collectors, and industry experts to one location where guests can share their passion for high-end whiskies. Taking place between March 2-3, 2012 at the Wynn Las Vegas, the Universal Whisky Experience consists of over 25 distilleries, exclusive VIP tasting events, Master Classes and gourmet dinners. In addition, attendees have the rare opportunity to savor samples from Mahesh’s distinctive whisky collection.

Just remember to drink responsibly. No woman likes having their shoes vomited on.