November 2013 Newsletter
Message from the Chairman Where has this year gone?!! Only two months to go and its Xmas! Without doubt, this has been the busiest year in the history of Duncan Taylor. So many projects completed, in motion or coming to fruition. Our new bottling plant currently being built for completion by Xmas, our US business , Duncan Taylor USA LLC, now up and running with the US based team providing sterling service for our many customers there. New brands, The Duncan Taylor "Single" , The Duncan Taylor "Tantalus", and Black Bull "Kyloe" coming on stream in November . Our existing brands reaching new heights, The Octave surpassing even our wildest expectations, customers loving our octivation maturation process, Loch Ness re-launched after a facelift, Black Bull growing rapidly into a serious blend brand with new expressions coming out now. Our first foray into major sponsorship with Ecurie Ecosse, Powered by Black Bull ™ , Scotlands most famous motor racing team competing in UK and Europe. Our diversion into retail , with the opening of our new "Duncan Taylor Luxury from Scotland" shop in South Pasadena , California specializing in everything Scottish but particularly furniture made from ex Duncan Taylor casks. Finally the two things closest to my heart "Huntly Distillery" , the distillery project which we put on the back burner for a couple of years is now back in motion, we have begun site work and have made many changes and upgrades to the original plan, see next months newsletter for details and finally "Huntly Cooperage", yes we have created our own cooperage in Huntly, to repair and make our own casks, more about that in next months newsletter too. All in all an incredibly busy 10 months so far.
New Staff Member! Pete Beckett.
Pete joined the Royal Air Force straight from school at the tender age of 18 and remained in the Service for 27 years. He trained as a Navigator and spent the next 20 years flying fast jet aircraft, firstly the Buccaneer and latterly the Tornado; all of this time was in the North of Scotland and he built up a fond affinity for the area during this time. After his flying career was complete he fulfilled a number of senior management roles, but specialising in HR and Project Management; also completing a Masters Degree in Business Administration with Cranfield University during this period. Recognising his skills and experience, the Chartered Managers Institute awarded him a Fellowship in 2012. Pete is married with 2 kids (aged 10 and 7) and lives in Elgin. Hobbies include being continually frustrated by a dimpled little white ball and testing the neighbours’ patience using a bass guitar‌..although DTSW product testing is rapidly becoming a popular evening pastime. He joined Duncan Taylor on 30 Sep 13 as the General Manager in Huntly.
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Famous Scottish squad confirms 2013 title sponsorship deal with Black Bull™ Whisky. Legendary Scottish motor racing outfit Ecurie Ecosse has signed a new key sponsorship agreement with Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky that will see the team promote the Black Bull™ Whisky brand through its European Le Mans Series and British GT Championship programmes. Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd is a family owned, luxury whisky merchants. With origins dating back to 1864, the company selects and matures casks from distilleries across the length and breadth of Scotland and currently owns one of the world’s largest private collections of vintage Scotch whisky. With a multi award-winning brand portfolio, Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd harnesses generations of expertise to deliver the finest whisky without compromise. The Black Bull™ brand dates back to 1864 and was the first 100 proof blend to be sold in the US, where it came to prominence after the repeal of prohibition in 1933. Repackaged in 2008, Black Bull™ is now available in 12-year-old, 30-year-old, 40-year-old and Special Reserve expressions and has won numerous awards, including five gold medals in 2011 alone. “For Ecurie Ecosse to initiate a new alliance with a major brand like Black Bull™ is a terrific opportunity for European promotional activity. Indeed, we are already discussing a number of innovative activation strategies with Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky for implementation throughout the year,” said Ecurie Ecosse Director and driver Oliver Bryant. “This partnership is a great match: both are world-class Scottish brands with a rich heritage and pedigree who share the same goal of being at Le Mans in 2014.” Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Chairman, Euan Shand, added: “Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky are very pleased to be key sponsors of Ecurie Ecosse for the 2013 season, especially so in their pursuit of racing at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2014, the world’s greatest motor race. The rich heritage shared by both companies and their pursuit of excellence in their respective fields is surely a recipe for achieving that goal. Ecurie Ecosse’s current dominance in both championships is a wonderful opportunity to bring the Duncan Taylor’s Black Bull™ 100 Proof blended whisky brand to the attention of a new audience.”
2014 Promises even more exciting races and dominance by the Ecurie Ecosse Powered By Black Bull™ team!
New Releases!
The Duncan Taylor Tantalus contains a unique collection of single malt and single grain whiskies matured to 40 years and above in the vaults of some of Scotland’s premium Distilleries where they were produced. The range encompasses full maturation in many differing oak casks which previously held Bourbon, Sherry or port, and is bottled at natural cask strength and unfettered by chilled-filtration. With these unrivalled whiskies, we have created a truly high class premium range which is presented in hand blown decanter, housed in an elegant Tantalus, exclusively designed for Duncan Taylor, made from the very casks that matured it to perfection.
November Releases: 1968 Bunnahabhain 1969 Tamdhu 1970 Glenrothes 1972 Glen Grant 1972 Caperdonich 1975 Banff 1982 Bowmore 1983 Port Ellen
New Releases!
Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd’s new ‘Single’ range continues the company‘s long history of bottling Single Malt and Single Grain Whiskies from some of Scotland’s finest distilleries. The majority of the whiskies in the ‘Single’ range are at least 30 years old, or from distilleries that are no longer producing whisky. Bottled from a Single Cask, at Cask Strength, presented in a handsome leather and hardwood case, as rich and luxurious as the whisky it contains.
November Releases: 1979 Bunnahabhain 1981 Miltonduff 1983 Caol Ila 1990 Littlemill 1992 Caperdonich
New Releases!
Black Bull™ Kyloe is inspired by the hardy breed of highland cattle, the Kyloe’s, known to survive in the bitter windswept highlands and islands of Scotland. Black Bull™ Kyloe shares much of its likeness with this great breed – robust and with outstanding pedigree. Black Bull™ Kyloe is blended using the finest malt and grain whisky, at a high ratio of malt to grain, and bottled at a hearty 50% abv, without the use of chill filtration, to offer a bold, authentic and powerful sensory experience. Black Bull™ Kyloe, a pure highlander.
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Inaugural launch include free Black Bull Fridge Magnet.
New Releases! SPECIAL RESERVE BATCH Black Bull™ Special Reserve No. 2 is the second installment of the excellent Special Reserve series. The Special Reserve No. 2 is a blend of exceptional whiskies from the 1960s, 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, featuring an unusually high ratio of 75% malt to 25% grain whisky, and bottled at 50% abv. The blend contains whiskies from the following distilleries: Abelour, Bowmore, Bunnahabhain, Caol Ila, Cragganmore, Glen Grant, Imperial, and Cameronbridge and Invergordon grain. Non-chill filtered, with no artificial colouring, Black Bull™ Special Reserve is uncompromising, prime and boldly refined, delivering a full pedigree without compromise. Black Bull™ Special Reserve No. 2 is an extremely limited release, with just 871 bottles available globally, making this one of the finest and most exclusive blended whiskies ever produced Black Bull™ is draped in history. The blend can trace its origins back to 1864, when it was first produced by George Willsher & Co in Dundee, Scotland, and with the repeal of prohibition in the 1930’s, Black Bull really came to prominence in markets around the world. Black Bull™ continues to be available in markets worldwide and is blended and bottled, with care, by the award winning Duncan Taylor Scotch Whisky Ltd..
This will sell out immediately, Get in there fast!
New Releases!
Loch Ness and Scotch Whisky are synonymous with Scotland. Nationally treasured, and known throughout the world, these two Icons symbolise Scotland to many people. Upon entering a bar, travel-weary Scot’s often find that these are the first things they are asked about. The usual response of a Scot is to order two large glasses of Scotch Whisky, and tell a story or three about the mysterious creature known to live in the depths of the Loch. The Original Loch Ness Whisky Company has brought together the finest malt and grain whiskies from throughout Scotland in this elegant 5 year old Blended Scotch Whisky. The tranquil and soft nose belies the hidden mysteries and depths that can be found with further investigation, a trait it shares with the body of water that inspired the creation of this whisky. Indeed, a monstrously good Blend!
http://www.lochnesswhisky.co.uk