Exhibitors

April 12, 2012

This is the current list of confirmed exhibitors for The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2013. We’re still adding more every week, so keep an eye on the site if your favourite whisky isn’t on the list yet…

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A specialist independent whisky bottler, Adelphi have an enviable reputation for quality, selecting only the finest from their stock of maturing casks of the very highest calibre. The company will be showing a range of their finest malts at The TWE Whisky Show and will be amongst connoisseurs' first choices to visit on the day.

Aberfeldy is probably the jewel in the crown of parent Bacardi’s stable of whisky distilleries and with sales of their single malt quadrupling in less than a decade this is clearly a distillery on the up. Aberfeldy is also known as the heart of the Dewar’s blend, having been founded in 1896 by brothers John & Tommy Dewar to produce malt for their famous White Label.

The first, and so far only, Indian single malt whisky to make it to these shores, Bangalore’s Amrut has been a true pioneer for world whiskies in European markets, winning a slew of awards, most notably for their innovative Fusion release using Scottish and Indian barleys.

The single malt whisky from Speyside’s Knockdhu distillery has been a revelation since being reborn as An Cnoc. With a well-regarded 16 year-old and recent vintage releases all bottled at 46% without colouring or chill-filtration, An Cnoc has gone from strength to strength under the stewardship of owners International Beverages.

Founded in 1898 by Adam Teacher, son of William Teacher the eponymous creator of Teacher's blended whisky, this distillery has started to rise in whisky drinkers' consciousness since the 2007 release of Ardmore traditional. Known for their bucking of the Speyside trend and focusing on peaty whisky, producing rich and smoky drams that rival those distilled on Islay.

Situated on the outskirts of Glasgow, Auchentoshan is the last surviving operational Lowland distillery to maintain the regional tradition of triple-distillation for their single malt. The extra distillation gives Auchentoshan a light, fruity and grassy style, making it accessible and easy-drinking. Recent bottlings have included a Bordeaux cask finish and the excellent cask strength ‘Valinch’.

Balvenie is one of Speyside’s most widely-respected distilleries, with the famous Doublewood and Port Wood expressions scooping up a host of medals and awards over the years, and a series of innovative experimental limited bottlings proving hugely popular with connoisseurs and collectors.

Another distillery whose fortunes have undergone a dramatic turnaround for the better under parent company International Beverages. Balblair’s eye-catching packaging and innovative vintage releases have been a big hit since the distillery’s relaunch in 2007. Long recognised by blenders as a Category A malt, recent releases have earned Balblair long-overdue recognition amongst critics and the cognoscenti.

A distillery revitalised under new management after being criminally neglected by previous owners Seagram, today Benriach have one of the most exciting and diverse ranges on the market. Benriach distils some peated spirit as well as its normal make, and the new owners have unearthed some stellar old casks from their maturing stock, releasing hugely popular and highly sought-after cask strength vintage releases.

After being mothballed for much of the last two decades of the 20th century, Benromach was purchased and refurbished by independent bottlers Gordon & Macphail in 1998, and now releases a wide range of successful expressions. The smallest distillery in Speyside, Benromach needs just two permanent operational staff to produce its modest output of 200,000 litres per year.

Purveyors of fine wine to the gentry since the 17th century from their renowned premises in St. James’s, Berry Bros & Rudd have been bottling their own top-end spirits for decades (if not centuries); in the last few years spirits buyer Doug McIvor and his team have selected some truly outstanding whiskies and rums, and have been rightly festooned with numerous industry awards.

One of Scotland’s oldest operational distilleries, Bowmore was officially founded in 1779 and remains the hub of Islay’s capital, from which it takes its name. Although most famous for the legendary heavily-sherried Black Bowmores that made its name in the 1990s, Bowmore’s medium-peated bourbon-matured style is enjoying a renaissance at present, thanks to the enormously successful small-batch Tempest releases.

A new distillery constructed in 2008 in Japan’s Saitama prefecture by Ichiro Akuto, the grandson of the founder of the now-defunct Hanyu distillery. Akuto-san is devoted to producing the highest-quality spirit through traditional methods, and Chichibu’s distillery capacity is tiny, at just 80,000 litres per year. The first ever release of Chichibu single malt was released in 2011, so we are privileged to have this exciting new Japanese whisky at the Show.

Compass Box have delighted the whisky world with a string of such interesting and exciting releases that it’s already a cliché to refer to them as simply ‘innovative’. Owner and master blender John Glaser has a maverick approach and an unswerving dedication to quality, and the company’s excellent whiskies and eye-catching, contemporary packaging design and are a breath of fresh air for the industry.

The world’s most famous whisky liqueur, Drambuie is said to have been recreated from an original recipe passed down by Bonnie Prince Charlie and was originally known as the Isle of Skye liqueur. Now under the stewardship of Bacardi, the company recently released the world’s most exclusive and expensive whisky liqueur, Drambuie Jacobite, made with 45 year old whisky.

A series of ‘mystery’ Islay single malts, the Elements of Islay range has won awards for its eye-catching pharmaceutical design, while scoring international success with peat-loving aficionados around the world for the quality and intensity of the full strength liquid within.

The 'Chapters' series from the English Whisky Co.'s St. George's Distillery in Norfolk caused a sensation in the whisky World in 2009 – the first English single malt whisky in more than a century. They've continued making both peated and unpeated expressions, with their new Chapter 11 showing the whisky world that they are becoming a force to be reckoned with.

Gordon & Macphail is the World's Leading Malt Whisky Specialist, offering more than 450 single malts under their own label, aged from five to 70 years old, and a stock holding of more than 700 whiskies. The company has been in business for over 110 years and has remained independent and family-owned throughout its history.

After being closed in 2000 by then-owners Allied, who had decided that they had been over-producing, Glencadam was bought by Angus Dundee in 2003. Since then, the distillery has had a new lease of life, with a packaging update and a new range bottled at 46% without colour or chill-filtration. With sensible prices and favourable reviews for the new range, this distillery is one to watch.

In recent years GlenDronach has become world famous for producing richly sherried single malt whisky. The distillery has been part of the independent BenRiach distillery company since 2008 and in the last couple of years has been launching some extremely impressive whiskies. Along with a stack of interesting finishes they also have some outstanding old whiskies sitting in their warehouses waiting to be revealed.

Glenfiddich is the world’s best-selling single malt whisky, with the familiar triangular green bottle a staple in bars from Aberdeen to Zanzibar, and remarkably the company is still owned and run by the descendents of founder William Grant. Glenfiddich’s standard 12yo epitomises the light, floral side of Speyside whisky, while its long-aged Vintage bottlings are famously elegant and complex

Glenfarclas is one of Speyside's greatest distilleries and has remained under the independent control of the Grant family since 1865, and celebrated its 175th anniversary in 2011. Renowned for its full-bodied, sherried house style, the phenomenal success of the distillery's Family Cask vintage series is testament to the appreciation that whisky aficionados have for the Glenfarclas way of doing things.

Glengoyne distillery is the most southerly in the Highlands and has been a huge success since its takeover in 2003 by the family-owned independent bottlers Ian Macleod. Famously revelling in their entirely peat-free barley, Glengoyne has always been a big hit at whisky festivals, with their extraordinary 40 year old a highlight of previous Shows, winning the coveted title of Best Dram at the Whisky Show in 2010.

The Glenrothes is one of Speyside's treasures. Focusing on a range of single malt whiskies released by vintage rather than age has enabled the distillery to diversify their single malt selection, and there's certainly a Glenrothes for every occasion. The company's eye-catching round bottles have also proven extremely popular, ensuring that The Glenrothes is one of our top-selling gift single malts.

Suntory’s second distillery was first opened in 1973 and has garnered a fanatical following amongst aficionados of Japanese whisky thanks to its fresh, fruit-driven, grassy style, with extra depth from occasional light flashes of smoke and pepper. Hakushu’s entry-level 10yo & 12yo are brilliantly-constructed whiskies, unmistakably Japanese; older expressions and limited editions are tough to find (and usually expensive), but confirm this as a distillery of the very highest rank.

Suntory’s Hibiki is Japan’s most famous and prestigious blend, and really played its part in catapulting Japanese whisky onto the global stage when its prestige 30 year old edition won the title of World’s Best Blend at the inaugural World Whisky Awards in 2007 – and repeated the feat in 2008. Even more remarkably Hibiki 21 year old went on to win the same prize in 2010 and 2011 to place beyond doubt Suntory’s status in the highest echelon of blended whisky.

Highland Park is one of the world's favourite single malts. The whisky's delightful soft peat and heather-honey character has won Scotland's most northerly distillery a legion of adoring fans the world over, and the company has launched a string of hugely successful special editions and vintage releases in recent years.

A formerly-obscure Japanese distillery that closed its doors in 2000, Karuizawa exploded onto the international whisky scene a few years ago when Number One Drinks began bottling outstanding single casks for the European market. A positive early buzz culminated in 2009’s famous 1967 vintage that won a Gold Medal at the Malt Maniacs Awards and catapulted Karuizawa into the stratosphere. In 2011 Number One Drinks bought all Karuizawa’s remaining casks from previous owners Kirin / Mercian to safeguard the dwindling legacy of this sadly lost distillery.

Islay's newest distillery was the first to be built on the island for 124 years, and celebrated the coming-of-age of its spirit in 2009 with a charity auction of their first bottle of 3 year-old single malt whisky, raising over £5000. Since then, Kilchoman have released a string of fresh, peaty and unexpectedly complex whiskies to great excitement, recently adding the Machir Bay to their permanent portfolio.

The biggest-selling single Islay malt needs no introduction. Although not the most heavily-peated of the Islay malts, Laphroaig's strongly medicinal character probably justifies its bold tagline: 'The most richly-flavoured of all Scotch whiskies'. In the past few years the distillery has released the wildly successful 'Quarter Cask' expression, and their cask strength 10 year old small batches are legendary.

Speyside supremos The Macallan need no introduction. Recognised the world over for their luxury sherried whiskies, in 2005 the company launched a range of single malts named 'Fine Oak' which showcased a lighter style, with each release using some whisky matured in ex-bourbon casks. Long-aged Macallans are frequently snapped up by top-end hotels for their splendid digestif qualities.

As chosen by the eponymous Lorne Mackillop, Mackillop's choice are a range of independent bottlings from across Scotland. After a long career in wine and spirits Lorne Mackillop has a well-trained nose and palate, which help him pick some of the finest casks available to be bottled in his name.

While Australia has been getting a lot of the press when it comes to antipodean whisky production, New Zealand also has a rich history of distilling that is now being tapped. The NZ Whisky Collection presents a range of whiskies from Willowbank, which has since unfortunately closed, which are already starting to shift the focus east from Tasmania.

Sweden’s Mackmyra distillery took the whisky world by storm when they burst onto the scene with the release of Preludium 01 in early 2006. Since then the company has gone from strength to strength as their spirit matures, with their fresh contemporary design, experimental ethos and commitment to quality providing inspiration for a new generation of craft distillers around the world.

Nikka are Japan's second oldest whisky company, founded by Scottish trained distiller Masataka Taketsuru in 1934. They have expanded over the years from distilling at the Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido to also running Miyagikyo in Sendai and producing a large range of award winning whiskies, including the World Whisky Awards favourite Taketsuru series.

Previously a consistently under-rated Northern Highland distillery, Old Pulteney received a huge boost at the end of last year when their 21 year old was named by Jim Murray as World Whisky of the Year in his Whisky Bible 2012 with 97.5 points. Now sporting a packaging facelift and a raft of new customers switched on to its charms, the future is looking bright for Wick’s urban distillery.

A range of mystery Islay single malts bottled by Speciality Drinks, Port Askaig’s ethos is to achieve the perfect balance of smoke and honeyed sweetness associated with the greatest Islay whisky, while appealing to both novice whisky drinkers and the most discerning Islayphiles with its retro-style packaging and traditional bottling strengths.

The Single Malts of Scotland range from independent bottler Speciality Drinks Ltd was launched in 2005 to critical acclaim. Since then a string of much-lauded bottlings have been released, featuring single malts from every Scottish region. These whiskies have proven extremely popular with connoisseurs worldwide, winning several awards from prestigious competitions, and are now highly sought-after in various markets around the world.

Hailing from Campbeltown on the Mull of Kintyre, family-owned Springbank is one of the most traditional distilleries in Scotland and, remarkably, all aspects of production – from the malting of the barley through to the bottling of the finished whisky – are still carried out onsite by hand in the traditional manner.

Perched at the top of the Inner Hebrides, the windswept Isle of Skye is home to a single distillery. One is all it needs. Talisker’s character is suitably rugged and elemental, with biting hot spices and dry smoke balanced by a honeyed sweetness. The most popular of Diageo’s Classic Malts, with the limited edition 25yo and 30yo Special Releases enjoying widespread critical acclaim.

Over the last few years Tomatin has grown in the public consciousness in an impressive fashion, expanding their core range to include a variety of ages and vintages, as well as single casks and a selection of interesting limited bottlings. In 2011 the distillery released Tomatin Decades to celebrate master distiller Douglas Campbell’s 50th year of service.

Tomintoul was taken over by Angus Dundee Distillers in 2000 and, like its more recently-acquired stablemate Glencadam, under ADD’s stewardship the distillery has been quietly putting out better and better whisky. 2009’s 33yo was honoured at the World Whisky Awards 2010, while the recent 14yo release is another step forward for Tomintoul, being bottled at 46% without colour or chill-filtration.

A relatively young and quiet distillery, Tullibardine have upped the ante in 2013 with a relaunch of their range. With a selection focused on cask type rather than age, as well as some older whisky, we're looking forward to seeing what they do next.

Located in beautiful woodlands at the foot of Virginia’s Blue Ridge Mountains, the Copper Fox Distillery has been making its revolutionary whiskies since 2006. Proprietor and Master Distiller Rick Wasmund uses barley malt dried with burning fruitwoods in the production of both his single malt and rye whiskies, and maturation is enhanced by the addition of various wood chips to the barrels.

Wemyss have been making quite a splash on the independent bottling scene in 2012, with whisky celebrity Charlie Maclean chairing their nosing panel to select a series of single cask single malts and the creation of three signature blended malt whiskies in contrasting styles. All of Wemyss’s products come from first fill or refill casks and are given names based on their flavour profiles to make them more accessible for first time customers.

Yamazaki was Japan’s first ‘proper’ whisky distillery, being built in 1923 and run for the first ten years by the godfather of the Japanese whisky industry, Masataka Taketsuru. Yamazaki prides itself on making whisky that is proudly Japanese in character rather than seeking to imitate Scotch, and the company’s dedication to harmonising traditional processes with technological advances has paid huge dividends, with Yamazaki winning World’s Best Single Malt at the 2012 World Whisky Awards for the second year in a row.

Versatile family-owned Dutch distillery Zuidam has created a staggeringly diverse range of spirits and liqueurs since being founded in 1975. Today the company produce everything from Genever to Apricot Brandy, but thankfully they also find time to make several versions of their Millstone single malt, made with malted barley ground slowly by windmills! Zuidam’s whiskies will be available from the Eaux de Vie stand at the Show.

While this list is accurate to the best of our knowledge it may change up until the day of the show.

© The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show 2013

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