With President Obama announcing today that all US Forces would be pulled out of Iraq by the end of the year, this post is all the more fitting.

Glenmorangie has recently donated $10,000 to the PGA TOUR’s charity Birdies for the Brave which was presented at their TPC Sawgrass Golf Invitational, the last in a series of four outings that collectively made up the 2011 Glenmorangie Invitational.

Birdies for the Brave is a military outreach initiative originally created by TOUR player Phil Mickelson and his wife to support brave men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces injured during combat and their families. Donations to Birdies for the Brave support military home front groups that provide critical programs and services to meet the specialized needs of wounded warriors and military families.

At each TPC course – TPC Boston, TPC Las Colinas, TPC Scottsdale and TPC Sawgrass – every time a participant hit the ball onto the green at a designated hole, one-hundred dollars was donated to the charity. The chance to help a commendable cause was more exciting to attendees than the prizes for achievements like longest drive and closest to the pin.

“Glenmorangie is proud to support a worthy cause like Birdies for the Brave and it is our honor to present them with this $10,000 donation,” said Brian Cox, Vice President of Glenmorangie during the awards ceremony at TPC Sawgrass. The donation was accepted by John Flaschner, Director of Public Relations and Community Outreach for the PGA TOUR’s TPC Network.

To learn more about the organization, visit Birdies for the Brave.

The makers of Johnnie Walker announce the launch of Johnnie Walker Double Black, a new limited edition Scotch whisky debuting in the United States this month. Imagine your favorite song; now turn up the volume. Double Black amplifies the signature style of Black Label, including its hallmark smokey flavor, to produce a bold blend of extraordinary depth, richness and character.

Johnnie Walker Black Label has withstood the test of time. Over the past 100 years, this iconic brand has grown from a grocer’s blend to a whisky enjoyed around the world. Year after year, the liquid inside a bottle of Black Label honors the legacy of its creators. The heart of the whisky is the pioneering spirit of innovation passed down by John Walker and his sons, and Double Black is the product of this legacy.

“Johnnie Walker Double Black begins with Johnnie Walker Black Label as its starting point. From here we explored the characteristics that define this beloved blend and thought how can we offer a new perspective on it,” said Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge. “With access to the world’s most diverse stocks of aged whiskies in the world, I was able to create something entirely new inspired by the cornerstone of this whisky house, and arguably the most beloved Scotch whisky in the world, Johnnie Walker Black Label. It’s an honor and a privilege to be able to share it with the US.”

By reaching deep into some of the House of Walker’s most distinctive – and unparalleled – single malts reserves, Master Blender Jim Beveridge has created a powerful whisky that stands tall when placed shoulder to shoulder against its brethren blends and stands apart from all other whiskies on the market. Rich peaty single malts are combined with whiskies matured in deeply charred oak barrels. The result is a powerful intensity of flavor that is undeniably Johnnie Walker, and undoubtedly drawn from the signature style of Black Label.

“Since debuting in Duty Free shops globally, there has been great excitement around Johnnie Walker Double Black. We’ve received countless inquiries on our Facebook page and at House of Walker tastings asking when it will be available in the United States,” said Adam Rosen, Diageo Brand Director, Scotch Whisky Portfolio. “People want to try it. They are attracted to what the blend offers by being Black Label, amplified. As with all of our Johnnie Walker blends, we ask that adults enjoy responsibly.”

Johnnie Walker Double Black went on sale October 1, 2011 with a suggested retail price of $40. The limited supply is expected to last just until the holiday season.

Infographic by gustavkatz.com

We found this infographic over on tastingtable.com and it was too cool not to share. It shows the lifespan of many bourbon barrels, starting with being filled with bourbon and wherever they may head to next. By law, bourbon barrels can only be used once, which creates an incredible supply of them. A lot of them head to Mexico for tequila to age in, as well as Scotland for scotch to be aged in. Until recently, there wasn’t a huge demand for them, and then they started being sent to breweries for beer to be aged in, imparting the delicious flavors of the former tenant to the new beer. From there, everything from bitters to coffee beans to tobacco have been stored in used barrels, even maple syrup and sherry vinegar. The maple syrup, might I add, is incredible.

One addition, that I’m surprised to not see on the infographic, is Founders Canadian Breakfast Stout (CBS), a massive imperial stout brewed with chocolate and coffee beans that is aged in a barrel that originally held bourbon and then held maple syrup. This beer was released earlier this month and 12,000 bottles didn’t leave much to go around.

Click on the image to see a bigger version of the infographic.

This week’s installment of The Cocktail Spirit with Robert Hess brought to you by the Small Screen Network brings you the Metropole Cocktail. According to Robert Hess, “The Metropole Cocktail was the house cocktail at the Metropole Hotel, opened in New York just before the beginning of the 20th century. Some say it is a stronger and spicier version of the Manhattan.”

The Metropole Cocktail

• 1 1/2 oz brandy or cognac
• 3/4 oz dry vermouth
• dash Bitter Truth Orange Bitters
• 2 dashes Bitter Truth Creole Bitters
• 1/8 oz simple syrup

Instructions

• stir with ice
• strain into a cocktail glass

This week’s installment of The Cocktail Spirit with Robert Hess brought to you by the Small Screen Network brings you the Bridal Cocktail. Robert discovered the Bridal Cocktail in the pages of the Old Waldorf Astoria Bar Book and if you are familiar with the original Martini, made with sweet rather than dry vermouth, this cocktail is quite similar. Robert adds that the addition of Maraschino liqueur adds a hint of cherry that rounds out a delicious cocktail.

The Bridal Cocktail

• 2oz gin
• 1oz sweet vermouth
• dash Bitter Truth Orange Bitters
• dash Maraschino Liqueur

Instructions

• stir with ice

• strain into a cocktail glass
• garnish with an orange twist

This week’s installment of The Cocktail Spirit with Robert Hess brought to you by the Small Screen Network brings you The Royalist Cocktail. According to Robert Hess, “Invented by W.J. Tarling, author of The Café Royal Cocktail Book (1937), the Royalist Cocktail is similar to a Manhattan. The use of Peach bitters in lieu of Angostura as well as the use of dry instead of sweet vermouth are the obvious differences. Benedictine offers a touch of sweetness and spice to what is a delightful cocktail.”

The Royalist Cocktail

• 1 1/2 oz dry vermouth
• 3/4 oz George Dickel Whisky
• 3/4 oz Benedictine
• dash peach bitters

Instructions

• stir with ice
• strain into a cocktail glass

An unlikely combination, Familia Camarena Tequila has partnered with the Minnesota Vikings for a three-year marketing sponsorship. Announced just a day after the kickoff of the 2011 NFL season and the nail biting conclusion of the Green Bay/New Orleans game, the terms of the marketing partnership include rights to the Minnesota Vikings logos, as well as in-stadium brand exposure during all Vikings regular season home games.

“Camarena Tequila’s partnership with the Vikings is an integral part of our marketing strategy focused on continued consumer trial and awareness of Camarena Tequila,” said Gerard Thoukis, Director of Marketing for Camarena. “We look forward to a great inaugural season with this well-respected organization.”

Less than two years old, Familia Camarena Tequila’s professional sports marketing strategy has followed suit with the brand’s more than double-digit growth since its inception in 2010. Announcement of Familia Camarena Tequila’s partnership with the Vikings coincides with sponsorship agreements with six Major League Baseball clubs, two National Basketball Association teams and three additional National Football League teams this year.

Breweries have been partnering with professional sports teams for years, it’s nice to see spirits trying their hand in that arena.

Last year, the food infatuated of LA glittered and guzzled at the first-ever “Food & Wine Presents: Taste of Beverly Hills,” a multi-day event, showcasing the town’s best restaurants and some of eating and drinking’s brightest stars. This year, the team behind that gala (Best Events) has joined with the producers of the “Los Angeles Times’ Celebration of Food & Wine” to throw an unparalleled, city-wide extravaganza of the edible, called simply, The Taste.

The event will take place for four days over Labor Day Weekend, September 2-5, 2011, at nine different locations – from Downtown to Hollywood. Over forty of the city’s top restaurants will be serving unlimited bites of their best dishes, and food celebs like Giada De Laurentiis, Ludo Lefebvre, Michael Voltaggio, Marcel Vigneron and Susan Feniger, and others, will preside over the various parties.

All that delicious food is only half the story, of course, and for those of us who are particularly partial to potables, The Taste promises an abundance of liquid pleasure, too, guided by LA legends of libation, like Julian Cox, Michael Shearin and The Beer Chicks.  Events such as “Paso Robles Pioneers,” “How to Taste Like a Master Sommelier,” “Taco Tequila Tryst,” “Art of Mixing,” and “Navigating a Wine List,” will offer glimpses into the world of professional drinking – and learning how to drink like a professional. Event sponsors include Anchor Distilling Co. and Peroni, Avion and 4 Copas Tequila, Caorunn Gin, Wild Turkey, Campo de Encanto Pisco, VeeV Acai Spirit, Aperol, Cyrus Noble Bourbon, Chopin and Voli Vodka and Don Q Rums. Wineries such as Flowers, Justin, Chalone, Charles Krug, Coppola, Row Eleven, Summerland Winery and Banfi will be pouring unlimited tastes throughout the weekend’s events.

Tickets are available for the entire weekend or by individual event.