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.

Last year, Gordon Macphail stunned the world when they released the world’s oldest single malt whisky, the Scottish 70 year old Mortlach in their Generations Series. Now, they’re at it again, this time with a 70 year old Glenlivet as part of the Gordon and Macphail Glenlivet Decades collection which includes five decades worth of Glenlivet from 1954, 1963, 1974, 1980 and 1991. The collection as a whole can be purchased for $4,700 or by the bottle individually for $160-$2100 depending on the age and rarity of the particular bottle.

For those that like an unadulterated dram, there are whisky stones made by Teroforma. I have never personally used these, but they are a very cool concept and I would definitely like to try them. Andrew Hellman, owner of Teroforma, doesn’t take credit for designing a stone cube, rather he transplanted an age-old concept from Scandinavia, where they have been making and using whisky stones for years. He took this idea and decided to produce them in the US, using locally sourced soapstone and local craftsmanship, all to get that perfectly chilled dram without watering down the precious liquor.

Directions couldn’t be easier .. throw three or four whisky stones into the freezer for four hours and then add them into a pour of your favorite spirit and let stand for five minutes to chill. Rinsable, reusable, too easy. One thing to note, these won’t work for higher volume beverages like juice, soda, icea tea, etc. I’m really digging their slogan though, Ice Melts, Whisky Rocks.

To purchase, check out this website.

Mutineer turned beer into water with New Holland Brewing with our collaboration beer Mutinous Battle Chai to help fund A Child’s Right’s water projects in developing countries. Now The Macallan and Lalique have turned whisky into water by way of The Macallan 64 Years Old in Lalique: Cire Perdue. The 64 year old single malt Scotch is the oldest and rarest single malt whisky ever released by the distillery and is housed in a decanter expertly crafted using the ancient “cire perdue,” or lost wax, process that Lalique has not implemented since 1930. How much did it go for you ask? It was expected to bring in $100,000 and it went at auction for an earth shattering $460,000, all of which will help fund charity:water and their water relief projects in developing countries. Continue Reading »

The much talked about but ever so elusive Johnnie Walker Double Black is back. Well, in March 2011 anyways. Originally launched and tested at six leading international airport locations in January 2010, Double Black was received so well that it will be distributed globally early next year. Taking the already smoky Johnnie Walker Black Label, Master Blender Jim Beveridge would take the characteristics found in that and amplify them, creating a new intensity to the spirit. Continue Reading »

Each day, social media finds a new way to be a part of our everyday lives. Not limited to just consumers, it has worked itself into the realm of fine beverage culture and even to companies dating back nearly 150 years. That company is Glenfiddich. Each year, Glenfiddich releases their Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve which is an extremely limited edition single malt Scotch whisky. In years past, the Glenfiddich Malt Master would invite a panel of whisky experts and enthusiasts to join him in tasting and eventually choosing their favorite whisky from a group of pre-selected casks. Their choice would become that year’s Glenfiddich Vintage Reserve.
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In theory, if something is fermentable, you can make booze out of it. Things high in sugar content happen to be excellent candidates for distilling. Corn, potatoes, cane sugar — all great foundations for spirits.

And what about urine? Apparently so…

For the life of me, I cannot even begin to understand the thought process behind distilling human pee. Who even comes up with this idea, let alone executes it? And if that wasn’t hard enough to contemplate, the fact that people have actually tasted such a product completely blows my mind.

Let me explain. There is a man, a very unique man, by the name of James Gilpin, who has decided to focused his research and design on the future of health care and the implementation of new biomedical technologies. Mr. Gilpin is particularly preoccupied with diabetes, as he himself is a type 1 diabetic. During his research, Mr. Gilpin observed that large amounts of sugar are excreted on a daily basis by type-two diabetic patients, especially in the urine of the elderly. Continue Reading »

In 1263, a member of the Mackenzie family stopped a rampant stag from slaying Alexander the 3rd. The King rewarded Clan Mackenzie by allowing him to where a stag’s head in his coat of arms. The noble stag became the official brand symbol for The Dalmore after its acquirement by the MacKenzie family in 1886.

Since 1839, the Mackenzie family has consistently made spirits from the highest quality peat and rich water from the land they come from and, to this day, continues to do so with The Dalmore Scotch brand. The Dalmore “clan” has outdone itself with its newest creation, The Dalmore 18, which was officially released into the US market at the beginning of this month. This is the first time in the company’s history that it has released an 18 year old version of the spirit. Continue Reading »