The new owners of Glendronach (they are spelling it GlenDronach) will be introducing a new line of whiskies which will include 12, 15, 18 year old and other expressions this coming March, in addition to to other enhancements to the distillery. Here’s the press release I received last week explaining everything, which was embargoed until today.
GLENDRONACH DISTILLERY DEFIES DOWNTURN WITH £250,000 DEVELOPMENT
Work has started today (Monday December 29, 2008) on a £250,000 development of the GlenDronach malt whisky brand.
The Aberdeenshire distillery, one of Scotland’s oldest, was bought earlier this year by the Larbert-based BenRiach Distillery Company.
BenRiach Managing Director Billy Walker said: “This is the beginning of our strategy to re-package and re-launch GlenDronach in markets worldwide. We will take Glendronach back to how it was originally, promoting it as one of Scotland’s original sherried whiskies.”
Mr Walker and his colleagues purchased GlenDronach from Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky business of Pernod Ricard.
“GlenDronach is a bit of a sleeping giant and was not part of Chivas’s expansion plans,” said Regional Sales Director James Cowan. “But we have great plans for it in our markets in the UK, Germany, USA, Belgium, Sweden, Denmark, Russia, Italy, Switzerland, France, Canada, Taiwan, Singapore, Hong Kong and China, amongst others.
“We’re looking forward to breathing new life into it and giving it the attention and commitment it deserves.”
Industry veteran and Master Blender Mr Walker revealed that GlenDronach will release a new core range in March 2009 which will comprise twelve, fifteen and eighteen-year-old malts. It will also release a non-aged product, single cask bottlings and some incredibly rare vintage malts.
Marketing Executive Kerry White said: “Tradition will play a significant role in the new branding. The current packaging, design and logo have been retained but are being enhanced with a few changes. A new proprietary bottle will also be incorporated later in 2009.”
But a major part of the quarter million investment is the development of a new Visitor Centre at the distillery.
Alan McConnochie, GlenDronach’s Distillery Manager, said: “We aim to create an educational and vibrant visitor attraction where both connoisseurs and those new to whisky can learn more about GlenDronach and engage more fully with the brand.
”As part of the development, we will also be hosting corporate evenings at which guests can stay overnight at Glen House, the distillery’s country house. The package will include an evening’s stay, a special tour and master class tasting and fine dining.”
The investment also includes a brand-new website where customers worldwide can use it as a first port of call to find out more about GlenDronach and the maturation techniques that make it so special.
“GlenDronach” is Gaelic for “the valley of the brambles” and takes its name from the Dronach Burn which winds its way through the grounds of the distillery. Founded at Forgue, Aberdeenshire, in 1826 by James Allardice, one of the original whisky entrepreneurs, GlenDronach Distillery produces a series of single malt whiskies ranging in age from twelve to thirty-three years old and currently has the capacity to produce almost one and a half million litres of whisky a year.
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As previously said the Laphroaig Triple Wood would make it’s entry on the Duty-Free market this autum/winter. 200 bottles is rumored to be sold to Friends of Laphroaig before the official release, but I haven’t seen them materialize yet.
Btw. Beam Global’s previously stated release of Ardmore 25yo was showcased in October and should be popping up in major Duty Free-outlets - at a whooping €249 (£234.50), almost twice the price of Highland Park 25yo in Norway.
