First the Vuvuzela, now the AmaShibobo

Its been a long time since I had a shooter of anything other than tequila so I was intrigued to try the AmaShibobo, a World Cup special shooter creation from Distell, in funky soccer ball shape glasses. 

Individually the Amarula drink is the most popular of the trio of Amarula, Peppermint Liqueur and Nachtmusik, the chocolate drink that goes well with coffee and a favourite with locals and tourists.

Not having floated anything other than cream on an Irish coffee for a while, it took me a few attempts to get the green, gold and brown liquids perfect in the glass, but the end result, in taste and appearance, was very good. I enjoyed the combination of the creaminess of the Amarula and the Nachtmusik with the fresh, herbal flavours of the peppermint liqueur.

The shooter can be enjoyed anytime and the individual drinks are not out of place in any bar. Your World Cup soccer experience will be improved with this drink - even if your team is not playing too well.

Viva Bafana. Viva AmaShibobo.

Here is the official press release:

AMARULA SHOOTS FOR THE STARS AHEAD OF 2010 FIFA WORLD CUP ™

Two’s company and three’s a crowd, which is exactly what you want when festivity is in the air.  Amarula, known globally as the spirit of Africa, is celebrating the continent’s hosting of the biggest sporting event in the world with a three-in-one soccer shooter, AmaShibobo.  Created to mark the tournament, it is made by mixing equal parts of Amarula Cream with Nachtmusik and Oude Meester Peppermint Liqueur.

Says brand manager Lynette Harris: “Ideally you should use a shot glass. Start by pouring the Nachtmusik, follow with the Oude Meester Peppermint Liqueur and top off with the Amarula to create a beautifully layered drink.  First you will encounter the decadently delicious and creamy fusion of marula fruit and fresh cream, that’s reminiscent of vanilla, citrus and exotic spice.  It will be lifted by fresh, tangy peppermint flavours and rounded off with the rich, smooth taste of chocolate.

“A true mark of hospitality that’s impressive to look at and absolutely sensational on the palate, AmaShibobo makes a great way of toasting the teams and enjoying the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, regardless of who takes home the trophy.”

In an agreement with FIFA, Amarula is entitled to market a limited-edition 750 ml pack to commemorate South Africa’s hosting of the games.  On sale now, it is available nationwide and retails for around R85 a bottle.

For further information on Amarula Cream please visit www.amarula.com and on the Amarula Trust www.amarulatrust.com  

Classy winery and classy wines in the heart of Cape Town

Jean-Vincent Ridon - JV to his mates - makes some awesome wines. We shared a glass or two of his wines on Monday evening when I popped in to his new wine venture in the City Center. With food from HQ and Caveau, two of the best foodie places in Cape Town and JV and his business partner Kyle sorting out the wines, the Signal Hill City winery is going to be a winner. There is so much going on and JV and Kyle are great hosts.

If you love wine, this is the place for you. If you love wine and food, pitch a tent outside. It really is that good.

SIGNAL HILL, THE CITY WINERY

Reuniting the city of Cape Town with its glorious past of growing vines and producing wine, Signal Hill Winery is opening its new micro experimental winery to the public, in Heritage Square. This historic building dates back to 1771, and is in the very heart of the city.

Established in 1997, Signal Hill Winery re-ignited the flame that was lit 350 years ago, putting the South African wine industry onto a path made of honourable tradition and innovative experimentation, in the process of creating wines celebrated both in South Africa and internationally.

Under the management of Kyle Zulch, and JV Ridon, both renowned winemakers, Signal Hill winery is offering "première" wines, and unmatchable experiences - from exotic cultivars, to rejuvenated ancient methods, and a new generation of world class wines nurtured and carefully crafted with passion and hedonism.

The new interactive winery will offer barrel tastings, blending classes, sparkling wine disgorgement classes, and tutored wine tastings. Depending on the season, visitors will be able to participate in the harvest activities of the city vineyards, the crushing and pressing of the grapes in a traditional wood basket-press and assist with racking or bottling of some of Signal Hill’s iconic wines.

But to make the experience truly unforgettable, Signal Hill Winery is welcoming wine lovers to its wine bar and restaurant. Signal Hill wines along with other internationally acclaimed wines will be available to match the most exciting foods. Grenache Blanc with tuna sashimi, Petit Verdot with a grilled grain fed beef sirloin or the very rare Camps Bay wine with a paired creation of our chefs

Open 11:00 to 19:00, Monday to Friday, and 12:00 to 17:00 on Saturday, Signal Hill Winery will also be offering exclusive wine dinners with the celebrity Sommelier Jorg Pfüzner, from Fine Wine Events. These small dinners inside the winery, will be based on rare and vintage wines, paired with the creativity of our chefs. These exclusive events will be offered to Signal Hill faithful supporters, and will include mind blowing rarities... The coming months events will be based around 1923 Romanée Saint Vivant from Burgundy, or 1947 Clos d'Eglise from Pomerol, not mentioning 1950 Barsac Sauterne or 1957 Chateauneuf du Pape, specially flown from collectors' European cellars.

During the harvest season, the City Vineyards Festival will take place on Heritage Square, and the grapes from Signal Hill Winery’s vineyards in Oranjezicht, Camps Bay and Kalk Bay will be pressed on our premises and be open to the public. This will allow all wine lovers to grab a magical touch of the harvest, in the heart of the city, as it first happened in February 1659, a few blocks away from our historic winery. As a journey into the past, the oldest known fruit bearing vine of the Southern Hemisphere, believed to have survived since the 18th century, will be harvested by Signal Hill’s team of winemakers, and handcrafted into a legacy wine, a living legend.

Learn more about Signal Hill tastings and experiences on our website, www.winery.co.za and join us - For an educational wine tasting, a teasing glass of wine with friends or a full food and wine pairing moment led by our winemakers for a more personal touch - something unique in the wine world..

Signal Hill winery is located 100 Shortmarket street, Heritage Square, Cape Town. For more information: info@winery.co.za

Bushmills strikes gold in San Francisco

Irish Whiskey was named as the world’s fastest growing international spirits category by IWSR (2008).
• Results for Bushmills at 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition:
o Bushmills 1608 - Double Gold and named Best Irish Whiskey
o Bushmills Black Bush - Double Gold
o Bushmills Original - Gold
o Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt - Gold
o Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt - Gold
o Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt - Gold
• Results for Bushmills at 2010 World Whiskies Awards:
o Bushmills Black Bush named Best Irish Blended Whiskey (no age)
o Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt named World’s Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey
o Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt named Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey (13 – 20 year old)

Bushmills Irish Whiskey is celebrating after sweeping the board at the prestigious 2010 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. As well as winning Best Irish Whiskey, the Bushmills range picked up two double gold and four gold accolades, making Bushmills one of the few international spirit brands ever to scoop 100% gold in the international competition. This comes hot on the heels of the range winning three World Whiskies Awards in London earlier this year.

Now in its tenth year, The San Francisco World Spirits Competition is one of the largest and most respected spirits competitions in the world - attracting more than one thousand entries from around the globe. Bushmills took home top awards for its entire range of Irish Whiskies, with the Black Bush and 1608 blends each claiming double gold and Bushmills Original and the 10, 16 and 21 Year Old Single Malt Whiskies all winning gold. Bushmills 1608 was also named Best Irish Whiskey.

Colum Egan, Bushmills Master Distiller, said: “This is an incredible achievement for Bushmills. We like to think that we make the world’s finest Irish whiskey – it’s great to hear that the experts share that opinion and the team at the distillery are absolutely thrilled. We’ll definitely be cracking open a bottle and raising a glass to celebrate our wins!”

In February, at the London ceremony of the 2010 World Whiskies Awards, Bushmills Black Bush was named Best Irish Blended Whiskey (no age), while Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt was named World’s Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey and Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt was named Best Irish Single Malt Whiskey in the 13 – 20 year old category.

“The awards are further recognition of the outstanding quality of Bushmills,” said Sarah Miles, Bushmills Global Brand Director. “It’s a real achievement to be placed at the forefront of the fastest growing international spirits category in the world today. Irish whiskey is obviously a competitive market and so we’re delighted that the excellence of our liquid has been recognised by our peers.”

Colum Egan added, “We like to think that we know a good bit about making whiskey, since it’s been made in the Bushmills area for more than 400 years. And this year the global search for someone to ‘Make it at Bushmills’ opens the doors of the distillery to one lucky winner who will work alongside me for 30 days to learn the secrets that make Bushmills the award-winning Irish whiskey it is today.”

•

Bourbon and Tequila confusion

I enjoy Maker's Mark Bourbon. I enjoy Cuervo Tequila. But I have never confused the two. Diageo stopped using the red wax seal six years ago, but what does this mean to some of the smaller wine producers who use the wax seal and other spirits producers? Maker's Mark is a great Bourbon, but I wonder what the point was of this litigation?




SAN FRANCISCO, April 5 (Reuters) - Fortune Brands Inc's (FO.N) Maker's Mark brand has won a ruling in U.S. district court in Kentucky that prohibits Jose Cuervo International and distributor Diageo (DGE.L) from using a dripping red wax seal on its tequila bottles, the company said on Monday.

Maker's Mark, a premium brand of bourbon, is topped off with red wax in a design that is "off limits to our competitors," said Maker's Mark President Bill Samuels in a statement.

The ruling prohibits Jose Cuervo International Inc, its affiliates and the company's U.S. distributor, Diageo North America, from the infringing use, Fortune said.

Diageo said it had voluntarily ceased using the wax seal over six years ago, ajavascript:void(0)dding in a statement that neither it nor Cuervo had been found liable for monetary damages.

Federal Judge John G. Heyburn III issued an injunction against future use, finding that consumers could be confused about Cuervo products, given the similar seal. (

Bisquit Cognac.

It’s a pleasure to drink high quality, fine tasting premium spirits and a sunny afternoon in the Cape a media launch of Bisquit Cognac is as good a time and a place as any to do both.

When liquor giant Distell spent close on R 400 million to purchase Bisquit I thought it was a brave move in a tight economy. It’s not easy breaking in to the top end of a market here with a new product – albeit with a 200 year history - I was curious to see what they had planned.

Sometimes media launches work, sometimes they don’t. Many things can go wrong – the product and the environment don’t match; the product is over-hyped but does not follow through on quality; or too much glamour, too little substance.

Not this time. Attendees toured sun-filled rooms where the heritage (did you know that the founder of Bisquit was one of the first people to sell spirits by the bottle, not by the cask?) and production were explained by enthusiastic and knowledgeable brand and marketing managers. Nose extraordinaire and international spirits judge Johan Venter, the Distell Group director of production conducted the formal tasting. The canapés were classy and the music set the right mood. What about the drinks?

Occasionally we find a standout premium spirit. Singleton Single Malt whisky and Patron Café Tequila are examples of winners - products that taste great and sell very well.

I think Bisquit Cognac is a winner. Firstly, it tastes very good. That’s the most important to me. Forget the fancy packaging and media hype. The Cognacs I tasted were drinks that I would go out and buy, to drink. Not to sit on a shelf and look pretty, but to enjoy. No amount of marketing can make up for a product that consumers don’t enjoy. And this is something consumers will enjoy, a great deal. There was a wonderful look of anticipation on the faces of the media people as the tasting glasses of the VS Classique and VSOP Fine Champagne entered the room and the rich apricot aroma filled the air. And after the tasting the glasses were empty. That’s always a good sign.

Thankfully Cognac is no longer the preserve of old men with big bellies who fall asleep after lunch. Seemingly to reinforce Distell’s apparent aim of introducing the Classique Cognac to a younger target market, the Classique was served as the welcome drink in a cocktail – with lime, lemon, lemonade and a slice of cucumber. It will be interesting to see what cocktails our top mixologists can come up with. There’s a thought, Distell. You have a great product that good bartenders would love working with. I see a competition coming up…

The VSOP Fine Champagne is incredible. It rivals single malt whiskies with its complexity and depth of flavour. It overtakes some single malts with the intensity of the rich fruits. I think it is perfect on its own or with a splash of chilled water.

Distell have a serious approach to their investment and are planning to make major inroads into a South African Cognac market previously dominated by Hennessey, Remy Martin, Courvoisier & Martell. Is there room for Cognac Bisquit? Definitely. Lovers of premium spirits will do well to add this to their liquor cabinets.

Drink less, but drink better.


Bernard



For any questions about sales, distribution etc please call LEE-ANNE LOTZ, BRAND MANAGER (021) 809 7000 OR 083 331 1936 and for PR info call TESSA DE KOCK/MARLISE POTGIETER, DKC (021) 422 2690

IRELAND’S OLDEST LICENSED DISTILLERY INVITES WHISKEY LOVERS TO LEARN 400 YEAR-OLD SECRETS

IRELAND’S OLDEST LICENSED DISTILLERY INVITES WHISKEY LOVERS TO LEARN 400 YEAR-OLD SECRETS

Cape Town, 25th March This year the Bushmills Master Distiller Colum Egan has taken the unprecedented step of offering to share his unique life in the town of Bushmills, Northern Ireland for a month. This global opportunity will see one person spend 30 days at the heart of the area and community that was granted a licence to distil whiskey in 1608.

If they can prove to Colum that they have embraced the special Bushmills way of life and can ‘Make it at Bushmills’ then, at the end of their 30 days, they will get to be the first ever person outside of the distillery to create their own blend of Bushmills Irish Whiskey.

Set against the stunning backdrop of Ireland’s north coast the winner will get to experience the best of Bushmills for those 30 days, from the secrets of making the finest Irish whiskey to discovering the unique personality and sense of adventure that are an integral part of the Bushmills community.

Colum Egan said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for someone to come to the home of Bushmills Irish Whiskey and get a truly unique experience of what goes on here. I'm looking for someone with a sense of adventure, someone who's passionate about life and a whiskey lover, someone who's ready to share the Bushmills story with the world”

“Over the past 400 years we’ve learned a lot about making great whiskey and a lot about enjoying it! That’s something we want to share, from learning how to select the perfect mature whiskey, to learning the best way to catch a good salmon…or even one of our world-famous waves! It’s all part of the Bushmills way of life. If someone can prove to us that they have what it takes to ‘Make it at Bushmills’ then we’d be delighted to let them be the first person outside of the distillery to work alongside me to create their own special blend of Bushmills Irish Whiskey – hopefully it’s not too good or I’ll be out of a job!”

The global search for someone to ‘Make it at Bushmills’ will give millions of people the chance to apply online through the Bushmills Facebook page. For the winner there are the added attractions of £5,000 in spending money and an all expenses paid 30 days in Ireland, living in luxury penthouse accommodation.

If you think that you have what it takes to ‘Make it at Bushmills’ then visit the local page on Facebook (Bushmills South Africa) http://www.facebook.com/pages/BushmillsSouthAfrica/373295362444 to become a fan and enter the competition. Entries open on the 24th March and close on the 30th June, after which time Colum’s local favourites will be short-listed for the next phase of the competition.

Ends

For further information please contact:
Tony Niemeyer
Account Manager
Atmosphere Communications
Direct tel: 021 469 1584
Cell: 072 442 2230
Email: tony.niemeyer@gmail.com

Jennifer Rawlins
Account Assistant
Atmosphere Communications
Direct tel: 021 469 1541
Cell: 084 393 0916
Email: Jennifer@atmosphere.co.za

Bain's Cape Mountain Whisky

Article from the Business Day Weekender edition.



BERNARD GUTMAN has a talk and a tot with the maker of SA’s first single-grain whisky
Published: 2009/09/05 07:23:05 AM

THE island of Islay is just off the west coast of Scotland. It is home to 3500 people and eight malt whisky distilleries, including the Bowmore distillery, legendary for its smoky, peated whiskies.

Bowmore is also where Andy Watts, master distiller at Distell, spent time learning about whisky.

At the James Sedgwick distillery in Wellington, surrounded by barrels of slowly maturing whisky, with the rain pelting down in true Scottish style, Watts shares some of his thoughts about Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, SA’s first single-grain whisky.

“We think this product showcases the excellent raw materials available to us. Our grains were used in many Scotch whiskies up to the mid-1980s, so if you are lucky enough to enjoy a good single-grain or blended Scotch 24 years and older, chances are you are having grain grown in SA.”

Click on link for more