Laphroaig

Jim Beam Parent Fortune Brands Set For Breakup

Filed under: Spirits

Fortune Brands (NYSE-FO), according to press reports in The Wall Street Journal and Associated Press is planning to spin off its golf and home security businesses to shareholders, while maintaining its portfolio of liquor brands, including Jim Beam Brands, Maker's Mark, Courvoisier Cognac, Laphroaig single-malt Scotch whisky and Harvey's Sherry, as a public company.

The company will spin off its golf products business, led by Titleist, as well as its security business led by the MasterLock brand. It's home products business, also to be spun off, includes Moen plumbing fixtures.

The spirits business is about a 2.5 billion operation in terms of annual revenues.

Fortune Brands board of directors has been pressured to maximize the value of the company by activist investor Bill Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, who holds an 11% stake in the company.

Fortune Brands has long been viewed as a 20th-century style conglomerate ripe for break-up. It's disparate businesses have no real synergies and are worth more broken up than hey are run together, Ackman has argued.

Fortune Brands is trading around its 52-week high of $61 a share, up substantially from its 52-week low of $37.05. Ackman's intervention has been the chief driver of the stock.

Tags: Fortune Brands FO, Jim Beam, Laphroaig, Makers Mark, Moen, Titleist

Fortune Brands Breakup Would Put Premium Spirits Brands In Play

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Activist investor Bill Ackman has been given a four-week deadline to propose changes to the board of Fortune Brands, the company that is parent to Jim Beam, Maker's Mark, Laphroaig and Courvosier, as well as Pinnacle and Scotty Cameron golf equipment, which could lead to the break-up of the conglomerate.

Since disclosing his holding last month, Mr Ackman, founder of Pershing Square Capital Management, has kept quiet about his plans. However, his record suggests he wants Fortune's board to explore breaking up its stable of consumer brands starting with its spirits business, which includes Jim Beam whiskey and that distillery's small-batch Bourbon brands, and Courvoisier cognac.

Ackman holds an 11% stake in the company, which has always been viewed as an odd throw-back type conglomerate of disassociated businesses. Besides the spirits brands, and golf equipment, Fortune also operates home and home-security businesses and brands such as Moen, Masterlock, as well as kitchen cabinet brands.

In the past month, Ackman has held talks with Fortune's management about its corporate structure, shareholder value, etc. Ackman has four weeks to file a slate of his own candidates for the company's board to be voted on at the general meeting in April.

The most obvious buyers of FB's liquor businesses are drinks giants Diageo and Pernod Ricard of France. Gruppo Campari, which owns Wild Turkey and other brands, also could be interested in acquiring some of the brands. Bacardi would also be a factor in bidding. It is possible that Fortune Brands spirits brands would go to different companies, each looking for its own strategic additions.

Fortune's other brands include Cruzan Rum, Canadian Club, Effen Vodka, Ardmore single-malt, Harvey's Bristol Cream Sherry, Teacher's Scotch Whiskey and DeKuyper spirits.

Fortune Brands shares are trading around $60.00, up more than 10% since October 7, and up from its 52-week low of $37.05

Tags: alcohol, Bill Ackman, bourbon, Courvosier, Fortune Brands, Jim Beam, Knob Creek, Laphroaig, Makers Mark, Masterlock, Moen, Pinnacle, scotty cameron, spirits, whiskey, whisky

New Spirit: The Balvenie 17 Year Peated Cask

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Speyside Scotch distillery The Balvenie has released a new limited edition expression, a 17-year old that is finished in a peated Islay cask. This is not the first time that the Balvenie have dabbled in peat. A previous limited edition, Islay Cask, sold out fast and is considered a collectible, selling well North of $200 in the secondary market.

Balvenie Peated Cask, $130.00, is comprised of a marriage of 17-year old Balvenie finished in new oak and 17-year old finished in casks that had previously held an unreleased experimental heavily-peated Balvenie distilled in 2001.

The nose on this expression is honeyed malt, which is The Balvenie's signature, soft oak dried apricots, orange liqueur, with some wood smoke notes chasing the fruit. The smoke is more pronounced on the tongue: indeed it overshadows the fruit. There is a saltiness in the finish typical of Laphroaig.

As Islay malts have grown in popularity, some of the Speyside and Highland distilleries, that generally do not malt their barley with peat, have been playing around with peat finishing to broaden their portfolios.

The Balvenie 17 is interesting, but not as pleasing, I think, as its core expressions. If you want peat, buy an Islay malt I say.

Tags: alcohol, Islay malts, Laphroaig, peated whisky, The Balvenie, The Balvenie 17 year-old peated cask, whiskey, whisky, whisky tasting

Johnnie Walker Double Black Going Global

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Spirits giant Diageo says it will launch its Johnnie Walker Double Black beyond the travel retail channel next year, broadening the Johnnie Walker lineup for consumers worldwide.

Double Black, which has extra smoky flavor than Johnnie Walker Black, was launched last January in six airport duty-free channels. It was well received, and was then made available globally in travel retail.

But response to Double Black, which costs about 20% more than Black, has been so positive that the company has geared up to distribute globally starting in March 2011.

The whisky was created by taking Black as a blueprint and adding heavily peated malts and aging some of the whisky in deeply charred oak casks. There is no age statement.

The move is being made to counter some of the growing interest in Islay single malts such as Ardbeg, Laphroaig and Lagavulin.

Tags: Ardbeg, Johnnie Walker, Johnnie Walkr Double Black, Lagavullin, Laphroaig, peated whiskies, whiskey, whisky

New Laphroaig Triple Wood Adds Sherry Finishing

by David Kiley (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

There is so much sherry wood finishing going on in whiskey circles these days, it's a wonder that there are enough barrels to go around. And just when I thought I might be wearying of the trend, Laphroaig comes out with Triple Wood.

This Islay expression is Laphroaig Quarter-Cask that has been finished in Oloroso sherry casks. The effect is to take the already beautifully peaty Laphroaig and dial in some cherries and black currants. This could have been a bad result. But it turned out wonderful, with the fruit accenting and dancing at the edges of the peat bog, not getting overly involved in the smoke and charcoal that makes Laphroaig Laphroaig.

The price of $100 seems dead on right for this premium single-malt expression. The only bad news is that it will head into travel retail and the finer whiskey shops in Europe, and is not yet scheduled or U.S. retailers. This is one of those that is well worth dragging home from the airport.

Tags: Islay malt, Laphroaig, Laphroaig Quarter-Cask, Laphroaig Triple Wood, Single-Malt Scotch Whiskey, Single-malt whisky, whiskey, whisky

Laphroaig Celebrates Scottish Heritage with Curling Partnership

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Sports

Talk about "Scotch on ice" - with the excitement of the 2010 Winter Olympics upon us, Laphroaig single malt Scotch is kicking off a year-long celebration of Scottish heritage with its official sponsorship of the United States Curling Association (USCA). At an event to kick off the partnership, bringing together two of the greatest traditions from Scotland – Laphroaig and curling – Scotch Malt Master Simon Brook (right) engaged guests in a Laphroaig tasting while Jessica Schultz (left), 2006 Winter Olympics Curling Team Member, led a hands-on curling demonstration.

Rich, smoky Laphroaig, established in 1815 on Islay, holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales and bears his heraldic three-feather badge on its label. "There are few brands out there that have as deep a Scottish history as Laphroaig," notes USCA President Leland Rich. "We are honored to have such a respected brand sponsor the United States Curling Association. This truly brings the spirit of the winter games to new heights." Often referred to as "chess on ice" or "winter golf," curling originated in Scotland in the 16th century.

Tags: curling, Islay, Laphroaig, Olympics, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Scotch, Scotland, single malt, United States Curling Association, UnitedStatesCurlingAssociation, Winter Olympics, winter sports, WinterOlympics, WinterSports

The Classicist: Celebrating the Best of the Season

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Apparel, Luxury Travel & Hotels, Spirits, Timepieces / Watches, Luxury Cars & Autos, Shoes, Books, Men's Style, The Classicist

As we head inexorably into winter here on the East Coast, it's time for The Classicist to take a look back, raise a glass and celebrate the best of the season. Perhaps you're looking for a last-minute gift for the holidays or just want to treat yourself once the dust settles. Here's our rundown of seasonal favorites, some we've mentioned before and others appearing for the first time. See the gallery for full pix:

1. Barbour Dunelm jacket: A slimmed down version of the classic foul weather parka style jacket in signature waxed cotton with an attached hood, utility pockets and a two way zip under a studded-front storm flap, from the classic British outerwear company. Founded in 1894 and holders of the Royal Warrant, they've opened a new chapter in classic sporting style with updated designs.

2. LINCS by David Chu cardigan: From Chu's new collection of clothing for the "gentleman adventurer", a weighty cashmere cardigan in a heathery loden weave with a leather buckle at the collar and suede trim under the placket. The epitome of Chu's classic and rugged yet elegant ethos.

3. Ralph Lauren tartan duffel: Part of Lauren's luxe new Holiday Collection, rooted in the spirit of 1930's Sun Valley, the famous Idaho ski resort frequented by socialites and celebrities. Tartan plaid wool with saddle leather trim embodies wintry sophistication.

4. Wolverine Gentry Upland boots: From the 125-year-old company's new vintage-inspired 1000 Mile Collection, finished in rough full-grain leather with loden Pendleton wool inserts and lug soles. Equally at home in the field or on the town.

5. Caesar Guerini Apex shotgun: The rich heritage of fine Italian shotgun makers meets British lines and classic style in the Apex field and sporting models, blending beauty - Oiled Turkish Circassian walnut stock and intricate engraving - with performance and lasting value.

Gallery: The Classicist: Best of Fall / Winter '09

Tags: Barbour, Caesar Guerini, CaesarGuerini, David Chu, DavidChu, Land Rover, LandRover, laphroaig, LINCS, Project X, ProjectX, Ralph Lauren, RalphLauren, Range Rover, RangeRover, Rolex, Scotch, shotgun, sporting, The Classicist, The Equinox, TheClassicist, TheEquinox, Wolverine

Continue reading “The Classicist: Celebrating the Best of the Season”

William & Son Granted Royal Warrant

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Handbags, Jewelry, Timepieces / Watches, Celebrity Shopping

William & Son, the luxury goods emporium located in London's elegant Mayfair district founded by William Asprey after his family's business, Asprey of London, was sold off back in the '90s, was recently granted a Royal Warrant to HM Queen Elizabeth II. The firm (which we wrote about last year), offers high-end jewelry, silver, watches, leathergoods, china and crystal, as well as custom-made shotguns and other bespoke services. The Royal Warrant is awarded as a mark of recognition to companies who have regularly supplied goods or services for at least five years to members of the Royal Family. Warrants have always been regarded as a mark of excellence and quality, and are highly prized. Other firms holding the Royal Warrant include Asprey, Swaine Adeney Brigg, Barbour and Laphroaig.

Tags: alligator, Asprey, Barbour, jewelry, Laphroaig, London, luxury goods, LuxuryGoods, Queen Elizabeth, Queen of England, QueenElizabeth, QueenOfEngland, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, shotgun

Laphroaig Launches 18 Yr., Hosts Live Online Tasting

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events

On Friday, Sept. 25, Islay single malt Scotch Laphroaig is hosting Distillery LIVE 2009, an interactive, online webcast tasting for whisky fans across the globe. The star of the show is their new limited edition 18-Year-Old (right).

The 18-year aging process results in a Scotch bright gold in color enhanced by soft, sweet and spicy Islay peat smoke with a hint of the sea. The full-bodied whisky tastes of a tang of smoke that fades into smooth floral scents, which blends seamlessly into an oaky nuttiness and a lasting smooth, sweet finish.

Hosted in the United States for the first time, Laphroaig Distillery Manager John Campbell is traveling to bourbon country to join Maker's Mark Master Distiller Kevin Smith for the live-broadcast event at the Maker's Mark Distillery in Loretto, Kentucky.

Together Campbell and Smith, along with Malt Advocate magazine's John Hansell, will celebrate the relationship between Laphroaig and Maker's Mark, specifically the maturation process of Laphroaig in former Maker's Mark bourbon barrels, while educating consumers on traditional Laphroaig expressions.

The webcast is taking place at 8 p.m. EST on the 25th, and is accessible at www.distillerylive.us.com.

Tags: Islay, Laphroaig, Makers Mark, MakersMark, Scotch, single malt, SingleMalt, whisky

Single Malt Social Networking with Friends of Laphroaig

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Did you know that Laphroaig single malt Scotch whisky offers a lifetime lease of one square foot plot of land on the island of Islay where the distillery is located in Scotland to each consumer who buys a bottle?

All you have to do is register the purchase number found with the bottle at www.laphroaig.com/plot to stake your claim. You will then automatically become a member of the Friends of Laphroaig community and will receive the deed to the numbered plot of land.

Friends are encouraged to visit the distillery to view their plot and claim their "rent" – a dram of Laphroaig. Meanwhile at www.laphroaig.com you can now view aerial photographs to find your plot of land and meet your "neighbors" via an interactive member map. You may discover a fellow Laphroiag enthusiast just down the street and can even send them a private message.

There are more than 364,000 Friends of Laphroaig spread across more than 150 countries registered online. Among the site's many features is Laphroaig TV, offering a look inside the distillery as well as exclusive previews of limited-edition bottlings, live online tastings and educational seminars.

Laphroaig, established in 1815, is one of the richest, smokiest single malts and one of the very best Scotches ever produced. It holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales and bears his heraldic three-feather badge on its label.

Tags: distillery, Islay, Laphroaig, Prince of Wales, PrinceOfWales, Royal Warrant, RoyalWarrant, Scotland, social networking, SocialNetworking, whisky

Laphroaig 25 and Ardmore 30 Single Malts Arrive Stateside

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

Beam Global Spirits & Wine is offering whisky aficionados and investors two new limited-edition single malt bottlings for their spirits portfolios – Laphroaig 25 Year Old and Ardmore 30 Year Old. The Laphroaig (above, right) reveals the remarkable result of 25 years of aging in the finest Oloroso Sherry and American Oak casks. The whisky is a rare combination of bold peat flavor spiced with sweet sherry notes and rich oaky undertones. Creamy, smooth, full of character and complexity, it's bottled at cask strength and priced at $499.99 per bottle.

The Ardmore 30 (above, left) is crafted at the only Highland distillery that has consistently peated its barley since its inception. The whisky "weaves bold smoky flavor notes historically associated only with Islay malts into the rich Highland malt experience." Aged in former bourbon barrels and handmade quarter casks, it reveals a distinctive finish and rich, complex flavor. Only 1,428 bottles of the rare and exclusive Scotch, each individually numbered, are available at a suggested retail price of $449.99 as well.

Tags: Ardmore, Laphroaig, Scotch, Scotland, single malt, SingleMalt, whiskey, whisky

Laphroaig to Unveil New Whiskies at Online Tasting

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits

On June 18, Laphroaig Single Malt will host a live online tasting featuring the global unveiling of two yet-to-be-released whiskies. The 45-minute webcast, beginning at 3:00 p.m. EST, will be conducted by Distillery Manager John Campbell and Master Blender Robert Hicks from inside Warehouse 1 at the historic Laphroaig Distillery on Islay. As we reported earlier this month, longtime Laphroaig fan Prince Charles recently visited there (see above). The online tasting and educational seminar will include smoky classics Laphroaig 10 Year Old, Laphroaig Quarter Cask, Laphroaig Cáirdeas, and two unreleased whiskies: Laphroaig 30 Year Old Cáirdeas and the yet-to-be-bottled Laphroaig Triple Wood. Participants of legal purchase age can download tasting notes and guides and submit their questions in advance at Laphroaig.com. For more information visit www.Laphroaig.com/live.

Gallery: Laphroaig Scotch Tasting

Source

Tags: Islay, laphroaig, Prince Charles, PrinceCharles, Scotch, Scotch whisky, ScotchWhisky, Scotland, Single Malt, SingleMalt

Prince Charles Visits Laphroaig, Confirms Royal Warrant

by Jared Paul Stern (RSS feed) —

Filed under: Spirits, Events, Charity

Yesterday Prince Charles and Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, paid a visit to the home of his favorite Scotch whisky, the Laphroaig distillery on Islay. Laphroaig, established in 1815, is one of the richest, smokiest single malts and one of the very best Scotches ever produced. It holds a Royal Warrant from the Prince of Wales, which he confirmed while there, and bears his heraldic three-feather badge on its label. The kilt-clad Charles and Camilla - who are known as by their local title, the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay, while traveling in Scotland - toured the distillery, learned about (and leant a hand in) its production and nosed whiskies of different ages. The Prince also signed two barrels of maturing spirit and an ultra-rare 40-year-old bottle of Laphroaig, one of only a handful left in the world, all to be auctioned off for charity. The 40-year-old was worth about $5,000 before he applied the royal signature. The proceeds from the auctions will go to the charities of Charles' choice.

Gallery: Prince Charles & Laphroaig