Anchor Distilling Introduces Blue Hanger 7th Limited Release Whisky

Arriving in America for the first time, Anchor Distilling introduces Blue Hanger 7th Limited Release, a United States exclusive from Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits. Limited to only 3,088 bottles, this new variant of Blue Hanger is comprised of the following whiskies; one hogshead of Bruichladdich 1992, one butt of Bunnahabhain 1990, four hogsheads of Miltonduff 1997, and two hogsheads of Bunnahabhain Moine (peated) 2006.

This blended malt whisky is named after William “Blue” Hanger, the Third Lord Coleraine, a loyal customer of Berry Bros. at the end of the 18th century. Considered one of the best-dressed men of his day, his nickname came from his preferred clothing color. Blue Hanger was originally a blended Scotch whisky intended for the diplomatic export market in 1934, but disappeared for a period of time until 2003 when Doug McIvor, spirits manager, began his experiments in vatting malts. His objective from the beginning has been to create the best blended malt possible from existing stock.

The initial release in the U.K. of Blue Hanger in November 2003 ran to a mere 700 bottles and was a vatting of only two single malts: Glen Grant and Glenlivet. The first commercially available blended malt assembled by McIvor, Blue Hanger immediately secured a devoted following, which has led to each subsequent release being eagerly anticipated by whisky enthusiasts around the world.

“This exceptional and very limited blended malt turned out as impeccably as its namesake William ‘Blue’ Hanger,” says Doug McIvor. “Bewitching aromas of orange peel, melon skin, vanilla and peat-smoke tangle with hints of sandalwood, leather and moist pipe tobacco augmenting the experience. The smokiness is firm but not dominant, allowing the fruit notes to frolic. The palate is luscious and complex, building with sweet fruity intensity and finishing with lingering peat-smoke and a spicy edge.”

As with every expression of Blue Hanger, the strength is 45.6%, in recognition of the original Berry Bros. blend, which was bottled at 20 below proof. Blue Hanger 7 is only available in the United States at SRP $99.99.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Elliott Erwitt's Great Scottish Adventure: The World's Most Influential Living Photographer Puts the Focus on the Heartland of The Macallan

For the fourth edition of its award-winning Masters of Photography series, The Macallan – the world's most precious single malt whisky – has commissioned the most influential living photographer, Elliott Erwitt to capture the spirit of its heartland in his 'Great Scottish Adventure'. The Masters of Photography: Elliott Erwitt Edition sees Erwitt interpret the unique richness and depth of Scottish character through his shrewd observational skill and subtle humorous style. The Macallan Masters of Photography: Elliott Erwitt Edition featuring a handmade glass flask with never before released Single Cask Single Malt whisky from The Macallan, ‘Great Scottish Adventure’ photo-archival book, and signed Elliott Erwitt print – 320 Available in the US

The Masters of Photography: Elliott Erwitt Edition is The Macallan's most extensive, and ambitious, to date with 58 unique single cask whiskies being paired with a different signed 11" x 14" Elliott Erwitt print captured during his Scottish adventure. Only 35 of each of the exclusive pairings are available, making a complete global release of 2,030 packs. 320 of these are allocated for the US market. The Elliott Erwitt Edition comprises a bespoke photo-archival book featuring a total of 158 images, shot by Elliott during his trip, with a 375ml handmade glass flask containing a never before released single cask malt whisky concealed within its pages.

Erwitt's rarefied ability to instinctively visualize and capture an insightful image has resulted in some of the most iconic and powerful photographs of our time, including the incredibly poignant portrait of Jackie Kennedy at her husband's funeral, and intimate shots of Marilyn Monroe on the set of The Misfits.

Renowned for his mastery of the 'decisive moment' – that creative instant when subjects appear before the camera in surprising and illuminating ways – Elliott Erwitt, has now turned his lens on Scotland. Shot against dramatically different backdrops in the Highlands and Islands, Glasgow and Edinburgh, Erwitt captures the beauty of the perfect moment. His collection showcases the traditions and eccentricities of the Scottish people, as well as, his most loved subjects – dogs.

"Photography is an art of observation – it's about creating something extraordinary out of the ordinary. You choose a frame and then wait until the right time for something magical to come along and fill it. I realized while working on this project that this is exactly the way Bob, the Whisky Maker, works when creating The Macallan. He envisages how he wants a particular whisky to taste, selects the perfect cask to create it, and then he waits! Timing is everything," comments Elliott Erwitt.

This collection is completely unique in terms of its scale and breadth of single cask malt Scotch whiskies, each of which has been personally selected by Whisky Maker Bob Dalgarno to interpret the essence of its corresponding photograph.

"The incredible richness and depth of character found in every Macallan whisky lends itself perfectly to this year's Masters of Photography offering. Selecting 58 individual single cask malt whiskies to bring to life Elliott's 58 favorite images of his Great Scottish Adventure was wonderfully challenging – tasting the image through the whisky and the whisky through the image on such an unprecedented scale was inspiring," remarks Bob Dalgarno, Whisky Maker, The Macallan.

Ken Grier, Director of Malts, The Edrington Group, says: "The creative excellence showcased by Masters of Photography has become synonymous with The Macallan. Working with Elliott Erwitt, the world's most influential living photographer has been both an honor and personal highlight. Elliott is legendary in the world of photography and is one of my all-time favorite photographers. With his signature playfulness and witty juxtapositions, we couldn't think of anyone better to capture the quirkiness of Scottish character and heartland of The Macallan."

The collaboration will be celebrated this week as the new bottles and images are released at a launch event in Los Angeles where Erwitt will be in attendance.

The Masters of Photography: Elliott Erwitt Edition is available worldwide starting from October 2013, priced at $1,500.

www.themastersofphotography.com

ABOUT THE MACALLAN

Founded in 1824 in the heart of Speyside, The Macallan was one of the first distilleries in Scotland to be legally licensed. Since then it has built a reputation as one of the world's leading single malt whiskies. The creation of The Macallan draws on the vital contributing influences of Spain, North America and Scotland, and of their respective natural raw materials, combined with traditional methods and craftsmanship. From its founding, through the subsequent owners of The Macallan distillery in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and into the present century, The Macallan has been recognized for its outstanding quality above all else.

THE MASTERS OF PHOTOGRAPHY

The Elliott Erwitt Edition is the fourth in the award-winning The Macallan Masters of Photography series. The previous three editions were authored by Rankin, Albert Watson and Annie Leibovitz. These unique limited edition collections perfectly conjoin the art of whisky making with the artists interpretation of the world of The Macallan as seen through their photographers eye.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Award-Winning T-X Blended Whiskey Expands into Louisiana

Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co., North Texas’ first artisanal whiskey distillery, is pleased to announce that T-X Blended Whiskey will be distributed throughout Louisiana effective immediately. Launched in June 2012, T-X Blended Whiskey is a rapidly growing whiskey brand that has been quickly embraced by consumers, retailers and mixologists throughout Texas. The handcrafted whiskey was named “Best American Craft Whiskey” in addition to earning a Double Gold Medal at the 2013 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, one of the world’s most highly regarded spirits competitions. Louisiana is the first territory outside of Texas to sell this highly acclaimed whiskey.

“The response to our whiskey has been truly remarkable. T-X, vanished off the shelves when we launched and forced liquor stores to start waiting lists in order for customers to get their hands on a bottle,” said Troy Robertson, co-owner of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. “We take a local approach and put a handcrafted touch on our product and believe its appeal will be far-reaching.”

T-X Blended Whiskey is a premium pour with notes of vanilla, caramel, and honey butter. Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. is also crafting a straight bourbon whiskey produced with indigenous Texas ingredients and resources, which is currently in the aging process.

“Sharing our whiskey with our neighbors in Louisiana is a natural next step. It took us over two years to develop T-X, and we really enjoyed the artistic demands of creating something we think turned out to be pretty special,” said Leonard Firestone, co-owner of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. “We certainly hope that folks in Louisiana will come to enjoy T-X’s unique flavor and smooth profile. It’s fantastic neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail.”

Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson built the distillery in 2010, and the operation has now become an attractive tourist destination. Located just south of downtown Fort Worth, visitors learn about the whiskey distilling and aging process, and how the company’s team restored a prohibition-era building that showcases numerous unique architectural features. Guests witness first hand how the company builds its signature bottle tops, which includes a piece of cowboy boot leather procured from local boot makers. Tours are held on Saturday afternoons and include product sampling. As of September 1, 2013, guests to the distillery are permitted to purchase a limited amount of whiskey produced at the distillery.

T-X Blended Whiskey, which retails for around $35, is available in a growing number of liquor stores and on-premise locations throughout Louisiana. Glazer’s, one of the country’s largest beverage distributors, is their exclusive distributor.

Established in 2010, Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co. is a premiere artisanal whiskey distillery in North Texas. Owners, Leonard Firestone and Troy Robertson, have come together with a passion to create one-of-a-kind whiskeys of exceptional quality. The first — named T-X Blended Whiskey — is a premium product that is artistically crafted with select whiskeys sourced for their complexity and range of character. Firestone & Robertson’s yet to be released second product, a straight bourbon whiskey, is produced with locally grown corn and wheat, and a proprietary yeast strain isolated from a North Texas pecan nut. The distillery is located in a prohibition-era industrial warehouse in Fort Worth, Texas.

For more information, please visit www.frdistilling.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

World's First Extra Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky Discovered in Highland Warehouses

The "world's first" wood-finished whisky was recently discovered in a hidden corner of one of Glenmorangie's expansive Highland warehouses. Only fifty bottles of the historic whisky, first distilled in 1963 and bottled in 1987, were uncovered. The natural next step was to share this extraordinarily rare expression with the discerning palettes of loyal Glenmorangie enthusiasts.

Glenmorangie 1963 is going to be offered in a commemorative bottle fitting of its iconic 1960s heritage including the original label. A blast from the sophisticated past, the new packaging emanates a universally compelling "time capsule" mystique.

This unique Glenmorangie expression was extra-matured in Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks for almost two years, before being released in 1987. Dr. Bill Lumsden has since gone on to lead the world in the innovative field of extra-maturation in single malt production.

Dr. Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie's Director of Distilling, Whisky Creation and Whisky Stocks, said: "Glenmorangie 1963 is a unique opportunity for aficionados to sample a truly ground-breaking single malt whisky. It marked the first venture into extra-maturation, so it's a real slice of history for collectors. This is a phenomenal whisky capable of transporting those lucky enough to sample it back in time to the heady days of 1963."

Each of the bottles is engraved with a unique number and is presented in a metal "time capsule"-style box. The box has a polished oak wood interior, and contains a luxurious booklet customised with a hand-signed note of authenticity from Dr. Bill. The labels, collar and cork are made of the purest .925 solid silver.

Glenmorangie 1963 is a warm walnut brown in colour and on nosing offers a beguiling mix of toasted coconut, vanilla fudge and cherries. Glenmorangie 1963 offers notes of juicy peaches, pineapples and sweet caramelised oranges, dusted with Demerara sugar. Notes of nutmeg, marzipan and walnuts are also prevalent; characteristic of Oloroso Sherry cask finishing.

Maxime Balay, Glenmorangie Brand Director, said "Glenmorangie 1963 clearly highlights our commitment to innovation as well as our unparalleled pursuit of perfection to craft unnecessarily well-made whiskies."

Just 50 bottles of this exceptional whisky remain from 50 years ago. 20 of these bottles will be made available for purchase in the US at a suggested retail selling price of $2600 through top end stores and whisky specialists worldwide.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Redbreast Grabs Top Prize As Irish Distillers Sweep Irish Whiskey Awards

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard has scooped a host of top awards at the inaugural Irish Whiskey Awards, securing first place in four of the most prestigious categories, including the highly-coveted top prize for ‘Overall Irish Whiskey of the Year’ awarded to its Redbreast 12 Year-Old Cask Strength.

In addition to being named the overall winner, there was further success for Irish Distillers as they took the honours in three other categories including: ‘Cask Strength Whiskey of the Year’ for Redbreast 12 Year Old Cask Strength; ‘Best Blended Whiskey over €50’ for Midleton Very Rare (2013 edition); and ‘Single Pot Still Whiskey of the Year’ for Redbreast 15 Year Old.

The awards, which were presented by the Celtic Whiskey Club in conjunction with the Celtic Whiskey Shop, took place on Friday 4th October at the Old Jameson Distillery in Dublin. The whiskeys were nominated, tasted and voted for by members of the public, as well as personnel from the Celtic Whiskey Club and the Irish Whiskey Society.

Expressions from Irish Distillers’ comprehensive range of whiskeys were eligible in five tasting categories, and of these, at least one expression in each category was noted for its quality and style. The six runners-up included: Powers 12 Year Old Special Reserve in the ‘Best Blended Whiskey under €50’ category; Jameson Gold Reserve and Jameson 18 Year Old Limited Reserve in the ‘Best Blended Whiskey over €50’ category; Midleton Cask 1044 (Dublin Airport Edition) in the ‘Irish Single Cask of the Year’ category; and Midleton Barry Crockett Legacy and Yellow Spot in the ‘Single Pot Still whiskey of the Year’ category.

Brendan Buckley, Global Innovation and Category Development Director for Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard, commented: “The Irish whiskey category is growing from strength to strength, as the quality of the entrants in these awards clearly demonstrates. In particular, we are delighted to see our Single Pot Still Irish Whiskeys excelling in tasting awards; this is indicative of the outstanding quality and unique properties of this classic style of Irish whiskey, something which the trade and consumers are increasingly recognising. The next step is to help more consumers discover this classic Irish style, so we’re really focusing on education with new initiatives, such as with our new Irish Whiskey Academy.”

“It is a real honour to see our peers recognise the quality found in our comprehensive range of whiskeys; this success is testament to the skill and craft of the passionate people found at Irish Distillers and awards such as these are always held in high regard by our talented distilling team at Midleton.”

The evening’s guest speaker, Willie McCarter, Chairman of the Irish Spirits Association said: “With four of the largest spirits companies in the world now selling Irish whiskey and many new distilleries coming on stream, the Irish whiskey industry is at the beginning of a new golden age.”

“If all companies involved in Irish whiskey strive to maintain the excellent quality standards achieved so far, the current annual Irish whiskey sales of six million cases could near the Scottish volume of 90 million cases within the next 20 – 30 years. Not many industries in Ireland can look forward to such a future. Let us keep our fingers crossed!”

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Jim Beam Taps Into New Flavor With Jim Beam Maple

As the winter season inches steadily closer, Jim Beam® Bourbon has tapped the warm taste of maple to reveal the latest creation in its flavored line, Jim Beam® Maple. The new expression follows the introduction of Jim Beam® Honey, and boasts the natural flavors of sweet, smooth maple. Both Jim Beam Honey and Jim Beam Maple combine rich flavors and America’s native spirit to create offerings that are both mixable and approachable.

“Jim Beam Maple – as with Jim Beam Honey – is an innovative flavor-infused bourbon that was developed to offer our fans a different whiskey option and the opportunity to try a new, creative shot or cocktail,” said Chris Bauder, General Manager of Whiskies at Beam Inc. “This is another exciting flavor experience that pushes boundaries while still honoring the proud traditions that make Jim Beam the world’s finest bourbon.”

Spirits experts are already extending high praise for Jim Beam Maple:

• Geoff Kleinman, of Drink Spirits, (September 3rd, 2013) says: “Jim Beam Maple is yet another smart and timely innovation from a company who is simply at the top of their game.”
• Colin Joliat, of lifestyle blog Guyism, (September 27th, 2013) says: “The edges are rounded-out by the sweetness of the maple, but it’s no longer…dominated by the singular taste. Now suddenly the vanilla, caramel, and oak show up to create a better balance, making you want to apologize to the bottle for ever thinking it was a one-trick pony.”

Jim Beam Maple is a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey infused with natural flavors that provides a perfect balance of warm aromas, a hint of charred oak, complete with a subtle and smooth caramel finish. The natural maple flavors make the 70-proof Jim Beam Maple fantastic on its own or on the rocks, and ideal for holiday cocktails and food recipes that will appeal to bourbon drinkers both old and new. Create a festive seasonal cocktail with one of the recipes below:



Maple Toddy

Ingredients

    1 part Jim Beam® Maple Bourbon
    1 lemon wedge
    1 half-moon slice of orange
    2 whole cloves


In a pre-heated mug muddle the cloves and the fruit then pour in the Jim Beam® Maple and fill half way with steaming hot water, stir to combine and fill with steaming hot water. No garnish.



White Canadian

Ingredients

    2 parts Jim Beam® Maple
    1 part Kamora® Liqueur
    2 parts half and half

Shake all ingredients with ice or build over ice in a double old fashioned glass. No garnish.



Both Jim Beam Maple and Jim Beam Honey are available nationwide and have a suggested retail price of $15.99 for 750ML. For more information please visit http://www.jimbeam.com/maple, http://www.jimbeam.com/honey, “like” Jim Beam on Facebook or follow @JimBeamOfficial.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

OriginalBOS Announces New AfterDark Edition Whiskey Chiller

OriginalBOS is proud to announce a new innovation in Balls of Steel whiskey chillers for the ever evolving connoisseur. Balls of Steel AfterDark edition, a re-imagined onyx-colored set of stainless steel whiskey chillers that offer the same high-performance chilling as the classic, will appeal to every whiskey connoisseur's dark side this year.

After months of reengineering its best-selling original classic stainless Balls of Steel whiskey chillers, the OriginalBOS team found the perfect way to set its favorite drinkers apart from the rest with a more unique whiskey chiller. Add a bit of personality and gentlemanly detail to your classic drink with OriginalBOS Onyx chillers.

“We’re excited to offer whiskey drinkers a new option that appeals to their dark side,” said OriginalBOS founder Grant Vollmer. “We’ve received great feedback about our classic stainless Balls of Steel whiskey chillers and want to continue to find new ways to personalize our product to our customers.”

The unique and limited edition AfterDark whiskey chillers are the perfect gift for whiskey connoisseurs, offering the perfect solution for keeping drinks cool and strong while adding an edgy touch. It’s also the gift that keeps giving. Not only do the whiskey chillers create the perfect drinking temperature every time your whiskey lover partakes, but also 15 percent of all proceeds go toward funding testicular cancer research initiatives.

But it’s not only a gift for the whiskey drinker. Both the original classic stainless Balls of Steel and the After Dark edition whisky chillers are perfect for the white wine drinkers in your life, too, thanks to their optimum cooling ability.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Scotland’s Best Known Distilleries Are Making Kosher Friendly Whisky

SCOTLAND’S best known distilleries are having their whisky certified as kosher to break into the Jewish whisky drinking market.

The distilleries are bringing in rabbis to supervise whisky bottlings, allowing them to have malt certified as officially kosher – meaning that they conform to the regulations of Jewish dietary law.

While some whisky is naturally kosher, whisky that has matured in wine or sherry casks is not and is banned from followers of the religion.

Many of the Kosher bottlings are exported to the United States and to Israel, while some are sold to the Jewish community in the UK.

Distilleries now producing kosher-certified whisky include Glenmorangie, Ardbeg, Glenrothes, Bowmore, Auchentoshan and Tomintoul.

Hannah Fisher, senior brand member for the Bowmore and Glen Garioch distilleries said: “It’s a growing market, and we certainly have a Jewish community of whisky drinkers that ask for kosher products.

“We want to be able to give clear communication of what’s kosher and what’s not.

“We think it will grow as a market, not least because there are more specialist retailers out there who can sell these tailored products.”

Although the whisky process is itself kosher, most wine and sherry is not, meaning that for some Jews, whisky that has matured in a barrel that once contained wine or sherry no longer conforms to Jewish dietary law.

Duncan Baldwin, brand development director which produces a number of kosher-certified whiskies including the 14-year-old Tomintoul Kosher Portwood, said that it was a way of expanding the whiskey’s audience.

“Some of the Tomintoul range has classified as kosher and ratified, and we just think that by doing that we allow ourselves the opportunity to serve a wider audience than would have been otherwise.

“America is an important market and they serve a big Jewish community. Having kosher-certified bottlings allows those who strictly follow the Jewish faith the opportunity to try our whiskies.”

In Israel, whisky has become so popular that its first single malt whisky distillery is currently under construction.

The Milk and Honey Distillery which promises to produce a kosher “Speyside/Highland inspired malt,” will use waters from the Holy Land and is being created under the eye of Scottish master distiller Dr Jim Swan.

A Scotch Whisky Association spokeswoman said: “We welcome interest from Jewish consumers and many Scottish whisky brands are listed as meeting kashrut dietary rules.

“Individual companies will consider whether or not to pursue kosher certification.”

Kosher simply means fit and refers to foods that are fit to eat because they subscribe to the Kashrut, or Jewish Dietary Law.

Non-kosher foods include everything that has ingredients derived from non-kosher animals or from kosher animals that were not slaughtered in the ritually proper manner.

A mixture of meat and milk, wine or grape fruit produced without supervisions by rabbis are not allowed.

There is one get-out clause to kosher food and drink, which states that the laws can be broken when human life is at stake.

Article Courtesy of Deadline News

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Leonard DiCaprio's Weird Japanese Whisky Ad

A lot of celebrities appear in advertisements overseas that you'll never see here in the United States. Here is a very strange commercial that runs in Japan featuring Leonardo DiCaprio selling Jim Beam (we think.)

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Glenlivet Distillery Visitor Centre Awarded Best Attraction

The reputation of The Glenlivet, the world’s No. 2 single malt, has been further enhanced by its recently upgraded distillery visitor centre being named Best Visitor Attraction by the prestigious Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards (HITA).

The visitor centre saw off competition from the other shortlisted attractions to scoop the prize, cementing its standing as a must-see Speyside tourist attraction. It will now go onto compete in the national Scottish Thistle Awards

The centre which has been in operation for 35 years and attracts over 40,000 tourists annually from around the world, was transformed in 2013 to include three different daily tours that enhance the visitor experience and provide the opportunity to hand-fill and purchase your very own personalised bottle of The Glenlivet 18 Year Old single cask selection.



Following its upgrade, the centre put a strong emphasis on obtaining and analysing visitors’ feedback. Facebook and social media channels have become a vital part of this process, allowing the public to keep up with the distillery’s activities and tour availability. This search for excellence in customer services really impressed the judges with Laurence Young, Chair of the judging panel for the HITA, commenting: “The Glenlivet Distillery’s application demonstrated that the organisation is really committed to listening to customers and responding to their feedback. Introducing great ideas during a recent major upgrade to the centre demonstrated that the company genuinely values the opinions and suggestions of the people visiting the centre each year.“

Caroline Mitchell, Manager of the Chivas Brothers’ visitor centres, comments: “We are delighted that The Glenlivet visitor centre has been awarded Best Visitor Attraction. It really goes to show that all our hard work in developing exciting activities and listening to feedback has paid off. It means a lot to us to be recognised by The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards. We want to thank everyone in the distillery for all their work in maintaining the centre to such high standards and we will keep our fingers crossed for further recognition at the national Scottish Thistle Awards.”

Introduced in 2005, The Highlands and Islands Tourism Awards promote and encourage excellence within Highlands and Islands tourism industry, rewarding the best businesses in the region.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Laphroaig Announces the Seasonal Return of Triple Wood Scotch Whisky

Laphroaig®, the world’s #1 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky, proudly introduces its latest seasonal expression, Laphroaig® Triple Wood. Just in time for fall, this limited edition whisky returns as a result of high demand from Friends of Laphroaig®, the brand’s distinguished loyalty group that gives members a lifetime lease on a numbered, one square foot plot of land in Islay, Scotland.

Laphroaig® Triple Wood goes through a distinct triple maturation process that includes ex-bourbon barrels, 19th Century-style quarter casks and specially selected European Oak oloroso sherry casks. This process creates a complex whisky that boasts a rich blend of creamy vanilla and hints of sweet fruit, while retaining the distinctive smoky peat flavor of Laphroaig®.

“We are thrilled that our Friends of Laphroaig® members are just as passionate about their Scotch as we are,” said John Campbell, Laphroaig® Master Distiller. “Triple Wood is the perfect seasonal expression for fall. Its bright gold color and bursts of peat, vanilla and fruit flavors embody the fall season and bring you back to Islay, the land that gives Laphroaig® its unique peaty notes.”

At 96 proof, Laphroaig® Triple Wood is best enjoyed neat, allowing the powerful, yet slightly creamy consistency of the whisky speak for itself. Laphroaig® Triple Wood is available for a limited time nationwide with a suggested retail price of $59.99 per 750ml bottle and joins the Laphroaig® portfolio of Scotch whiskies that includes Laphroaig® 10-Year-Old, 10-Year-Old Cask Strength, Quarter Cask, 18-Year-Old, 25-Year-Old, QA Cask and Càirdeas. For more information, please visit www.Laphroaig.com for a product locator, like us on Facebook.com/LaphroaigUSA or follow us @LaphroaigUSA on Twitter. To become a Friend of Laphroaig® and stay up to date on special editions, consumers should look for the code on their next bottle purchase.

About Friends of Laphroaig®

Each bottle of Laphroaig® comes with a gift of friendship. Created by Laphroaig® Master Distiller John Campbell, Friends of Laphroaig® is the distinguished Laphroaig® loyalty group which today boasts over 500,000 members from more than 150 countries. Each Friend of Laphroaig® is given a lifetime lease on a numbered, one square foot plot of land in Islay that runs alongside the important Laphroaig® water source – the Killbride stream. The plot is registered and can be visited in person or via video on the Friends of Laphroaig® website – Laphroaig.com/Friends. Throughout the year, Friends of Laphroaig® from all over the world get together and share photos, tasting notes, Scottish history and more. To become a member of Friends of Laphroaig® consumers can receive a special code with each bottle of Laphroaig® which is then entered online on the Laphroaig® Facebook Page – Facebook.com/LaphroaigUSA or Friends of Laphroaig® website.

About Laphroaig®

Laphroaig® (La-’froyg) literally means “the beautiful hollow by the broad bay.” Born from the streams and blue peat smoke of Islay, Laphroaig® is a Single Malt Scotch Whisky with a distinct taste and story in every bottle. The secret to Laphroaig® is that it benefits from the happy circumstances of where it is produced—next to ocean water and on land that gives Laphroaig® a unique peaty taste. It is one of only a few distilleries that still uses traditional malting floors and dries and infuses its own malt with the thick blue smoke from old peat-fired kilns. It’s also the only Single Malt Scotch Whisky to bear a Royal Warrant bestowed by HRH Prince Charles. Further demonstrating the whisky’s superior quality, Laphroaig® 18-Year-Old received the Gold Outstanding Award at the 2013 International Wine and Spirit Competition, along with Laphroaig® 10-Year-Old, 10-Year-Old Cask Strength, Quarter Cask, and Triple Wood which won the Silver Outstanding Award, making Laphroaig® one of the most celebrated portfolios at this year’s competition.

About Beam Inc.

As one of the world’s leading premium spirits companies, Beam is Crafting the Spirits that Stir the World. Consumers from all corners of the globe call for the company’s brands, including Jim Beam Bourbon, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Sauza Tequila, Pinnacle Vodka, Canadian Club Whisky, Courvoisier Cognac, Teacher’s Scotch Whisky, Skinnygirl Cocktails, Cruzan Rum, Hornitos Tequila, Knob Creek Bourbon, Laphroaig Scotch Whisky, Kilbeggan Irish Whiskey, Larios Gin, Whisky DYC and DeKuyper Cordials. Beam is focused on delivering superior performance with its unique combination of scale with agility and a strategy of Creating Famous Brands, Building Winning Markets and Fueling Our Growth. Beam and its 3,400 passionate associates worldwide generated 2012 sales of $2.5 billion (excluding excise taxes), volume of 38 million 9-liter equivalent cases and some of the industry’s fastest growing innovations.

Headquartered in Deerfield, Illinois, Beam is traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol BEAM and is included in the S&P 500 Index and the MSCI World Index. For more information on Beam, its brands, and its commitment to social responsibility, please visit http://www.beamglobal.com and http://www.drinksmart.com.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

A Grand Finale for anCnoc Scotch Whisky and Peter Arkle

Whisky Unveils Last ‘Warehouses’ Installment in Collaboration with Illustrator

anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky has today (date) revealed the final design in the series of Limited Edition releases from its unique collaboration with internationally renowned Scottish illustrator, Peter Arkle.

Inspired by the warehouses at Knockdhu Distillery, the striking and contemporary design is rooted in Peter’s idea that the buildings are guarding the magic – and not just the whisky – hidden inside them. He believes that anCnoc would not be anCnoc without these historic buildings and so, for the first time, they take pride of place in the design of anCnoc’s packaging.

The anCnoc partnership with Arkle was launched last year and has seen the artist develop an exclusive range of limited edition designs based on aspects of Knockdhu Distillery – each with a different expression inside the bottle. These bold and fresh designs range from a bottle inspired by whisky’s fifth ingredient, ‘magic’; to showcasing the distillery’s charming character through an intricate interpretation of its bricks; to an evocative black and white illustration of anCnoc’s whisky casks.

The New York-based illustrator said: ‘I have really enjoyed working with anCnoc as a collaborative partner throughout the limited edition campaign. The whole project has been inspiring and a great creative challenge, and I’m delighted with the four finished products. My illustrations aim to capture how special and full of character anCnoc whisky is, and I couldn’t have done my job without the inspiration of the Knockdhu Distillery and its team. I hope anCnoc drinkers have enjoyed seeing all the designs roll out over the past two years as much as I have loved creating them.’

As with all the Peter Arkle editions, the liquid inside is as remarkable as the design. The final expression is a polished gold colour, with the scent of cut flowers and lemon meringue followed by a rich and firm-textured finish of dried fruit and caramel.

Gillian Gibson, anCnoc Brand Manager commented: ’anCnoc has always been regarded as giving whisky drinkers a very contemporary experience of the tradition of malt whisky drinking and this final design by Peter really lives up to this promise. It’s a great way to end such a special partnership and we’re extremely proud of our four limited editions and the success they have enjoyed.It has been wonderful working with Peter and his designs have perfectly captured anCnoc’s modern side with a nod to its time-honoured traditions.’

Restricted to only 1000 cases, this limited edition will be available online and through specialist retailers in the UK as well as across the globe in the USA, Germany, Russia, Japan, Taiwan and Canada.

RRP: £49.99

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Kilchoman Releases its Oldest Whisky to Date – 2007 Vintage

Islay’s independent farm distillery, Kilchoman, is to release the oldest whisky to date. Only 10,000 bottles of the limited edition 2007 Vintage will be made available worldwide and it is expected to sell quickly.

With a smoky vanilla and caramel nose with cooked lemon and citrus fruits, the 2007 Vintage is smooth in the mouth with hints of butterscotch and soft citrus fruit, complimented by a lasting sweetness that blends with the peaty and fruity finish.

Anthony Wills, managing director of Kilchoman, said: “This is an exciting development and sees us enter a long-awaited period in our history. Although we’re a relatively young distillery our Vintage six-year-old shows a level of maturity normally associated with much older whisky. We predict that this will sell quickly and hope Kilchoman followers share in our excitement in the development of our malt.”

Kilchoman’s portfolio now includes Machir Bay, Loch Gorm and a new edition of 100% Islay which is the only Single Malt in Scotland where every stage of the whisky making process, from the barley grown in the surrounding fields to the malting, distillation, maturation and bottling, takes place at the distillery.

With an ambition to take whisky production back to its traditional roots, Anthony Wills built and founded Kilchoman Distillery in 2005 on a farm situated on the rugged west coast of Islay. The first distillery on the island for 124 years, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and one of only a handful left that still practise the traditional floor malting method.

The 2007 Vintage bottled at 46% ABV will be available from 7 October from specialist drinks and whisky stores, priced at RRP of £52.99, 70cl. Available from www.kilchomandistillery.com and from specialist whisky shops worldwide.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whisky enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Kentucky Distillery is Top of the World after Unique Double in Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2013

One of America's most ancient distilleries today re-wrote the history books when its whiskey was named both the world's finest and second finest tipple in the new edition of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible.

Its six-year-old Thomas Handy Sazerac rye whiskey amassed a record-equalling 97.5 points out of a hundred to be crowned World Whisky of the Year. Runner up was sister bourbon William Larue Weller.

It is the first time in the all ten editions of the Whisky Bible that both the World Whisky of the Year and the runner up have come from the same distillery.

Although Thomas Handy Rye is 64.3% alcohol by volume (128.6 proof) and the Weller at 66.75% abv (133.5 proof) Mr Murray suggests both whiskeys should be taken neat without ice and water and at body temperature to maximise the flavours and aromas.

The much more sedate Ballantine's 17 Year Old blended Scotch – a former World Whisky of the Year – was named both Scotch Whisky of the year and the world's third best.

Jim Murray tasted 1,350 new whiskies for the 10th edition of his Whisky Bible which was published today (8th Oct). In all the world's biggest-selling and most influential annual whisky guide – having now sold over a third of a million copies – gives details of 4,500 whiskies from around the world.

Said Mr Murray: "The quality of bourbon and rye from the US just keeps on getting better. This was a very tough call to make on which of the two deserved top billing. Although from the same distillery they are very different animals. The enormity of the Weller was so apparent that I used it as the unnamed whiskey photographed on the cover of The Bible… I knew from the very first taste that it stood every chance of being World Whisky of the Year.

"But it was eclipsed by the Thomas Handy rye, even though they both scored the same number of points. The Rye edged it, by the smallest of fractions, simply because of its extraordinary life and balance on the palate and its uncanny ability to just keep working on full alert for the longest imaginable time. It took a couple of days to decide between the two, but the Handy could not be denied."

Ardbeg Day was named Scotch Single Malt of the Year while Redbreast Aged 12 Years Cask Strength walked off with the Irish Whiskey of the Year Title.

To mark the 10th edition of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible, Mr Murray has for the first time included a step-by-step guide on how to taste whisky.

But in his hard-hitting Bible Thumping section he has also called upon the world's whisky distillers – and the Scotch in particular – to do more to rid the industry of sulphur treated sherry casks which he described as "a canker on the great and hallowed name of whisky" and "…a problem which more seriously damages the name of whisky than any other."

Mr Murray has called for a complete overhaul of the way blending labs around the world work. He says that because the ability to smell and taste sulphur depends on genetics it is likely that some blenders cannot spot flawed casks. So Mr Murray suggests that money should be set aside within the industry to both weed out sulphur-treated sherry butts and ensure that at least one member of a blending lab is capable of spotting the ruined casks.

Published by Dram Good Books priced at £12.99 ($19.99), the '2013 Whisky Bible' is available through good book shops. Signed copies by the author can be purchased from www.whiskybible.com

__________________________________________________

For more information please contact:
Billy Jeffrey
Dram Good Books Ltd
Email: billy@whiskybible.com
Tel: +44 (0)117 317 9830

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Williamson 18 - The First Mexican Whisky is Born!

AGUASCALIENTES, MEXICO, October 07, 2013 -- The Best Spirit Company S.A. de C.V. announces that it is producing whisky in Mexico and have obtained all permits and certification from the local government and the Ministry of Economy of Mexico.

"Our leading Brand 'Williamson 18' will be retailing at $8.00 per bottle in liquor stores in Mexico, and will be priced 20% cheaper than whiskies that are imported from the USA or Europe," says Jose Luis Perez, General Manager of The Best Spirit company S.A. de C.V.

Williamson 18 is the answer to a very high demand that whiskies in general are having around the world, but at a very affordable price for the same quality as imported whiskies.

"Our Mexican Whisky 'Williamson 18' will also be exported to many countries around the world through a distribution network of class A liquor distributors who will take advantage of this novelty product."

Williamson 18 is produced in the city of Aguascalientes Mexico in a brand new 5,000 square meters bottling plant equipped with brand new state of the art maceration tanks, distillation equipment and fully automatic bottling machines.

"Our plant is able to produce up to 200,000 cases per year of 700, 750 & 1,000 ml glass bottles; we anticipate the production to increase to 500,000 cases by the end of 2015 and 1 million cases of whisky in a can 355 ml."

Whisky in a can is very affordable and will be exported all over the world, it is 100% recyclable and very light comparing to the glass bottle.

There was Scotch Whisky, American Whisky, Japanese whisky, now there is Mexican Whisky which is the new kid on the block. "This is a genuine MEXICAN WHISKY and it is a perfect product for mass market consumption," says Jose Luis Perez.

You can contact us at:
The Best Spirits Company S.A. de C.V.
Municipio de Tepezala # 113
Parque Industrial del Valle de Aguascalientes.
San Francisco de los Romo, Aguascalientes.
C.P. 20355 MEXICO


Telephone No.+52 (449) 973 4486
E-mail: mailto:info@thebestspiritcompany.com
info@thebestspiritcompany.com
www.thebestspiritcompany.com

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Macallan Unveils Limited Edition Luxury Decanter, M

In a collaboration between three masters of their crafts, The Macallan has unveiled a limited edition luxury decanter, M.

Partnering with the French fashion magazine creative director Fabien Baron and crystal makers Lalique, The Macallan has created a beautifully designed and crafted crystal decanter for Macallan single malt whisky.

Just 1,750 crystal decanters of M, each engraved with an individual number, will be available worldwide.

David Cox director of fine and rare at The Macallan comments: “The coming together of three such masters has resulted in a truly beautiful creation, which specifically showcases the vital influence of The Macallan’s exceptional sherry seasoned oak casks and the craft of the whisky maker. The natural colour of M is stunning. A single malt of the most exquisite complexity and character, M will set a new standard in the world of decanters to become the iconic representation of The Macallan.”

Capturing the expressive aesthetic of Fabien Baron’s illustrious creative vision, M’s tall, slim dimensions and geometric form challenge the perceptions of traditional decanter design. Its sharp, angular facets gave inspiration to the name M itself, selected by Baron as a typographic representation of the decanter’s striking design.

Lalique has hand crafted the decanter in the highest grade of crystal uniting proven tradition with striking originality.

Silvio Denz, president and CEO of Lalique, comments: “We have been delighted to have worked with our friends and long-time partners, The Macallan – with whom we have collaborated since 2004 – to realise this exquisite piece. The decanter styling is utterly unique in the world of decanters, and our masters of crystal have relished applying their most complex skills to this project to bring it to life.”

M is 44.7% abv and has an RRP of £3,000.

10 October 2013 - Felicity Murray The Drinks Report, editor

Website: The Drinks Report

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Glen Garioch Launches First Vintage Matured Solely in Sherry Casks

Limited Edition Glen Garioch Vintage 1999

Glen Garioch has released its inaugural expression to be matured solely in Oloroso sherry casks, as part of the Highland distillery’s small batch vintage programme.

Hand selected at the peak of perfection, the Glen Garioch Vintage, distilled in 1999 is non-chill filtered to retain its authentic, full-bodied Highland character.

Handcrafted and matured in sherry casks for 14 years at the Highland Distillery in the heart of the rural village of Oldmeldrum, Aberdeenshire, this heart-warming dram captures the essence of Scottish Highland charm. The Oloroso sherry casks have influenced this robust spirit to give the malt its dark, sweet fruit, treacle and maple syrup notes and spicy, syrupy taste.

With just 1,000 cases available globally, the Glen Garioch Vintage 1999 is sure to become a favourite with malt enthusiasts when it hits the shelves of specialist whisky and liquor stores from October.

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender for Morrison Bowmore Distillers, said, “This is a full-bodied malt with exquisite rich fruit, chocolate and toffee notes, which really captures the essence of the Highlands.

“Hand picked and bottled at 56.3% ABV to bring out the rich spicy flavours of the Vintage 1999 really showcases the quality of the spirit produced from this small artisan distillery through our limited edition programme.

“This is an exciting small-batch release that encapsulates the rare find that is Glen Garioch itself and I’m sure will be a favourite with any whisky enthusiast.”

Available from selected specialist retailers from the end of September, Glen Garioch Vintage 1999 is bottled at 56.3% ABV will retail at circa £59.99.

Tasting notes:

Walnut brown in colour, the 1999 Vintage is full-bodied and intensely sherried with a syrupy mouth coating texture. Treacle toffee, chocolate and maple syrup soak into the palate, carrying the tingly warmth of nutmeg and ginger spices, tangy orange marmalade and dates into a long, deep finish of raisins, caramelised toffee and liquorice.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The World’s Most Exclusive Scotch Whisky Auction, London, October 2013

The Worshipful Company of Distillers is delighted to remind you that our unique autumn event is taking place at Apothecaries’ Hall, in the heart of the city of London, on Thursday 17th October 2013.

Run by Christie’s, the auction will be limited to 50 highly collectible lots, including bottles of great historical significance, rare bottlings, and whiskies not commercially available, generously donated from private collections as well as company archives and stocks.

We hope you can join us for an unforgettable evening,

Brian W. Morrison
The Master

A flavour of lots on offer
1964 Bowmore
1946 The Macallan
1956 Bowmore
Johnnie Walker Director’s Blend series (2008-2013)
Hazelwood collection
The Dalmore 1964 One Off bottling
Laphroaig HRH visit
North British 50 Years Old
The Macallan Easter Elchies opening
Glenury Royal 50 Years Old one off



For more information or to reserve a catalogue, please contact:

Assistant Clerk, Mrs. Kim Lyons

Email: KLyons@lbmw.com

Telephone: 020 7960 7173

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival in Nashville on November 2nd

Join us at the festival for a great day of beer sippin', bourbon tastin', music listenin', and barbeque eatin'. Your admission buys you a sampling glass so you can enjoy an ALL-YOU-CARE –TO-TASTE sampling of beer and bourbon. Some of the best barbeque vendors are on-site if you get hungry all while enjoying seminars in the tasting theater and LIVE music all day.

Souvenir Glass For Tastings.

NEW EXPANDED FLOORPLAN Last year was a little tight so we’ve opened up the entire arena to make room. Unlimited Beer and Bourbon Tastings as you stroll from table to table. There are 40 Bourbons and 60 Beers on Tap. Enjoy, but please drink responsibly.

BBQ Galore! Enjoy the great barbeque selection – pulled pork from whole hogs, ribs, brisket, chickens, sausages and any fixin’ you could imagine. We’ll keep the portions heavy and the prices low.

Enjoy Seminars in the Tasting Theater with Master Distillers, Brewmasters, and Pit Masters.

Music……. Listen To Great Live Bluegrass on the The Main Stage

Enjoy the Great Contests on the Main Stage: Best Beer Belly Contest and the BBQ Babe Contest.

Browse Cool Exhibits of Brewerania, hot sauces and bbq accessories.

The gala evening event features a sampling of Scotland's most prestigious single malt & Scotch whiskies as well as unique expressions from around the world. At evening's end, a selection of premium, imported cigars are presented for the attendees' enjoyment after the event. Please note - smoking is not permitted within the confines of the venue.

Website: Beer, Bourbon & BBQ Festival

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

The Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza in Seattle, Washington on November 8th

The Single Malt & Scotch Whisky Extravaganza® is held in 12 major markets around the United States, including Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Denver, Fort Lauderdale, Houston, Los Angeles, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle and Washington, DC.

Both Novice & Enthusiasts

The Extravaganza was the first and is the only tasting event that offers both the novice and most discerning enthusiast the opportunity to properly sample the participating whiskies in a sophisticated and elegant environment, with an array of sumptuous foods that greatly enhance the attendees' enjoyment.

Single Malt & Scotch Whisky

The Extravaganza provides our attendees an unusually wide range of the most prestigious single malt, premium Scotch and other unique whiskies in joyous camaraderie. Presented by whisky professionals, our goal is to educate our attendees in the discerning consumption of the finest spirits known to mankind. Unlike any other "whisky event", the Extravaganza focuses exclusively on single malt & Scotch whiskies as well as unique expressions from distilleries around the world. No other category of alcoholic beverages is included in our events.

Unique Whiskies From Scotland and Around the World

The gala evening event features a sampling of Scotland's most prestigious single malt & Scotch whiskies as well as unique expressions from around the world. At evening's end, a selection of premium, imported cigars are presented for the attendees' enjoyment after the event. Please note - smoking is not permitted within the confines of the venue.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Robot Philosopher Delivers Garbled Wisdom For iOS

Dallas, Texas - Tired of Plato and Socrates? Tired of things making sense? Then Robo-Philosopher is for you. Purple Falcon today is proud to announce the release of a new app for iPhone and iPad with this premise: a robot has been programmed to be a philosopher, but due to bugs in his software, he mixes everything up and outputs nonsense! His terrible proverbs are sure to entertain, annoy and irritate even the most serious-minded individuals.

Robo-Philosopher randomizes and matches endless phrases to hilarious effect. The resulting nuggets of wisdom recall the inspired nonsense of Monty Python and the early writings of Woody Allen. A typical example- "Like ripened cherries, zebras have a fear of glass blowers."

Features:
* Tap on the "Another!" button to generate a new chunk of pseudo-philosophy
* Tap the share button to send it to your friends via text, email, Twitter, and Facebook




Standing apart from the vast sea of sameness in mobile apps, Purple Falcon's "Robo" series of applications offers a welcome and refreshing change. Aside from Philosopher, the software company also offers Robo-Doctor and Robo-Poet.

Device Requirements:
* iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch
* Requires iOS 6.0 or later
* Optimized for iPhone 5
* 0.7 MB Hard Drive space


Pricing and Availability:
Robo-Philosopher 1.3 is only $0.99 USD (or equivalent amount in other currencies) and available worldwide exclusively through the App Store in the Entertainment category.

Located in Dallas, TX/USA, Purple Falcon Software was founded in 2003 by Jeffrey Dale Starr. After starting out as an enterprise web application and database company, in recent years the company has shifted its focus to mobile applications, particularly targeting iPhone and iPad. Purple Falcon's main areas of app development pertain to Humor, Educational Apps for Children, Games, and Mobile Journals. All Material and Software (C) 2003-2013 Purple Falcon Software / All Rights Reserved. Apple, the Apple logo, iPhone, iPod and iPad are registered trademarks of Apple Inc. in the U.S. and/or other countries. Other trademarks and registered trademarks may be the property of their respective owners.

Whiskey of the Day: Jameson Rarest Vintage

Jameson Rarest Vintage

DESCRIPTION:

A triumph of the collaboration between the Jameson Masters, the hand crafted Jameson Rarest Vintage Reserve is a true masterpiece. The advanced aged whiskeys in this magnificent reserve are brought together with pot still whiskey that has been matured in hand-picked second fill bourbon casks to create a mellow sweetness in specially commissioned port pipes. The result? Gloriously rich fruit character with an unmistakable barley finish. But don't take our word for it: this rare blend was voted the world's best Irish Blended Whiskey at the 2009 World Whiskies Awards.

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.

Music and Whiskey to Decompress By

When that barking dog, crying baby, oppressive landlord or life in general has you completely stressed out, pour a glass of the following whiskeys and turn on the accompanying music and watch your tension melt away.

Artist: AIR Song: "Lost Message" Whiskey: Laphroaig

Artist: Big Star Song: "Lady Sweet" Whiskey: Tyrconnell Single Malt

Artist: Chris Difford Song: "The Other Man In My Life" Whiskey: Balcones Baby Blue

Artist: David Bowie Song: "Heroes" Whiskey: The Glenlivet XXV

Artist: Electric Light Orchestra Song: "Eldorado" Whiskey: Jameson Rarest Vintage

Artist: Grizzly Bear Song: "Two Weeks" Whiskey: Clontarf Single Malt

Artist: Joy Division Song: "Atmosphere" Whiskey: Michael Collins Single Malt

Artist: Matt Pond PA Song: "First Light" Whiskey: Bruichladdich 15 year

Artist: Morrissey Song: "Come Back To Camden" Whiskey: Old Pulteney 17 year

Artist: Radiohead Song: "Knives Out" Whiskey: The Glenrothes 1975

Artist: Roxy Music Song: "More Than This" Whiskey: Compass Box Peat Monster

Artist: Sufjan Stevens Song: "All Delighted People" Whiskey: Tomintoul Oloroso 12 year

Artist: The Doors Song: "Yes, The River Knows" Whiskey: Buchanan's 18 year

Artist: The Flaming Lips Song: "The Impulse" Whiskey: Chivas 18 year

Artist: The Innocence Mission Song: "Migration" Whiskey: The Antiquary 21 year

Artist: Wilco Song: "Wishful Thinking" Whiskey: Glendronach 12 year

Artist: Wire Song: "Kidney Bingos" Whiskey: Speyburn 10 year

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Jeffrey Dale Starr is a whiskey enthusiast, oil painter, and owner of mobile software company Purple Falcon.