AUCHENTOSHAN SWITCH
It’s Europe vs. North America in this second AUCHENTOSHAN SWITCH, a bartender talent search presented by Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Scotland’s only triple distilled single malt whisky. The Auchentoshan Switch is a trans-continental bartender swap like no other that will name two outstanding mixologists as winners who will literally “switch” continents for two weeks to work in the top bars in the world – one bar in London and one in New York City.
The London host bar is confirmed as highly acclaimed ‘The Nightjar’ in Old Street, London which was recently voted one of the best bars in the world by Drinks International. Over in the States, the host bar has been confirmed as The Dead Rabbit in New York City which was named as one of the Top American Nightspots 2013 by Forbes Magazine and the Best Everyman’s Bar 2013 by New York Magazine.
Open to all licensed bartenders in the UK, Germany and Sweden in Europe and on the other side of the pond, the US and Canada, Auchentoshan Switch spans the globe to create the opportunity of a lifetime for two talented bartenders.
HOW AUCHENTOSHAN SWITCH WORKS
Initial Entry. To enter, bartenders are asked to create their best Auchentoshan Three Wood cocktail and upload the recipe and an image of their creation at www.auchentoshan.com/switch. Online entries will be accepted from March 2013 until 12 July, 2013. New for this Auchentoshan Switch is the chance for the general public to go to vote for their favorite bartender/Auchentoshan Three Wood cocktail on the Auchentoshan Switch site.
Regional Heats. Once the official entry period ends on July 12, 2013, a panel of judges will vote to name the semi-finalists. These successful candidates will then be invited to attend regional heats in July and August2013, within their respective countries, where multiple finalists will be named.
The Glenfiddich Distillery Experience
Glenfiddich has created the world’s first truly virtual whisky distillery tour, The Glenfiddich Distillery Experience, which allows its Ambassadors to take guests on a very personal guided tasting tour of the brand’s distillery in Dufftown, Scotland. Created by acclaimed UK design agency Purple Creative, it is a virtual journey, filmed from the point of view of a visitor, allowing guests to experience the magic of the distillery from anywhere in the world.
The Glenfiddich Distillery Experience is part of an integrated communications campaign from the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, with an increased focus on digital communication and relationship marketing.
Offering consumers a memorable, educational and engaging experience in the company of Glenfiddich’s award-winning Brand Ambassadors is a key part of the marketing campaign.
One of Glenfiddich’s Ambassadors guides guests through the tour/tasting, via a beautifully animated map of the distillery, illustrated by Alex Wells, which has 11 key locations on it, each associated with a different single malt tasting.
As he/she ‘visits’ a particular location on the map, the animation turns to live action, and guests follow various craftsmen from the distillery, including the Malt Master and the Head Cooper.
In the experience, each location is associated with a different single malt. For example, the cooperage is where guests would try the Glenfiddich 18 Year Old, a variant with distinctive of oak notes; Warehouse 8, home to the Solera Vat innovation, is where they would taste Glenfiddich 15 Year Old; Brian Kinsman, the Malt Master, creating whisky innovations in his Pioneering Room is where Ambassadors can try the latest Glenfiddich pioneering malts, like Age of Discovery.
I’ve seen this one used by Ian Millar and Tony from the NL and it’s really nice.
Bushmills Live: Of Monsters & Men to headline world’s only indie music festival in an Irish Whiskey distillery
The Old Bushmills Distillery today announced that it will throw open its doors to play host to world class headline acts and emerging indie talent at ‘Bushmills Live’ – a unique two-day festival celebrating handcrafted whiskey and music.
Bushmills Live will take place on Ireland’s stunning North Coast on 19th and 20th June 2013 and is the only indie music festival in an Irish Whiskey distillery.
Internationally acclaimed indie folk band, Of Monsters and Men will headline the two day festival – their first ever gig in Northern Ireland.
The Icelandic five-piece are currently enjoying enormous worldwide success having just won the 2013 European Border Breakers Award*, which honours the best new European music acts. Of Monsters and Men have been dubbed the ‘must see act’ of the year and this summer marks the beginning of a busy festival schedule for the group which will include a performance at one of the biggest international festivals, Coachella in California – making their intimate appearance at Bushmills Live unlike any other that fans will experience this year.
Only 500 tickets are available globally for Bushmills Live, which will see both iconic and emerging artists share the stage for a series of intimate gigs in age-old buildings at the historic Old Bushmills Distillery, where the art of distilling has been perfected over generations.
The ‘money can’t buy tickets’ will not go on general release. Instead, music and whiskey fans can win the chance to attend the festival by entering a draw on the Bushmills Irish Whiskey Facebook page – facebook.com/bushmills1608. Entries to the draw will open this Sunday, on St Patrick’s Day at 16:08 GMT.
Ragnar Þórhallsson, singer with Of Monsters and Men, said: “Playing a show in such a unique location, around the centuries-old warehouses and whiskey barrels, to such an intimate audience, is an experience we are very excited about. It’s going to make our first gig in Northern Ireland a memorable one, and not just for us, for the fans too, we hope!”
Of Monsters and Men are in good company. They join a list of fellow indie rockers such as the iconic Snow Patrol, singer-songwriters Foy Vance and Iain Archer, Elijah Wood, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Marcus Foster, The Staves, General Fiasco and David C Clements who all played electrifying performances at Bushmills Live last year.
Bushmills Live can also be credited with providing a great platform for up-and-coming music acts to launch their careers. The Staves have gone on to support Bon Iver on his global tour while Foy Vance has had continued success and is set to support Ed Sheeran on the European and US legs of his 2013 tour.
Speaking at the launch of this year’s event Master Blender at The Old Bushmills Distillery, Helen Mulholland, promised fans that they can expect to enjoy “great music between great friends.”
“Whiskey and music have always gone well together”, added Helen Mulholland. “And at Bushmills Live we like to make both by hand, bringing this fusion of handcrafted whiskey and handcrafted music together against the backdrop of our beautiful distillery with performances from artists who are friends – which makes for a cracking atmosphere!”
“It goes without saying that we’re looking forward to extending a warm Bushmills welcome to our new friends, Of Monsters and Men, and to emerging artists who we’re proud to support by creating a music platform that allows fans to discover new and upcoming talent.
“I can’t wait to reveal the rest of the line up in the coming weeks. We’re of course just as excited to open our doors to whiskey and music fans the world over who want to attend Bushmills Live, so get your entry in and good luck!”