The Tasting Panel magazine

January 2014

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COVER STORY Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Grant's, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Spiced Navy Rum and Milagro Tequila, have all garnered multiple awards. Honors for 2013 included Glenfiddich 40 Year Old receiving the Single Malt Cask Strength Scotch Whisky Trophy, The Balvenie 40 Year Old grabbing the Single Malt Scotch Whisky Trophy over 15 Years Old, and Grant's 18 Year Old winning The Independence Trophy for Blended Scotch Whisky. Such ongoing and developing success, according to Jonathan Yusen, WGS's President & Managing Director, devolves from a core passion for the spirits business. "It's the basis for our success with those consumers who seek out authentic, high-quality offerings." This philosophy extends back to founder William Grant, who in 1866 first took a bookkeeping position at a local distillery. Good-natured, popular, patient and full of purpose, he quickly became a manager, all the while dreaming of creating the best dram (Scottish for a measure of whisky) at his own distillery. In 1886 he laid the foundation at Glenfiddich, and William Grant & Sons was established the first distillery to export this concept to the rest of the world." That sense of historical innovation also informs Hendrick's Gin, one of the products of WGS's 1990s expansion beyond whisky. Hendrick's is, according to Voisey, "a beautiful gin, copper pot–distilled in Scotland in small batches using cucumber and rose petals." Then there is Reyka, William Grant & Sons' vodka, distilled in Iceland, "a land of intrigue and raw beauty." And the list goes on, melding a legacy of excellence with innovative insights. This tradition of excellence has led to WGS being named Distiller of the Year by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International following year. Helming the ship for William Grant & Sons is the executive team: Ted Roman, Senior Vice President Sales; Jonathan Yusen, President & Managing Director; and Harvey Purchese, Senior Vice President Marketing. Innovating Historically "We have a tremendous selection of old and rare casks in warehouse in Dufftown, Scotland," says Portfolio Ambassador Charlotte Voisey, "that are still used for blending purposes. Glenfiddich actually came up with the term 'single malt' and, in 1963, was the Spirits Challenge nine times over the past 14 years, most recently in 2013, when WGS also won the International Spirits Producer Trophy sponsored by Whisky Advocate. Brands including Pleasing Stakeholders President Yusen says that there are three sets of stakeholders that WGS must always keep in mind. "First are consumers, who require authenticity, quality and innovation. Next are bartenders and retailer partners, for whom top-notch portfolios such as ours are crucial. This is one area in which our Brand Ambassadors provide excellent 52  /  the tasting panel  /  january 2014 TP0114_034-65.indd 52 12/19/13 9:28 PM

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