Whyte & Mackay receives Whisky magazine's Innovator of the year award

Company Brief

New Delhi, September 16, 2011

Premium Scotch whisky - Whyte & Mackay has yet again proved to be an industry best by winning the Whisky Magazine’s Innovator of the Year Award for its recreation of a 100 year old whisky left under the Antarctic ice by famous explorer Ernest Shackleton.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Anant Iyer, Business Head (Luxury Brands) said, “It’s an honour to receive this award and it is a matter of great pride for us. United Spirits Limited is extremely proud of its luxury label –Whyte & Mackay, a vintage and smooth luxury scotch. This exceptional and exquisite brand promises to be a rare blend for those who have developed a taste for the finer things in life…A little extra that works wonders.”

Described as the “whisky story of the century”, the winning Whyte & Mackay blend – was four years in the making by the time the whisky was found, excavated, shipped to Scotland and finally reproduced.

The bottle is now on sale for £100, with 5% from every sale being donated back to the Antarctic Heritage Trust. With 50,000 bottles being produced, it is hoped that the Trust will receive £250,000.

The award was presented to Whyte & Mackay Master Blender, Richard Paterson at a ceremony held in Glasgow, Scotland. Speaking on the occasion, he said, “I am absolutely delighted to receive this award. This has been the highlight of my 40 year career to date in whisky, but would not have been possible without the efforts of a vast team of people both in and outside the company.”

“But my biggest thanks goes to the Antarctic Heritage Trust, based in New Zealand, who found the whisky and subsequently helped us get some bottles back to Scotland.”, he added.

Paterson spent eight weeks marrying and blending a range of malts together to recreate the 100 year old whisky. Highly regarded independent whisky expert Dave Broom was one of the lucky few who got to taste the original and new spirit together, and he said “the replication is bang on.”

The Whyte & Mackay portfolio is available in India with the Whyte Mackay 40 year Old, 22 Year Old, 19 Year old, 13 Year Old & the Special. Jura with Jura 16 Year Old, Superstition & The Jura 10 Year Old. Last but certainly not the least, the KING OF MALTS – The Dalmore available in the 12 Year Old & Gran Reserva apart from the inimitable The Dalmore 40 Year Old.

For further information, please contact:

Weber Shandwick

Divij Krishna

Tel: +91-11-40501266

Mobile: +919654776017

Email: divijkrishna@gmail.com