Whisky Focus - Ian Macleod The Asian Spirits Masters 2014

Ian Macleod Distillers is celebrating after an outstanding win at The Asian Spirits Masters in London as its three finest Single Malt brands swept the board with a total of five awards.

The medals were awarded to: Scotland’s slowest distilled whisky, Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky; the heavily-peated Smokehead Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky and the recently re-launched and award-winning ‘can-dhu’, spirit Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

Only nine medals were presented in the whisky category, making Ian Macleod Distillers the biggest winner. The awards are:

• Single Malt up to 12 year old category.
  Tamdhu 10 year old Speyside Single Malt – Gold medal.
   
• Single Malt up to 12 year old category.
  Smokehead Islay Single Malt – Gold medal.
   
• Single Malt 12-18 year old category.
  Gold medal Glengoyne 18 year old Highland Single Malt – Gold medal.
   
• Single Malt 18+ year old category.
  Glengoyne 25 year old Highland Single Malt – Gold medal.
   
• Single Malt 18+ year old category.
  Glengoyne 21 year old Highland Single Malt – Silver medal.

The Asian Spirits Masters seek to find and reward the finest spirits brands in Asia on the world stage. Chaired by The Spirits Business and a panel of leading, independent spirits specialists, The Asian Spirits Masters is open to all brands available to buy in the Far East and was judged in a blind tasting from entries from across the world. Each spirit is judged on its own merit and is not chosen by comparison.

Iain Weir, Marketing Director for Ian Macleod Distillers said: "We are exceedingly proud that, once again, our brands have been recognised in what is an extremely competitive market.

"It is particularly exciting to see that Tamdhu has now won top awards in each of the three competitions entered since its re-launch last year. We are also delighted that the new Glengoyne 25 year old has been awarded a gold medal in its first competition," Iain continued.

"Each one of these malts boasts its own unique qualities making them worthy winners of these prestigious awards."

Unlike most other single malt whiskies, Glengoyne dries the malted barley using only warm air resulting in an extremely subtle yet complex malt where all the delicate flavours are freely expressed. The whisky completes its journey to the bottle in some of the finest Oloroso sherry casks within the industry. This production process means that Glengoyne is distilled slower than any other malt whisky in Scotland which Glengoyne says makes it ‘worth the wait’.

Tamdhu Speyside Single Malt Scotch Whisky, which was born on the banks of the River Spey in 1897, is the only single malt to be exclusively matured in the finest European and American oak sherry casks, with a high proportion being first fill and teeming with flavour. These fine sherry casks give Tamdhu its dark natural colour and unique quality.

Smokehead is a heavily peated, exceptional Islay single malt whisky of the highest quality. Powerful and warming, it takes you on an explosive rollercoaster of peat, smoke and spice with a delicate sweetness on the finish.

Ian Macleod Distillers is one of Scotland’s leading, independent family owned distillers. The company acquired Glengoyne distillery in 2003, Tamdhu in 2011 and launched Smokehead in 2006.
 

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