JD Coke Cupcakes - Sweet

JD Coke Cupcakes

What Im Drinking: Jack Daniels Silver Select

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The Back

The Front Label

Tennessee Whiskey

Whisky Dispenser

Source: buzzfeed.com via Mari on Pinterest

Whisky: What makes you Happy

So true...

Source: imgfave.com via Ashley on Pinterest

Recession Proof: Scotch Whisky Industry

Montgomery Scott considered Scotch a whiskey for real men

Recently, it was reported that the whisky industry in Scotland, has been unaffected by the economic downturn. This trend has been credited to an upsurge in demand seen in developing overseas markets, especially in India, China and Brazil, a report said. Scottish whisky exports increased by 23% last year, Sky News reported.

Whisky has become one of Britain's biggest exports, now worth over 4.5 billion pounds (Rs.370 billion) annually. Every second, 125 pounds (around Rs.10,300) pour into the British economy through revenue and jobs centred around whisky.

"Obviously their economies are doing very, very well. There's a growing middle class which obviously has growing disposable income," said Iain Weir, marketing director of the Gelngoyne Distillery, near Loch Lomond in Scotland.

"They are aspirational with regards to their consumption and I'm delighted to say whisky, and in particular single malt whisky, is very much on their shopping list. I think they very much appreciate the history and the provenance and authenticity that comes with Scotch whisky," he said.

Rosemary Gallagher, from the industry's governing body, the Scottish Whisky Association, says distillers were prepared.

"Companies have seen this demand coming and have planned ahead. Scottish whisky is a long term industry. So companies have invested one billion pounds in infrastructure in the last five years, expanding distilleries and opening new warehouses, so we're geared up for demand," she said.

Concerns about demand outweighing supply are prevalent, but not so as to dampen this resurgence created overseas for scotch whisky. From a purely economic perspective, demand for scotch whisky seems to be heading towards a certain in-elasticity among certain sections of society - a much celebrated way to recognize your aspirations and increase in income. Major industries like retail, auto etc have begun looking outwards of their sagging economies towards growing economies. 

There is, however, still an element of beauty attached to Scotch Whisky, one that hasn't been tarnished in any form yet and that which its true admirers appreciate. As Dewars Premium Scotch Whisky says, "something's are just worth doing". 

Teachers: Spirit of Achievement

Spirit of Achievement

The Teachers Spirit of Achievement has inspired me to go beyond the boundaries that whisky takes you to and celebrate every achievement, not just our own but of true winners around us as well.

This space is all about understanding, feeling and living that spirit - anyone I come across, any instances I face or anyone that embodies the true spirit of an achiever will feature on this very space.

We see things for what they are, but sometimes we often forget to go closer and feel the spirit behind them. Its time to celebrate the spirit of achievement. 

Dewars Whisky: Creating a Brand Philosophy

Unique bottle design
by Dewars

The early 1900's saw the seeds of the first global whisky brands emerge - notably Dewars and Johnnie Walker. Dewars, now owned by Bacardi, is the number one selling premium scotch whiskey in the USA and currently follows a brand philosophy of "something's are just worth doing". This was, is and will remain a brand that treads closely along the path of its much admired super-marketer contemporary's - Coca Cola and McDonalds. 

What I wonder though is - chicken and egg. Did brand influence philosophy or vice versa? Look at Dewar's again - they are doing a great job at appealing to a much wider persona and scope in their messaging. Compare this to Glenlivet, trudging along the brand authenticity route by saying "the single malt that started it all". Is this a brand philosophy, whisky personality or a muddle of both? The interesting thing is, although Glinlivet still is an amazing whiskey for all single malt whisky lovers, it still isn't THE whisky that was started by George Smith way back. 

Dewars proposition and positioning give it a much wider scope. Towards the end of 2011, Dewars and Universal Music Latin Entertainment (UMLE) announced an exclusive association to celebrate Latin music's hottest night of the year in November. 

"DEWAR'S has a long history as a blended Scotch whisky of choice among Hispanic consumers due to the exceptionally smooth taste," said Fannie Young, vice president, brand managing director, DEWAR'S Blended Scotch Whiskies.  "Working with Universal Music Latin Entertainment gives DEWAR'S Blended Scotch Whisky a fully integrated music platform connecting with Hispanic consumers through one of their key passion points and further enhance their affinity for the brand."

By simply clicking the "Like" button on the DEWAR'S Facebook page at www.facebook.com/dewars, fans of legal drinking age could gain access to free downloadable playlists and other exclusive content from today's hottest hitmakers, including Enrique Iglesias (two tracks, one featuring Juan Luis Guerra), Don Omar, Los Tigres Del Norte (featuring Paulina Rubio), Winsin Y Yandel, and Luis Fonsi. 

Cut to 4 days ago - another groundbreaking innovation by Dewars announcing its collaboration with TED, the non-profit dedicated to Ideas Worth Spreading, at their 2012 conference in Long Beach, USA.The conference from 27^th February - 2^nd March will bring together a diverse group of speakers from the fields of technology, entertainment and design to deliver exciting multisensory talks in less than 18 minutes.

Dewar's will capture the buzz around the talks through the "Dewar's Hub", a revolutionary interactive experience that distils and visualises real time conversations from Twitter. Attendees will be able to explore different themes and conversations by tweeting to the installation @dewarshub or, alternatively, navigate, filter and influence the visualisation using motion detection. 

People around the world can also tweet requests to @dewarshub to receive automated Twitpics displaying the discussions generated around their chosen topic.

Dewar's will be served during the week at hosted events including the TED Fellows Reception and a whisky Masterclass with Dewar's Senior Global Brand Ambassador, Stephen Marshall. Tom Swift, Global Marketing Manager, Dewar's, said: "'We are very proud to have formed this partnership. DEWAR'S shares TED's commitment to the spread of great ideas and their positive outcome. It fits perfectly with DEWAR'S own view of life that some things are just Worth Doing."

110 years odd later, the Dewars juggernaut rumbles on and shows no sign of relenting in its ability to influence so many spheres of life and personalities - I think this is truly one global whisky brand philosophy.

What I' m Drinking These Days: Laphroig Quarter Cask

Classy Laphroig Quarter Cask case and bottle

                      I also found this review of the Laphroig Quarter cask... Check it out...

Whisky and Art: A Great Combination

I like visually appealing things - art forms, great design, colours, it could be anything. On of my web browsing spree's, I stumbled upon the Glasgow Collective, a large group of diverse visual artists, all of whom have studied at the Glasgow School of Art. Andrew Cattanach from Skinny.co.uk describes them as "shrewd individuals with a will to exhibit, fighting the tide of stagnation that impedes us following graduation". 

His review, published 29th July, 2009, underscores one of my favourite quotes by Billy Sherwood "And I found that when I built my own place and just shut the door, the creativity was endless". The Glasgow Collective typify this creative spirit, which my aunt also seems to have taken to. One of her best works (view her visuals by clicking here), the "Broken Symphony" a 50 feet long outdoor installation made of recycled grocery bags (below). 

                               

The Glasgow Collective have come together because of their joint enthusiasm and commitment to bring   ing new exciting work to a collective audience. Recently, a former student of the Glasgow school of Arts, Christine Leatham, won the anCnoc Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky and Glasgow Print Studio Contest, called Northland. Her work, 'Untitled' caught the eye of John Byrne, a judge at the competition who is a playwright and artist himself. 

The brief of the contest? Represent the scenery around the Knockdhu Distillery near Huntly. Ms Leatham won £500 and a visit to the distillery as well. John Byrne, the artist and playwright, was a judge in the competition. He added: "I’m so impressed with the working space in the building and especially the amount of talent bursting through the walls. Every piece of work was at such a high standard I found it hard to choose just one."

Thats so true with whisky as well, isn't it? There is just so much quality out there - one needs to grow into it gradually. Much like art. Well, this analogy was definitely a good one to draw - Whisky and Art. Lets see what else comes along. 

Makers Mark: Making a Mark

Makers Mark, part of the American Whiskey Trail and Kentucky Bourbon trail, is a small batch bourbon whiskey distilled in Loretto, Kentucky by Beam Inc.

On first impression, it looks like a thoroughbred "brand", one subjugated to consistent image building since its inception in 1958. Now though, things have changed. In an increasingly fragmented world where virtual seems real and real seems virtual, a company/product website is more representative of brand image than the actual product itself. This is in 9/10 cases the first interaction a consumer has with the brand as part of the consumer journey.

Makers Mark - "It is what it isn't". Wait - does that mean its nothing at all, something else or anything you want it to be? Check it out here and let me know what you think. The brand seems omnipresent on social media - Twitter, Youtube and Facebook. I like their line on the Facebook page - "it isnt about having the most friends, its about having friends you can count on the most". Clearly, this no suave, VW 1960's BBH revolutionary campaign. Nor does it aim to be one. The following video defines the brand which stays so true to the style of marketing as well - its not what someone else wants you to be, its how you define yourself.

                      

Some of Makers Mark marketing gimmicks are interesting, such as:

• Distinctive bottle look of being dipped in red wax
• Use of the spelling "whisky" (no e, unlike other American brands) to try and market it as a product with Scottish origins
• Makers Mark ambassadors through Facebook, where people get rewarded for sharing the experience of Makers Mark bourbon among friends if done correctly
• Lounges and restaurants such as Makers Mark Bourbon House and Lounge as the premium and sole marquee bourbon on shelves. 

Makers Mark truly tries to reach out to us - if I were to compare it to another product type or category, I would certainly say it appeals to my senses in the same way as premium quality chocolate. Appealing, has pull appeal and makes you want to go back for more. 

Baileys Biscotti: A 'sample' of good digital brand communications

In the old days within business environments, reaching the consumer was equivalent to captivating him. Now, companies need to nurture and nourish not only consumers, but also their attention span's. 

Plenty of brand's are yet defining what social media means to them. I think two things are essential here:

1. How might a CEO scale the importance of social media and digital mediums in its communications strategy? 
2. We cant simply take Facebook and Twitter as being a part of "social media" anymore, can we? 

These two medium's need an independent outlook whilst devising marketing plan's - they are now amazingly mainstream enough to look at them as an above the line communication tool. Then we have the Foursquare's, Digg's, Reddits etc who are still playing catch up in the field, much like Apple, which was initially quite cult towards designers and creative professional's  before ultimately garnering the tremendous appeal of today. 

I think Bailey's strategy to offer 200,000 Biscotti samples over Facebook is a great strategy. It keeps in line with its brand image by having relevant 'pull' elements for the crowd. Facebook is not just about the like button - that is just the beginning of the customer engagement journey. Similarly, sampling a whisky is the first step in customers and fans engaging with a particular style and brand of whisky. It is that crucial first step for a connoisseur or even a novice to form an impression and give his stamp of approval. 

           

                                             

                                                  The New Baileys Biscotti

                                     

However, brand engagement is much the same as whisky sampling. Passion for a brand and love for a whisky both need to evolve over many many years of trial, consumption and appreciation. It could be the same for a company Facebook page. Brand page's need to take a leaf out of Bailey Biscotti's strategy - it has stayed true to the product, the appreciative qualities that whisky drinkers along with their strong social ties and affiliation with fellow drinkers. Fans literally have to "toast" to a best friend on Facebook or a fellow Baileys aficionado. This toast leads to the the lucky friend being treated to a 5cl sample of Baileys Biscotti. Fantastic. 

                             

To see more of the Baileys Biscotti digital marketing, visit the Facebook page by clicking here.

Best Whisky Commercial Ever

Best Scotch Whisky - William Lawsons #1

This is a fantastic ad - I m sure it will be a great laugh for all. 

Passion and money: The real value of $200,000 in whisky terms.

image via Whisky Exchange

Lets face some facts - most of us are slam bang crash in the middle of a global upheaval. Falling stock prices, inflationary markets, stinking debt issues in the "PIIGS", a weakening dollar etc are just some 'negative cues' as my investment banker friends might explain it. Hell, I even found a live counter the other day showing the cost of war since 2001 in the USA - I almost lost my hair, so unless your already bald, I suggest wearing a tight cap before scrolling down.

However, the fact is I m not an investment banker. I look at money and finance on a behavioural scale, which is an un-budgeted 'cue' at COB in the RBS' and the Goldman Sachs. Looking at charts, excel spreadsheets and graphs all day, yeah, thats going to tell you why people spend and why people buy (there's a fantastic book with a different take on why we buy - its called Buy.ology: How everything we believe about why we buy is wrong, and it talks about the brain's functionality in stimulating buying).

Passion. Another P which is missing in marketing's now so retrograde but stale 4P's of functioning. Transitioning a product to a brand can never happen unless its maker's are not passionate about the tiniest fragment of the tiniest micro-fragment associated with its design, appeal and functionalities. In fact, I feel passion can definitely replace Price in the 4P's - who gives a damn about money if as a consumer, you have an unparalleled passion for a product? Look at Apple, a true market leader in refreshing and replacing the 4P's price with passion. 

This argument is substantiated by one truly great Chinese gentleman who paid .... yes, almost $200,000 for a rare bottle of 62 year old Dalmore single malt 62 at Singapore airport on Monday. The $194,000 bottle is reportedly one of the most expensive ever sold, and is one of 12 bottles of its kind in the world.When the man saw the bottle on display, he made a bank transfer of $100,000 and placed the down payment on it.The Dalmore 62 was part of a special promotion called "Master of Spirits" aimed at connoisseurs. 

If this is a case of making a smart investment to resell the matter takes on a whole different view. Then we need to assume the man is profit oriented and passionate about money. This happens very often in most brand communities - look Harley Davidson, there are the core loyalists to the values they imbibe from biking and then there are the outsider's, in it to make use of the commercial benefits of merchandising etc. 

Even so, paying $200,000 for a whisky is no mean feat - it shows the true value that whisky has because whisky is not something you can pour off a tap - the longer you sow, the finer you reap and thats what makes it special. 

Retromarketing: yesterday's tomorrows, today! says Stephen Brown, in one of histimely marketing papers. Lets look at a relevant case rooting itself in the1960's, since our point of reference here is Mad Men (1960's based admen).

The new Jaguar S-Type, for instance, has an uncanny resemblance to immortal MarkII, beloved by 1960s' police officers and getaway drivers. Subsequently, theretro-advertising campaign is as evocative. The TV ad blares the bygone backingtrack - 1960s Shirley Bassey singing, "little bit of history repeatingitself" - whereas the print version is accorded with the time-steepedtagline, "the style of the last generation, the excitement of the next"

There are several such examples of retro being de rigueur, especially true in theautomotive industry. However, its worth noting what values and aspiration's theJaguar brand is trying to evoke among its new "old" loving audience:style, class and excitement.

Mad Men is now a brand that represents a somewhat uncanny resemblance to retroappeal. Gone are the days when advertising was based on pure positioning andpropositioning of a product. Advertising now works its magic on a new P:Platform. So what is it about Mad Men that fascinates us? What about thisbygone age of advertising professionals in the 1960's makes it one of the toprated shows at present?

Mad Men appeals to the style quotient in us. The biggest proof of this very real phenomenon is the global spike in consumption of single malt and scotch whisky. John Hamm and John Slattery are mesmerizing enough characters on the show.However, a large part of their panache emanates from the drink they choose, andwhy they choose to indulge. In a thirty second clip from one of the episodes,Roger Sterling (John Slattery) makes a claim to Don (John Hamm) that drinking is now a very real part of a "generation gap" between the two, andthat people of Don's age do not know why they drink. He also appeals to Don to "enjoy" his drink and justifies it by saying his"generation drinks because its good". One cant deny the subtle marketing being attempted here - but it does not override the essence of the show in anyway. Its a brilliantly simplistic bit of dialogue.

It is probably bits like these that have made Mad Men one of the prime stimulantsof a global increase in whisky consumption. A report, in licensed trade magazine The Grocer, said: "Don Draper and co have not just influenced oursartorial habits.

"More and more people are also emulating the glamorous Man Men characters by developing a taste for high end spirits - particularly fine Scotch." The study says that Scotch sales is raising spirits in recession-hit Britain withexports of malt and blended whisky rising by a 22 per cent to £1.8billion inthe first six months of the year. And sales of single malts soared by 13.4per cent in the past year, according to market research firm Kantar World panel.

It's the biggest success story in the drinks industry's spirits category, which hasenjoyed a 6.4 per cent value annual increase, but this is not the first timesuch a trend has emerged. In 2007, the success of charismatic duo Denny Crane(William Schatner) and best buddy Alan Shore (James Spader) sipping theirscotch on the balcony after a hard days work caused New Zealanders to get outthere and buy more whisky.

Whisky is also downed in other retro dramas such as Life On Mars, Ashes To Ashes andThe Hour. Rosemary Gallagher, of the Scotch WhiskyAssociation, said: "Anecdotal evidence suggests younger people are beingattracted to malt - partly because it's seen as an aspirational and stylish drink

"Thereare a lot of young, newly affluent customers buying whisky in the bars to makea statement. And boy, making a statement they are.

The Man Who Walked Around the World: Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker - The Man Who Walked Around the World

This amazing film showcases the brand value of Johnnie Walker. Johnnie Walker is the world's best-selling whisky, and the #3 premium spirit overall. First launched in 1909, it was arguably the world's first global consumer brand, distributed to more than 100 countries before 1920. Since 1997 it has been one of the star brands in the portfolio of drinks giant Diageo, with annual revenues breaking the £1bn barrier for the first time in 2008.

In this amazing 6 minute short film, created by BBH London, Robert Carlyle walks the hills of Loch Doyne in Scotland recounting, in full detail, the story of how the Scottish farmer turned his product into the world famous brand it is today. Other than the great story, it was filmed in one continuous shot. It took Robert 40 tries to finally get it right.

Boilermakers at Toto's Pub

Those were the days. Fresh out of school. Fresh at the pub.

My first pitcher of beer, a celebratory one to commemorate a potentially intense induction into 5 years of college, fun and parties was a mere Rs 250 (£3).

It was here, at Toto's pub in Bandra, Mumbai where I began my learning - its true, Pink Floyd and The Doors are better mixers with a pint than most other things.

However - one fateful day, as many other, when the litres of alcohol feel like gallons going down your system, I was introduced to the Boilermaker: an inconspicuous looking conception namely a shot of whisky at the base of your glass of beer. The point is to let it sit there - not drown. Beautiful.

Boilermaker's became a side interest like most other things in college are - studies, TV and what not. Its just that we had a different name for it - the "motherf*@ker". Beer lovers hated the whisky, and whisky lovers hated the beer. However, alcohol lovers like me didnt care.

If I were an advertising professional, I d design a campaign for this product with the tagline - "Dont let it hold you back" appealing to hardcore beer and hardcore whisky fanatics to let loose of their years of loyalty and try something new.

I am glad I did. The Boilermaker. 

Chance Encounters

Bumping into an old friend sometimes feels like making a new one. This happened recently, and it's always a funny feeling, no matter how close two people might have been previously. Anyhow - We got talking I learnt that he is now fully involved in his father's alcohol distribution business in India.

What's more, he wants to top it up by doing a 'higher education' and 'learn more' about alcohol and gain insights on the business side of things studying in the UK. This was a great input - I had never stopped to imagine or think there might be course's on alcohol.

On my recent trip to Scotland (wish it was more than just 3 short days) most of my learnings on whisky came through talking to people - be it at the Whiski Bar on Royal Mile where I was scorned at for ordering an Laphroaig on the rocks (if you ve never tried Laphroaig, I suggest ordering your first 10 year old single malt Laphroaig here) or through a chance encounter at the Dalwhinnie whisky distillery, seemingly the coldest village in all of Britain (it was 6 degrees celsius on an August morning at 12 noon).

However - I got to looking at some courses on whisky in London and found an interesting:

SCOTCH WHISKY TASTING: £180

This course is designed to appeal to those who appreciate the aromas and flavours of fine Scotch whisky and would like to enjoy a dram or two in the company of like-minded others.

COURSE CONTENT

The course will consist of five two-hour sessions. Tasting samples of six whiskies will be provided to illustrate the main points of each session. Session topics will be:-

1. The Making Of Fine Whisky
2. Blended Whiskies
3. Speyside Malts
4. Highland Malts
5. Islay Malts

A copy of Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2010 (recommended retail price £10.99) will be provided.

WHAT SHOULD YOU GET OUT OF THE COURSES?

By the end of each course, you should have an in-depth knowledge of how the different styles of Scotch whisky are produced. You will also have developed your proficiency as a taster significantly.

WHAT IF YOU HAVE TO MISS A COURSE SESSION?

You may either send a substitute or pick up the session missed on a subsequent course. Just let us know and we will make arrangements.

COURSE FEES

£180 for five sessions

EQUIPMENT NEEDED

You will need to bring six wine glasses to each session. If you really want to sharpen your taste buds, a set of the International Standards Organisation (ISO) glasses used by professional whisky tasters is recommended (the tutor will have boxed sets of six crystal ISO tasting glasses on sale at £15).

TUTORS

WES whisky experts, Christos Ioannou and Sandy Leckie.

Check out course-dates, map and application form by clicking here. For more options pertaining to wine workshops and taster sessions, check the whole range of offerings at http://www.wine-education-service.co.uk

Upcoming: Whisky Tasting Events

Here's a list of some upcoming whisky events and festivals from around the world in September:

Kentucky Bourbon Festival

Whisky Live in Paris
Autumn Speyside Whisky Festival
Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival

Alabama Song by The Doors

I ve set up URL's to the "next whiskey bar" within the lyrics to some cool whisky bar's around the world. Purchase The Alabama Song at Amazon for $0.99 by Clicking here

Well, show me the way
To the next whiskey bar
Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why
Show me the way
To the next whiskey bar
Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why
For if we don't find
The next whiskey bar
I tell you we must die
I tell you we must die
I tell you, I tell you
I tell you we must die
Oh, moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have whiskey, oh, you know why
Oh, moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have whiskey, oh, you know why
Well, show me the way
To the next little girl
Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why
Show me the way
To the next little girl
Oh, don't ask why
Oh, don't ask why
For if we don't find
The next little girl
I tell you we must die
I tell you we must die
I tell you, I tell you
I tell you we must die
Oh, moon of Alabama
We now must say goodbye
We've lost our good old mama
And must have whiskey, oh, you know why

What is Whisky?

A distilled spirit produced from grain, the classic drink consists of Barley, rye, wheat and corn - used to produce different styles, and most are aged in oak barrels. ‘Whisky’ the spelling, is used in Scotland, Canada, India, Australia, Japan and Europe, whilst Ireland and America go for an additional vowel byusing ‘whiskey'.

True Words of Genius

"Too much of anything is bad, but too much of good whisky is barely enough" - Mark Twain. An awesome quote. It puts things into perspective beautifully.

A good place to start would be the Whiskycafe L&B on Korte Leidsedwarsstraat, Amsterdam. With over 1000 different kinds of whisky to choose from - Scotch, Malt and usqueba from Scotland, Ireland, Canada, America and even Japan, you know you ve walked into a truly global whisky experience in the heart of Amsterdam.

Globe Trotting: Japan

Whisky production in Japan was first initiated in 1870, but commercial production only began once the country's first distillery opened in 1924 which was known as Yamazaki. In style, Whisky from the far east takes after Scotch rather than Irish styles.

Yamazaki 12 Year Old (70cl, 43%)

This 12 year old from Yamazaki first came onto the market in 1984 and was the first seriously marketed Japanese single malt whisky.

The nose is of good body with plenty of nut oils and zest, a pleasant floral character with a little tropical fruit and a rooty note. The palate is smooth and soft with good sweetness and winter spice. A lovely citrus note develops with more tropical fruit notes and a little rum. The finish is medium with fruit and zest.