UK interest in American whiskey booming
Bourbon Buffalo Trace plans to host more pop-up bars across the country following its success at London Cocktail Week, and the distillery is also launching a limited edition whiskey as UK interest in the category grows.
Bourbon Buffalo Trace plans to host more pop-up bars across the country following its success at London Cocktail Week, and the distillery is also launching a limited edition whiskey as UK interest in the category grows.
Nielsen figures show the American whiskey category grew by 3.8% in volume and 8.9% in value in the UK over the year to August 2012.
During last month's cocktail event, the Buffalo Bourbon Empire pop-up bar served more than 7,000 drinks to over 3,500 customers from its Covent Garden base.
The prohibition-themed bar was a collaboration between Buffalo Trace Bourbon, distributed by Hi-Spirits, and bar consultants The Cocktail Service.
It converted an empty shop into a two-storey speakeasy with classic American cocktails served by waiters wearing spats and braces.
More than 200 people attended masterclasses including sessions with Drew Mayville, master blender at the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky, as well as with molecular mixology specialist Michael Stringer.
Sue Hill, director at Hi-Spirits said: "The Cocktail Service are quickly becoming recognised for the design and creation of pop-ups, and the care that went into creating the Bourbon Empire ensured customers had a great experience."
Meanwhile the distillery has just launched limited edition Colonel E.H. Taylor Straight Rye Whiskey in the UK from Hi-Spirits. The 50% ABV small-batch whiskey also comes from Buffalo Trace, which was owned by Colonel Taylor, the great nephew of US president of Zachary Taylor, in the 19th century.
It follows a traditional recipe, comes packaged in a vintage label and canister reminiscent of Taylor's bottle designs more than a century ago, and has an rrp of £117.
Jeremy Hill, chairman of Hi-Spirits, said: "Interest in American whiskey has never been stronger in the UK, and we're delighted to have an allocation of this authentic straight rye. Like all limited editions from the Buffalo Trace Distillery, we don't expect it to be around for long."
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