America Clamors For a Dram of Brooklyn

NEW YORK, Aug. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Jura Brooklyn, the rule-breaking Scotch whisky created in collaboration with Brooklyn visionaries and Jura, part of the Whyte & Mackay single malt portfolio, is now available to retailers nationwide after an exclusive run in metropolitan New York. The distinct single malt, which launched at the end of June to borough-backed fanfare, quickly gained the attention and envy of retailers and whisky drinkers across the US. To meet demand, the brand is producing more of the Brooklyn batch for availability at select nationwide retailers and online.

In 2013, Jura brought together 12 respected Brooklyn artisans to co-collaborate on Kings County's first single malt Scotch whisky. As the rule-breaker of the Scotch whisky world, Jura was long intrigued by Brooklyn, a geography that similarly defies convention. Jura's rogue of a Master Distiller, Mr. Willie Tait, traveled across the Atlantic to the streets of Williamsburg, Park Slope, Bushwick and every neighborhood in between, with one objective: to craft a world-class single malt Scotch, chosen by and for the people of Brooklyn. And now the nation wants a taste.

"We are proud to have executed a project that has never been attempted before in the Scotch whisky world," says Tait. "We've developed a totally new whisky liquid in collaboration with artisans, craftsman and pioneers in the place where food and drink trends are born— Brooklyn. And we can't wait to see the rest of America's reaction to our whisky. It's a true blend of two places both known for their uniqueness."

Tait met with his hand-picked team (Bedford Cheese Shop, Brooklyn Winery, The Richardson, Post Office, Fine & Raw, New York City Food Truck Association, BAM, Brooklyn Brewery, Noorman's Kil, Vimbly, Buttermilk Channel and Brooklyn Magazine) in New York's famed borough, armed with six different cask samples each reflecting the distinctive flavors of Brooklyn's heritage (such as BBQ, Egg Cream and Artisanal Chocolate). During a series of blending sessions held in Brooklyn, the collaborators tasted different whisky marriages paired with fried chicken, artisanal cheese and fine chocolates, finally arriving at a whisky by Brooklyn, for Brooklyn.

"Jura Brooklyn is a product born out of the minds of Kings County, so to see the public as eager about it as we are is incredibly validating," says Chris Watt, Marketing Director Premium Brands, Whyte & Mackay Americas. "We were thrilled to bring to the Brooklyn market in June a bespoke product that each of our collaborators can proudly stand behind, and we're equally as excited to share it now with the national market."

Jura Brooklyn has been aged up to 16 years in American White Oak Bourbon, Amoroso Sherry and Pinot Noir casks. Notes of berries, bonfire smoke, figs, roasted coffee beans, honey and currants can be tasted throughout. Jura Brooklyn retails for a suggested price of $79.99 and is currently available at select retailers nationwide as well as online at Caskers.com. More information about Jura Brooklyn, including video assets, can be found here.

About Jura:
The Isle of Jura is nestled off the West Coast of Scotland. It's only 60 miles as the crow flies from Glasgow, but takes a wee while to get there. It's just one road, one pub, one distillery and one community that simply makes great whisky. Jura whisky is a part of the Whyte & Mackay single malt portfolio.

Jura Brooklyn Retailers: Linwood Wine & Spirits (Fort Lee, NJ), Corkscrew Fine Wines (Princeton, NJ), Park Avenue Liquors (New York, NY), Winfield Flynn (New York, NY), Columbus Wine & Spirits (New York, NY), Beekman Liquors (New York, NY), Michael Towne Wine & Spirits (Brooklyn, NY), Scotto's Wine Cellar (Brooklyn, NY), Greenpoint Wine & Liquor (Brooklyn, NY), De Wine Spot (Brooklyn, NY), Brooklyn Wine Exchange (Brooklyn, NY), Tops (Brooklyn, NY), Best Buy (Coney Island, NY),  L&P Wines & Liquors (Brooklyn, NY), Lorimer Wines & Spirits (Brooklyn, NY), Met Wine & Liquor (Brooklyn, NY), D.O.C. Wine Shop (Brooklyn, NY), Slope Cellars (Brooklyn, NY), White Star Liquors (Brooklyn, NY), Union Square Wine & Spirits (New York, NY), Bowery & Vine Liquors (New York, NY), Astor Wines (New York, NY), City Wine Cellar (Staten Island, NY), Wine & Spirits Co. (Milford, CT), Coastal W&S (Branford, CT), Post W&S (Cos Cob, CT), Warehouse Liquors (Chicago, IL), Westview Liquors (Chicago, IL), Lueken's Liquor (Dunedin, FL), Grove Liquor (Coconut Grove, FL), Norman's (Sarasota, FL), Twins Wine and Spirits (Austin, TX), Specs Wine and Spirits (Statewide, TX), Goody Goody (Dallas, TX), Argonaut Wine & Liquor (Denver, CO), Davidsons (Ranch, CO), Applejack Wine & Spirits (Wheat Ridge, CO) , Wally's Wine & Spirits (Los Angeles, CA), Hi-Times Wine & Spirits (Costa Mesa, CA), Remedy Wine & Spirits (Glendale, CA), Bounty Hunter (Napa, CA), The Whisky Shop (San Francisco, CA), Blackwell's Wines & Spirits (San Francisco, CA).

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SOURCE Whyte & Mackay