Bushmills™ Irish Whiskey Is Toast Of World Leaders At G8 Summit In Northern Ireland

FERMANAGH, Northern Ireland, June 19, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Northern Ireland's world famous whiskey, Bushmills, was the toast of world leaders at the G8 Summit meeting at the Lough Erne Resort in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, on 17 and 18 June.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20130619/NY34979)

Bottles of the award winning whiskey were presented to the heads of state, including Barack Obama and Vladimir Putin, and the key delegates travelling with them. Bushmills Irish Whiskey was chosen by the UK Government among gifts that represent the best of the Northern Ireland's produce.

The Old Bushmills Distillery on Northern Ireland's picturesque north coast exports 95% of its production, with main markets including North America, Great Britain and France.

Bushmills Master Distiller, Colum Egan selected one of the distillery's finest reserves - Bushmills 12 Year Old Single Malt Irish Whiskey – for the commemorative gift presented by UK Prime Minister David Cameron to the world leaders and delegates. 

Colum Egan said: "Bushmills may be a small village, but we are no stranger to the global stage – we've received hundreds of international awards for our whiskey. But I have to say this is one of our finest moments. As Master Distiller I'm very proud that our hand-made whiskey is being given global recognition as among the best of Northern Ireland's produce, especially coming in the same week as we are welcoming 500 international visitors to our distillery's music festival."

Bushmills Irish Whiskey also partnered with the Northern Ireland Tourist Board at the G8 summit to provide media from around the world with a series of tutored tastings of its handcrafted range including some of its seven award-winning whiskies: Bushmills, Black Bush™, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 1608 and Bushmills Irish Honey Spirit Drink.

Diageo PLC (DGE:London) acquired the Old Bushmills Distillery in 2005 and has invested £45m since then, trebling production. Around 5m litres of whiskey will be distilled this year. The distillery employs 106 people in all areas of production including distilling, blending, maturation and bottling, all of which take place on the one site. The distillery's visitors' centre is one of Northern Ireland's leading tourist destinations, attracting around 120,000 visitors a year.

NOTES TO EDITORS:

ABOUT BUSHMILLS IRISH WHISKEY

With a heritage rooted in authenticity and quality, Bushmills Irish Whiskey is produced, aged and bottled at Ireland's oldest working Whiskey distillery in the village of Bushmills in County Antrim on the far north coast of Ireland. The Old Bushmills Distillery uses 100% malt barley to make triple distilled malt whiskey, which is what creates the rich, mellow and distinct flavour that is the house style. The Bushmills portfolio includes: Bushmills Irish Whiskey; Black Bush, Bushmills 10 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 16 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 21 Year Old Single Malt, Bushmills 1608 and now Bushmills Irish Honey.

ABOUT BUSHMILLS LIVE MUSIC FESTIVAL

This week sees the staging of "Bushmills Live", a festival of handcrafted whiskey and music at the distillery (June 19 and 20) where international indie artists such as Of Monsters and Men and Jake Bugg will play to an audience of 500 international music and whiskey fans from countries such as the US, Russia, Portugal and Bulgaria.

ABOUT DIAGEO
Diageo is the world's leading premium drinks business with an outstanding collection of beverage alcohol brands across spirits, beer and wine categories. These brands include Johnnie Walker, Crown Royal, J&B, Buchanan's, Windsor and Bushmills whiskies, Smirnoff, Ciroc and Ketel One vodkas, Captain Morgan, Baileys, Tanqueray and Guinness.

Diageo is a global company, with its products sold in more than 180 countries around the world. The company is listed on both the New York Stock Exchange (DEO) and the London Stock Exchange (DGE). For more information about Diageo, its people, brands, and performance, visit www.diageo.com. For Diageo's global resource that promotes responsible drinking through the sharing of best practice tools, information and initiatives, visit www.DRINKiQ.com. 

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SOURCE Diageo