Glenmorangie and The Open Championship - the Perfect Partnership of Two Scottish Icons

NEW YORK, March 5, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Scotland is celebrated the world over for whisky and golf, so what could be more appropriate than today's announcement of a three year partnership that will see Glenmorangie become the Official Whisky of The Open Championship.

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The pairing of Glenmorangie and The R&A organizers of The Open Championship is a natural fit, as both have huge global followings.

Glenmorangie is enjoyed in over 130 countries worldwide, and, of course, in the U.S. where it has been the fastest growing single malt whisky for the past three years. The Open Championship is golf's most famous tournament, and is watched on television by an estimated 458 million households in 196 territories worldwide. Over 200,000 visitors flock to Britain's finest coastal golf courses every year to enjoy the drama of The Open in person. Royal Lytham & St Annes Golf Club, near Liverpool, will be hosting the Open Championship in 2012 (July 15-22).

Both Glenmorangie and The Open have a proud heritage dating back over 150 years. Glenmorangie was first produced in 1843 and is a leading player in premium single malts. The Open is golf's oldest Major Championship, dating back to 1860, and offers the famous Claret Jug as its prize.

Just as Glenmorangie goes to unnecessary lengths to craft its award-winning single malt whisky - using the tallest stills in Scotland and only the finest quality oak casks - so The Open is renowned every year for its meticulous preparation of the greens, fairways and bunkers of each Championship course.

Peter Dawson, The R&A's Chief Executive, welcomed Paul Skipworth, President and Managing Director of The Glenmorangie Company, to St Andrews, and expressed his delight at the partnership.

Paul Skipworth said: "Glenmorangie is proud to become a part of this amazing Championship, which will see our whisky showcased to as many as 200,000 visitors at each Open. Glenmorangie is delighted with our partnership with The R&A, an association of our mutually high standards. Like The Open itself, we believe in going the extra mile in the pursuit of perfection."

Brian Cox, Vice President of Glenmorangie, U.S., agreed and added: "There's a lot of common ground between lovers of fine golf and fine Scotch whisky, and we're extremely excited about this opportunity to reach out and connect the patrons of these two world-class brands, both nationally and internationally.

Peter Dawson said: "We are thrilled to welcome Glenmorangie as the Official Whisky of The Open Championship. Glenmorangie is an iconic Scottish brand, which, like golf, is enjoyed the world over."

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie single malt Scotch whisky originates in the Scottish Highlands where, at the Glenmorangie Distillery, it is distilled in the tallest malt whisky stills in Scotland, expertly matured in the finest oak casks (used only twice), and perfected by the Men of Tain. The Distillery was founded in 1843 and is renowned as a pioneer in its field uniting tradition with innovation to create 'unnecessarily well-made' whiskies.

Glenmorangie has won a remarkable total of 18 'Gold Best in Class' medals over the past five years at the IWSC – the most internationally-recognised awards body. This is more than any other single malt Scotch whisky, making Glenmorangie the 'best awarded' of any single malt.

About the Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (LVMH). Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay malt.

The R&A

Based in St Andrews, The R&A organises The Open Championship, major amateur events and international matches. Together with the United States Golf Association, The R&A governs the game worldwide, jointly administering the Rules of Golf, Rules of Amateur Status, Equipment Standards and World Amateur Golf Rankings. The R&A's working jurisdiction is global, excluding the United States and Mexico.

The R&A is committed to working for golf and supports the growth of the game internationally and the development and management of sustainable golf facilities. The R&A operates with the consent of 143 organisations from the amateur and professional game and on behalf of over thirty million golfers in 128 countries.

The Open

The Open Championship is golf's oldest Major. Played since 1860 on British links golf courses, it is the game's most international Major Championship with qualifying events on every continent. For one week each year, the pursuit of the famous Claret Jug trophy is the focus of the sporting world, followed globally by millions of fans.

Organised by The R&A, The Open delivers an annual economic benefit of £100 million to its host region, while the Championship's commercial success supports the development of the game, worldwide.

In 2012, The 141^st Open Championship will be held at Royal Lytham & St Anne's Golf Club in Lancashire July 15-22nd.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

SOURCE Moet Hennessy USA