The Balvenie Begins Nationwide Search for the Unsung Heroes of Craftsmanship

NEW YORK, Feb. 9, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The Balvenie, the world's most handcrafted Single Malt Scotch Whisky, announced today a nationwide search for craftsmen and artisans to take part in a truly unique initiative - The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow.  Part trans-American road trip and part voyage of discovery, The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow is a celebration of craftsmanship that will travel the United States discovering and honoring the people who maintain a dedication to the practice and preservation of traditional crafts.

As a fifth-generation family owned distillery, the exceptional quality of The Balvenie stems from its commitment to retain and nurture the high level of hand craftsmanship no longer employed by other malt whisky producers. The Balvenie is unique in that it retains the five rare crafts that go into the production of its acclaimed single malt, wholeheartedly dedicated to preserving the rare crafts that go into the production of whisky. Starting this spring, The Balvenie Ambassadors Andrew Weir and Nicholas Pollacchi will travel the length and breadth of the United States, to seek out and honor artisans who share their enthusiasm for all things made with skill and passion.  The pair will go from city to city in a suitably handcrafted Morgan Car, visiting the workshops, studios, and stores that are keeping rare crafts alive, learning more about the craftsmen and their respective crafts along the way.

From brewers, vintners and cheese makers, to apothecaries, bicycle makers and all points between, The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow will discover and celebrate the burgeoning community of like-minded American artisans, giving craftsmen the recognition they are due, in the form of wide exposure.  In addition to being featured on a dedicated website and in a nationwide print campaign, craftsmen also have a chance to be honored at special celebratory events and featured in an interactive web video series, culminating in a longer form documentary charting this unique journey and the skilled characters encountered along the way.  

"We are thrilled to begin our journey in search of the best craftsman that this nation has to offer and cannot wait to see what we uncover," commented Andrew Weir, Eastern USA Ambassador for The Balvenie. "The Balvenie is unique in that nowhere else will you find a distillery that still grows its own barley, malts in its own traditional malting floor, employs coopers to tend every cask, a coppersmith to maintain the stills, and a malt master to ensure that the resulting spirit is consistently excellent. We realize this approach may not be as economical or as profitable as it could be, but as a family-owned distillery, we do it because we can, and because we know it's the best way to ensure quality throughout the whisky making process. We want to recognize those who feel the same way about their respective craft."

"We are passionate about the need to preserve and practice the art of craftsmanship, and The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow will bring this passion to life sharing it with those we meet along the way," added Nicholas Pollacchi, Western USA Ambassador for The Balvenie. "We hope that The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow will ignite the spirit of rare craft across the country, and we look forward to honoring our fellow craftsmen during this epic nationwide journey. We encourage craftsmen to begin signing up immediately."

The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow will kick-off on March 10th, 2011, when Andrew and Nicholas will launch their voyage of discovery.  Interested participants can learn more about the program and sign up by visiting The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow website at: http://www.balvenie.com/roadshow. The search for the best rare craftsmen in America has officially begun!

About William Grant & Sons

William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich®, The Balvenie® range of handcrafted single malts and the world's fourth largest blended Scotch Grant's® as well as other iconic spirits brands such as Hendrick's® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey and the award-winning Milagro® Tequila.

Among the most recent accolades for the well-awarded company, William Grant & Sons was honored as the "Distiller of the Year" for the fourth time in five years by the prestigious International Spirits Challenge.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore Dew Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Stolichnaya Vodka, Grant's, Hudson Whiskey, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Lillet, Licor 43, Art In The Age, The Knot and BOLS cordials. The company has offices in New York City (sales and marketing) and Edison, NJ (bottling and warehouse facilities). For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

SOURCE William Grant & Sons