The Glenrothes Distillery Announces 2013 US Vintage Maker Competition

SAN FRANCISCO, Feb. 12, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The Glenrothes is delighted to announce today's launch of the 2013 US Vintage Maker Competition. Following the huge success of the 2012 competition, this year's contest will result in two grand prize winners from the USA.  Each grand prize winner will receive a trip for him/her and one guest to Speyside, Scotland. The Glenrothes "Vintage Makers" will spend a week mastering single malt production, culminating in the creation of a new Glenrothes Vintage.

From February 12, 2013 until April 12, 2013, entrants can submit an essay of 750 characters or less and an image response to the prompt, "Share a Vintage Moment with The Glenrothes." Winning entries will be selected based on the best representation of how The Glenrothes Distillery defines a Vintage Moment: A perfect combination of time, place, people and/or occasion when everything comes together to create a moment that will stay in the memory forever.

Grand prize winners will travel to The Glenrothes this summer and be hosted by Ronnie Cox, Keeper of the Quaich and The Glenrothes Brand Heritage Director.  Upon arriving, they will learn the time-honored art of whisky making and skills that have been passed down from generation to generation. The winners will spend time working at each stage of the process: testing the purity of the water source at the distillery's two springs; milling the malt to achieve the golden proportions of husk, grits and flour; mashing to ensure maximum extraction of sugars in the wort; adding yeast to the washbacks and overseeing fermentation; and slowly and carefully distilling new make spirit in our tall copper pot stills.

The "Vintage Makers" will nose single malt from maturing casks to assess whether the contents are true of all The Glenrothes whiskies and exceptional in quality and maturity; only the top 3% of the distillery's output is bottled as The Glenrothes Speyside Single Malt Whisky. Finally, the "Vintage Makers" will have the opportunity to create a new Vintage of The Glenrothes, to be released when it reaches the peak of maturity.  As an added bonus each of the lucky guests will produce their own selection of The Glenrothes – labeled with their own hand-written tasting notes.

When their work is done, our Vintage Makers will enjoy the simple pleasures that Speyside has to offer; a spot of fishing, dining in the local Highland restaurants or perhaps a picnic in the hills surrounding the distillery. The "Vintage Makers" will stay in Rothes House, a private home belonging to the family that owns The Glenrothes.

The Glenrothes is now available throughout the U.S. through Anchor Distilling. For more information on The Glenrothes or the 2013 US Vintage Maker Competition, please visit www.theglenrothes.com.

Abbreviated Rules

NO PURCHASE OR PAYMENT NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN. PURCHASE WILL NOT INCREASE YOUR CHANCE OF WINNING. MUST BE 21 YEARS OF AGE OR OLDER AND A RESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES TO ENTER. VOID WHERE PROHIBITED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW. BY ENTERING THE CONTEST YOU AGREE TO THE OFFICIAL RULES. Contest begins at 12:01 a.m. ET on February 12, 2013, and ends at 11:59:59 p.m. ET on April 12, 2013. To enter, visit www.theglenrothes.com, complete the entry form, submit an essay (750 characters or less) describing your "Vintage Moment". All entries must be received by April 12, 2013 at 11:59:59 p.m. ET. For official rules (including how to enter and prize description), visit http://www.theglenrothes.com. Only one entry per person is permitted.  Sponsor: BB&R Spirits Ltd., 3 St. James' Street, London SW1A 1EG. Share Responsibly.

About The Glenrothes

The Glenrothes is an award-winning Speyside Single Malt Whisky of exceptional quality from the town of Rothes in Speyside – Scotland's whisky heartland.  Established in 1879, the distillery was known only to Master Blenders until the early 1990's, and revered as a Class-A quality enhancer for their premium blends.  Today, only 3% of production becomes The Glenrothes single malt scotch whisky.  Each vintage is, by definition, rare and finite.  Currently available expressions in the US include: The Glenrothes Select Reserve – the House Style, Alba Reserve, Vintages 1998, 1995, 1988, 1978, and 1970 Extraordinary Cask.

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About Anchor Distilling

Anchor Distilling Company aims to provide the bridge between discerning buyers and world's finest spirits. A privately owned distiller and importer, Anchor boasts an artisanal portfolio with over 300 specialty products from nearly 20 countries.  All products are from multigenerational family-owned companies, and are sought by connoisseurs for their superior handcrafted artisanal qualities.  From a distilling perspective, Anchor Distilling is dedicated to creating very small batches of traditionally distilled spirits. www.AnchorDistilling.com

Media Contacts:
Chandni Patel, R/West PR
[email protected], 917-741-3835

Georgie Green, Anchor Distilling Company
[email protected], 415.863.8350

SOURCE The Glenrothes