五 12 7月 2013

IAN MACMILLAN NAMED GUEST INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS JUDGE

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition (HKIWSC), the first and most authentic wine and spirit competition in Asia, names Ian MacMillan as Guest International Spirits Judge for 2013.

Ian MacMillan, Burn Stewart’s Master Blender & Head of Distilleries, is personally responsible for the intricate art of blending specially selected Single Malt and Grain whiskies to create the Scottish Leader and Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whiskies. He also ensures the quality and consistency of all the award-winning Single Malts distilled by the company.

MacMillan said: “I am delighted to be asked to judge alongside Asia’s finest palates in the prestigious Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition.”

With a career spanning 40-years, Ian has worked in distilleries across Scotland along with the famous London Dry Gin distilleries in England. Joining Burn Stewart Distillers in 1991, Ian’s accomplishments include: overhauling the Deanston Distillery to produce some of the finest malts in its history; re-introducing the production of the peated Legaig Single Malt at the historic Tobermory Distillery on the Isle of Mull; and in 2003, re-introducing the production of the heavily peated “Moine” at the Bunnahabhain Distillery for the first time since 1963.

In 2010, at Ian’s insistence, it was decided that the entire range of Burn Stewart Single Malts should become un-chillfiltered. Being a pure traditionalist, he believes the consumer deserves to enjoy all his malts as natural as possible with nothing added and nothing taken away.

Debra Meiburg MW, Competition Director comments: “Ian is a rare craftsman and visionary. His expertise and international experience will truly benefit the 2013 competition.”

According to a recent Economist report, Asia is where the biggest growth potential is for alcohol consumption. It is already a huge global market for some of the world’s best-known brands. With an increasingly affluent middle class, especially in China, consumers are increasingly becoming more discriminating, resulting in demand for even more brand differentiation.

HKIWSC Managing Director, Allen Gibbons commented: “As affluent Asian consumers grow more discerning in their taste preferences, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong IWSC plays a role in picking winners in this exciting market.”

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine and Spirit Competition, is the premier competition of its kind in the Asia and is now celebrating its fifth year.

The rigour of the judging procedure sets the competition apart from competitors. Before judging, wines and spirits are stored at the world renowned Crown Wine Cellars to ensure they reach the judging panels in perfect condition. The judging process and results are verified by a team from KPMG, giving entrants’ confidence in the rigor and accuracy of the results.

This year’s judging takes place from 2nd-6th October 2013 with the results announced at the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirits Fair (7th-9th November 2013).

-ENDS-

Notes to Editors:

THE COMPETITION

The Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition is a unique event and now in its fifth year. Run in partnership with the London-based International Wine & Spirit Competition, which has been running for 44 years and is the world’s premier platform for recognising quality in the industry, the Cathay Pacific Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition is created specifically for the Asian market by those who know and are intimately involved in the region.

It is the first truly Asian wine and spirit competition in the world, supported by key factors such as: Chinese food and wine pairing awards; an award for Best Wine produced in China; and judging will be conducted by Asia’s most esteemed wine and spirit judges from China, Singapore, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Macau, Taiwan and India – including the competition’s Director and Master of Wine, Hong Kong-based Debra Meiburg MW and Christie’s Head of Wine for China Simon Tam.

Press contact:

Harriet Chandler

Marketing Executive HKIWSC

harriet.chandler@iwscgroup.com

DD: +44 (0) 203 176 6461

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“Winning a silver medal in the HKIWSC has truly helped my product to achieve international credibility regarding its taste. This has positively affected decision making of several new merchants who now carry my product.”Kaustav BagchiOwner, Lamai Thai Spirits
“Louis Royer Cognac has been entering the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition for many years. This competition is regarded as the most respected in Asian countries. Winning an award is a high honour for our brand and a further seal of quality for our multi-award winning Cognac.”Carol FrugierMarketing and Communications Manager, Louis Royer Cognac
“Adding to our success over the past few years at the HKIWSC, winning a trophy means so much to us as we have just recently entered the Chinese market with our brandies. The Chinese market is unique, which makes it even more exciting to know that Oude Molen VOV Brandy is well accepted.”Kobus GelderblomBrandy Master, Oude Molen Distillery
“It is a great honour for us to receive this award and we are very thankful about the reputation from wine enthusiasts in China. This award is a testament to the fact that our white wines not only match the traditional Austrian food but also matches perfectly with the Asian cuisine.”Katja PflogschWinemaker, Domäne Wachau
“To get recognition from such a prestigious panel is vey rewarding indeed, and proves that our wines are made in a style that is truly food friendly. The HKIWSC has become one of the year’s most well-respected wine competitions globally. For us, the food match component is a fantastic chance to demonstrate how well our wines compliment so many different flavours. Moreover, it is a competition known and valued by our customers so a trophy can be hugely influential.””Susanna MayerWinemaker, Yealings
“Awards and medals at the HKIWSC have been like a stamp of approval to the quality of our wines. Because it is an Asian-focused competition, I know that my wines are being judged and measured by the same yardstick as all the other wines, given our viticultural conditions are quite unique compared with the rest of the world. These medals give me and, more importantly, my consumers the confidence that my wines stand apart from the competition.”Kalash GurnaniWinemaker, York Winery
“We are very proud of our results. One of our key focuses is the Asian market, so we really want to make our wines special and desirable for this market. That’s why we want to enter this competition and be evaluated by the expert judging panel.”Sofia Cajewski Winemaker, Cremaschi Furlotti
“We at Yealands Estate Wines are proud to be recognized by the Hong Kong International Wine & Spirit Competition. The organization is held in the highest regard and our success in the competitions has become a strong voice for our quality around the globe.”Avram DeitchGlobal Marketing Manager, Yealands Wine Group
“Winning awards in reputable international wine shows such as the Cathay Pacific HKIWSC is one of the many ways of educating our consumers and giving them confidence in purchasing the Saint Clair brand. This enhances brand perception an in turn increases sales across our entire portfolio of wines.”Maria EastonWinemaker, Saint Clair Family Estate

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IAN MACMILLAN NAMED GUEST INTERNATIONAL SPIRITS JUDGE

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