There have been several high profile repackaging of famous brands recently. We are beginning to see
more attention paid to bottle shapes and presentation boxes. We decided to ask members of the
WhiskyMag.com what was catching their eye on the shelves and why.
Panel
KW Keith Wood, Markt Schwaben,Germany
KG Kenneth Graham Crieff, UK
MM Michael Medve Emeryville, USA
PM Pierre Mullin Fredericton, Canada
Does packaging affect how the customer views a brand?
KW: At the moment the whisky industry is enjoying a real boom period which is forecast to not on...
By Rob Allanson
from Issue 63 published on 20/04/2007
In this issue we wanted to look act the effect of discounting. Who better qualified to pass comment
than drinkers themselves. So we put two questions to members of the WhiskyMag.com forum about how they view brands that had been discounted.
Panel
Leonard Bacha Ohio, USA LB
Michael Medve California, USA MM
Sion Hannuna Bristol, USA SH
Nick Brown Isle of Lewis, UK NB
John Felber Ontario, Canada JF
Q:Does discounting affect how the customer views a brand and its heritage?
LB:Alot of it depends on the customer the brand is marketin...
By
from Issue 62 published on 01/03/2007
In this round table we asked two prominent members of the bourbon industry and Whisky Magazine readers about the future of bourbon.
Panel
Chris Morris Woodford Reserve CM
Julian Van Winkle Old Rip Van Winkle JW
Jonathon Di Blasi Bergen, Norway JB
Troy Egan Victoria, Australia TE
Christopher Watkin Lincolnshire UK CW
Q:How is the bourbon industry reaching new drinkers?
CM:The bourbon category is doing two things, really....
By
from Issue 61 published on 19/01/2007
In this round table we ask how you make whisky the gift of choice over other luxury goods using price,positioning, promotion and packaging.
Panel
Ian Bankier – The Whisky Shop IB
Ken Grier – Malt director for the Edrington Group KG
Larry Kass – Heaven Hill distilleries LK
Jim Long – Chivas Bros. JL
Robbie Millar – Compass Box RM
IB: First, whisky needs to be available to the consumer on prime sites on the High Street and shopping...
By
from Issue 60 published on 10/11/2006
In this issue we ask some of the industry’s luminaries to discuss the sensitive issue of pricing and effect on the public’s perception
of whisky.
Panel
Iain Baxter – Inver House senior brand manager IB
Ronnie Cox – The Glenrothes brand ambassador RC
Ken Grier – Malt Director for the Edrington Group KG
Dominic Roskrow – Whisky Magazine consultant Editor DR
Ian Weir – Head of Marketing for Ian Macleod Distillers IW
Q: Can premium malts ju...
By
from Issue 59 published on 11/10/2006
In this issue we look at how other spirits have far more flexibility to experiment and are therefore able to reinvent themselves to appeal to new drinkers,and ask is this damaging the future of whisky?
Panel
Alex Turner, Woodford Reserve (AT)
John Glaser, Compass Box (JG)
Richard Paterson, Whyte and Mackay (RP)
Q:Scotch whisky is bound by some pretty tough rules when it comes to production. Are these in essence right, or should there be scope for more flexibility?
AT: As with all things con...
By Rob Allanson
from Issue 58 published on 30/08/2006
For this issue’s round table we hand over to Dave Broom, who recently hosted a live debate in Japan with representatives of three leading companies. This is his summary of that event
You probably know that the Japanese whisky industry is somewhat different to the Scottish. Given a business culture which is highly focused on loyalty to the company there is little chance of Japanese distillers exchanging stock, staff and information as their colleagues in Scotland do.
This autono...
By Dave Broom
from Issue 57 published on 21/07/2006
Tax stamps are being introduced for bottles of British spirits. In this issue we ask a panel whether they think they are a good idea
Panel
Simon Coughlin, Bruichladdich (SC)
John Glaser, Compass Box (JG)
Euan Shand, Duncan Taylor (ES)
David Williamson, Scotch Whisky Association (DW)
Q. From a producer’s point of view are they a good thing or a bad thing?
DW: International experience has been that tax stamps are ineffectiv...
By
from Issue 56 published on 01/06/2006
In this issue we asked three people who stand against snobbery in whisky how they view the industry
The Participants:
John Clotworthy (JC)
Drumchork Lodge, Aultbea, Scotland
Mike Hayward (MH)
Nurse, malt collector and Whisky
Magazine reader
Dave Robertson (DR)
John,Mark and Robbo’s Easy Drinking
Whisky Company
Q: Is the whisky trade doing enough to encourage new drinker...
By
from Issue 55 published on 14/04/2006
Are premium bourbons better positioned to snap up new drinkers, or can Scotch and American whiskey both flourish side by side?
The Participants: Roy Evans (RE) Sazerac Jim Long (JL) Chivas Brothers Dave Broom (DB) Whisky Magazine Bill Samuels (BS) Maker’s Mark
Q: A couple of bourbon companies have recently expressed the view that premium bourbon is on the edge of a major breakthrough because affluent upwardly mobile drin...
By
from Issue 54 published on 03/03/2006
We recently teamed up with The Glenlivet for a readers’ evening to discuss the world of whisky. We asked them about the future
Chairman
Dominic Roskrow, Editor, Whisky Magazine
The participants
Pieter Badenhorst (PB) Teacher,Waltham Cross, 29
Svat Buchlovsky (SB) Consultant, Basingstoke, 52
Brendon Humphreys (BH) Development manager, Loughton, 29
Ian Kendal (IK) Teacher, Loughton, Essex, 34
Barry King (BH) Retired, Chelten...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 53 published on 12/01/2006
Whisky Magazine and The Glenlivet hosted a readers’ round table in London. In the first half we asked about wood finishes and innovations
Chairman
Dominic Roskrow - Editor, Whisky Magazine
The participants
Pieter Badenhorst (PB) - Teacher,Waltham Cross
Svat Buchlovsky (SB) - Consultant, Basingstoke
Brendon Humphreys (BH) - Development manager, Loughton
Ian Kendal (IK) - Teacher, Loughton, Essex
Barry King (BH) - Retired, Cheltenham
R...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 52 published on 30/11/2005
Smokers are facing ever increasing restrictions.Will the alcoholic drink sector be next?
The Panel
James Leavey (JL) - Editor The FOREST Guides to Smoking in. London and Scotland.
Dominic Roskrow (DR) - Editor Whisky Magazineand Cigar Buyer.
David Williamson (DW) - Scotch Whisky Association.
Q.Fears are growing that spirits and alcohol will follow tobacco and face first the threat of r...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 51 published on 07/10/2005
A spate of whiskies with strange names suggest whisky is moving forward in marketing terms. Is this a good thing? We asked a select panel of experts
The panel
JG : John Glaser : Compass Box
MR : Mark Reynier : Bruichladdich
DR : Dave Robertson : Easy Drinking Whisky Company
Q. In your view does the traditional whisky bottle label with age statement etc put some people off the product?
JG: I think the traditional image that some people hav...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 49 published on 15/07/2005
Some whisky enthusiasts are naturally suspicious of whisky cocktails. But do they provide a platform from which to attract new whisky recruits?
The Panel
Dale DeGroff - Renowned as The King of Cocktails (DDG)
Dominic Roskrow - Editor of Whisky Magazine (DR)
Audrey Saunders - New York mixologist and drinks consultant (AS)
Q. Firstly, let’s get straight to the heart of the matter for Whisky Magazine readers. Are whisky cocktails good for the...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 48 published on 10/06/2005
Inevitably this issue’s debate looks at labelling and the use of the words ‘blended malts’
The Panel
Dave Broom, Contributing editor, Whisky Magazine (DB)
John Glaser, Compass Box (JG)
Martine Nouet, Regular Whisky Magazine contributor (MN)
Erkin Touzmohamedov, Russian writer (ET)
Ricky Christie, Speyside Distillery (RC)
Q Are we winning the battle to get the consumer to understand the d...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 47 published on 05/04/2005
How should the industry react over the issue of responsible drinking?
The Panel
Abigail Bosanko, author and whisky enthusiast (AB)
Chuck Cowdrey, American whiskey writer (CKC)
Keir Sword, proprietor, Royal Mile Whiskies (KS)
Q. There is a growing view that society is becoming more litigious and governments are increasingly taking responsibility for society’s well bei...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 46 published on 10/3/2005
For this debate we ask a group of non whisky industry people for their view on the subject
Q. If someone mentions the word whisky to you, what thoughts immediately come to mind?
JT: As someone who enjoys a fair amount in his spare time, my first thought would be one of delight. I can’t think of another spirit with as much obvious variety and diversity as whisky, provided you get past the...
By
from Issue 45 published on 21/1/2005
This month's round table looks back at the past year and looks forward to the year ahead
The Panel
Ian Buxton,
Whisky Magazine writer (IB)
Chuck Cowdery,
Whisky Magazine American
correspondent (CKC)
John Glaser,
Compassbox (JG)
Annabel Meikle,
Scotch Malt Whisky Society (AM)
Dave Robertson,
Easy Drinking Whisky Company (DR)
Q. Which sectors have done best, which have struggled, and...
By
from Issue 44 published on 25/11/2004
This month we ask three master blenders where the sector fits in in respect to the rest of the whisky market
The Panel
Jim Beveridge, technical specialist, whisky, for Diageo (JB)
Richard Paterson, master blender for Whyte & Mackay (RP)
John Ramsay, master blender for Edrington (JR)
Colin Scott, master blender for Chivas Brothers (CS)
Q. In your view, do blends receive the respect they deserve?
JB: No...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 43 published on 23/10/2004
This month we ask a female only panel of whisky drinkers whether the image of malt whisky is changing
The Panel
Gillian Bell, proprietor of online catering company Caledonian Connoisseur (GB)
Abigail Bosanko, author and whisky enthusiast (AB)
Annabel Meikle, Scotch Malt Whisky Society (AM)
(Q) Whisky is seen primarily as a male drink. Is this changing?
GB: In the main I think yes, but Scottish wom...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 42 published on 3/9/2004
This month’s debate looks at the future role of age statements on bourbons
The Panel
Frank Coleman, Senior vice president for public relations, Distilleries Council of the United States (FC)
Charles Cowdery, Whisky Magazine American correspondent (CKC)
Dominic Roskrow, Whisky Magazine Editor (DR)
Ken Weber, Global Brand Director, Buffalo Trace (KW)
The debate: What’s the ...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 41 published on 16/7/2004
In the latest of our round table debates, we look at special finishes.
The Panel
Dave Broom, drinks guru (DB)
Paul Godfrey, group marketing manager for malts, William Grant & Sons (PG)
Bill Lumsden, Global brands ambassador/ master distiller, Glenmorangie (BL)
Arthur Motley, Royal Mile Whiskies (AM)
Keir Sword, Royal Mile Whiskies (KS)
This issue’s question: Are speci...
By
from Issue 40 published on 4/6/2004
Are vatted malts set to be the success story of 2004? We asked a group of experts
Round table question: Vatted whisky is the way to attract new drinkers. Discuss
The Panel
Neil Macdonald, brand director, malt whiskies – Chivas Brothers (NMcD)
Annabel Meikle, Scotch Malt Whisky Society (AM)
Nick Morgan, marketing director for Classic Malts, Diageo (NM)
Richard Paterson, master b...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 39 published on 1/5/2004
In a new series we ask a panel of experts to debate a controversial subject
The Panel
Dale DeGroff,
International drinks consultant and writer
Colum Egan,
Master distiller, Bushmill’s
Roy Evans,
Sazerac
David Stirk,
Cadenhead
Dr Barry Walsh,
Chief blender, Irish Distillers
This issue’s question: Are Irish and bourbon whiskey more likely to attract younger drinkers tha...
By Dominic Roskrow
from Issue 38 published on 7/4/2004
Can you taste salt in whisky? Many say of course you can, but the suggestion incenses
others. Peter Woodsputs the case against
Scotch malt whisky has come a long way in the past 25 years, and not just in the all-important aspect of availability. Educated drinkers now have access to a wealth of words about the history, manufacture and appreciation of whisky. No other spirit can match it for sheer quantity and quality. Sadly ...
By Peter Woods
from Issue 31 published on 9/6/2003
