THE BALVENIE ROAD SHOW


The Balvenie Road Show Ambassadors
Andrew Weir and Nicholas Pollachi.
The Balvenie, the world's most handcrafted Single Malt Scotch Whisky, is on 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.

The Balvenie Roadshow: http://www.balvenie.com/roadshow

You may need to verify your birthdate first at: http://www.Balvenie.com

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He has been representing his home country of Scotland in one form or another since he was thirteen years old. From his storied acting career, which included roles in Mel Gibson's Braveheart, as well as 5 years spent at the BBC, to his status as one of the world's leading Burns speakers, Andrew is the perfect representative for a whisky as distinctly Scottish as the Balvenie.

Throughout his entire career, Andrew has remained fiercely loyal to his Scottish roots, and has dedicated his time to promoting Scotland and its exports throughout the world. First establishing himself as an in-demand Burns speaker, which led to his appearance as Robert Burns at the Epcot Center in Florida, Andrew also founded Scotland's leading agency for extras and background artists. After selling the business to pursue other projects, Andrew went on to form one half of 3rd Degree Burns, the Robert Burns themed entertainment company, which has been featured at events around in the U.S.A, Canada, the U.K. and Ireland, promoting the legacy of Scotland's legendary poet.

Andrew arrived in the U.S. in 2005, where he worked as a PR representative and Media Ambassador for Visit Britain - the National Tourism office for England, Scotland and Wales. During this time, he continued his promotion of all things Scottish and cultivated his deep love of Scotch whisky, while educating the public on distillery tours and the significance of Scotland's greatest export.

In his current role as Western USA Balvenie Ambassador (based in San Francisco), Andrew has the privilege of sharing the Balvenie story with enthusiastic Americans from San Antonio to Seattle and from California to Colorado.

How do you feel about your role as Balvenie ambassador?
It's an unbelievable honor to represent The Balvenie. The true hard work (the magic) is done back in Speyside by some of the most dedicated, hardworking craftsmen on earth and I'm the one who gets to tell their story. For me, the story is all about the people back in Dufftown and about the personal experience of drinking a fine single malt. I like to put it into context for people: explain the love, care and attention that goes into the production of every drop and what at least 12 years in a cask will do to whisky, how it develops.

How do feel about living in California? It must be a pretty different atmosphere compared to Scotland.
Very different, but in a good way. It's one of life's greatest educations to live in a place far removed from your upbringing, your comfort zone. I spent over 3 years in New York before moving west, so you could say I'm breaking myself into American life gently, or not! There's not a day goes past when I don't day dream about being back in Scotland, to see my family, catch a football (soccer) match or to enjoy a bowl of my mum's soup. The language barrier is always interesting - I often get into full swing in a presentation, describing something about whisky production or about Scotland and a word I've said has been misinterpreted in the front row (often as something not altogether clean) - seriously I wish they laughed that hard at my jokes - those are always lost in translation. The US is a great place to be, there's such an embracing, positive spirit here. People are always interested to hear about where I'm from and of course to learn more about our greatest export. There's no greater example to use when talking about Scotch whisky than The Balvenie - the craftsmanship and traditional methods of production employed at the distillery leave me with no shortage of conversation fillers!

How do you think Americans differ in their views on Scotch whisky compared to those of Scottish people?
Beyond being one of the most complex and diverse spirit categories, I think most Americans view Scotch as shorthand for a people, a place, a time - something that helps them escape from everyday life. As a very patriotic Scot, I've always been proud that our 'water of life' has been one of those global iconic symbols of our national identity and I'm pretty sure I'm not alone. Americans have an amazing appreciation for Scotch and the availability of single malts in this country has always impressed me. Long may it continue.

What is your favorite part of your new role?
The people. No two days will ever be the same and you never know who you'll be having a conversation with tomorrow. In previous jobs I've had to earn respect or time with people before being able to convince them of something. In this job, the convincing is done the moment that sweet honeyed Balvenie hits their lips. My job is to help them understand what's in the glass and ensure that every sip is an unforgettable experience. Slainte Mhath (Good Health) and, drink responsibly! To contact Andrew and learn more about the world of the single malt Scotch, visit www.thebalvenie.com





RECENT AWARDS

International Review of Spirits

Gold Medal:
The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt ScotchWhisky
The Balvenie "Signature" Batch 2 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie Portwood 21 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Silver Medal:
The Balvenie (Scotland) 12 Year Old Doublewood Single Malt Scotch Whisky

San Francisco World Spirits Competition

Double Gold Medal:
The Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Silver Medal:
The Balvenie 15 Year Old Single Barrel Single Malt Scotch Whisky
The Balvenie 17 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Rum Cask
The Balvenie "Signature" Batch 2 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Bronze Medal:
The Balvenie 12 Year Old Single Malt Scotch, Doublewood, Speyside, Scotland

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 1886. Today, the super-premium spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family. Among the most recent accolades for the well-awarded company, William Grant & Sons was honored as the "Distiller of the Year" for the third time in four 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 super-premium brands including Stolichnaya vodka, the world's best-selling single malt Scotch whisky Glenfiddich, The Balvenie range of handcrafted single malts, Grant's blended Scotch, Hendrick's® Gin, Sailor Jerry® Spiced Navy Rum, the award-winning Milagro® Tequila, Frangelico Hazelnut Liqueur, Licor 43, BOLS Liqueurs, Galliano, Lillet and Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur.

For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com

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The Margarita King
From the Oscars to Oprah

By Carly Zinderman

After spending over twenty years in the restaurant industry, Giovanni, the reigning Margarita King has left the dining arena to conquer the cocktail, with The Margarita King: The World's Best Margarita, the next big thing in the spirits industry.

The Margarita King - the only ready-to-serve premium margarita cocktail to win three gold medals from the Beverage Testing Institute of Chicago. Overcoming immense challenges to come up with the perfect recipe from the perfect blend of ingredients in the perfect bottle, the Margarita King has used his tireless energy to make the perfect margarita for every occasion and in the process, has created a new niche in the liqueur market. He has built a story to sell the Margarita King brand and his customers have reacted positively, with a universally enthusiastic - wow!


Using a premium blend of liquors, natural citrus and real sugarcane, The Margarita King comes pre-mixed and ready to party. The Margarita King has been on popular TV shows, including Oprah, stirring up fun for one of her famous parties. He can also be found shaking up cocktails at many of Hollywood's hottest parties and awards shows.

From the Grammy's, Oscars and Golden Globes telecasts where Giovanni has reigned and poured for Usher, Gwen Stefani, Pam Anderson, Kanye West, Jamie Foxx, Paris Hilton, Beyonce, Terrence Howard, Nelly, Chris Rock, Ellen DeGeneres, Donald Trump, Hugh Hefner, Snoop Dogg, Jay Z, Outkast, Black Eyed Peas, Jessica Alba, Forrest Whittacker, Cedric the Entertainer, Christina Aguilara, Quentin Tarantino, and many others as well!

Giovanni, first began his quest for the best margarita cocktail in a bottle by searching for the best tequila - the best that matched perfectly into a margarita. He knew that just by mixing the finest quality tequila did not necessarily give you the tastiest margarita. With a background in mixology and a palate that never quit, he was able to find the right blue agave tequila and the blood orange liqueur that blended in with sugarcane and lemon and limejuices. The Margarita King promises, "When you taste it you'll know the difference."

Drink recipes and more at: www.themargaritaking.com

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AsomBroso^TM: Tequila's Best of the Best

The prestigious ROBB Report Magazine awarded AsomBroso^TM "The Best of the Best" tequila. Wine Enthusiast gave AsomBroso^TM Anejo a rating of 95, and Anthony Dias Blue of the Bon Appetit Tasting Panel awarded AsomBroso^TM tequilas collectively, "the highest scores ever awarded in my tasting evaluations." Pretty amazing for a new kid in town, and fittingly, "amazing" is what AsomBroso^TM translates to in English.

AsomBroso^TM is requested at Hollywood insider parties and events with the likes of Brooke Burke, P. Diddy, Paris Hilton, and The Beach Boys. Featured on The Today Show, AsomBroso^TM has also been spotlighted in dozens of magazines including Playboy, Maxim, and Dining Out. The distinctive tequila has made cameo appearances in feature films such as Mr. and Mrs. Smith starring Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, and Sueno starring John Leguizamo and Elizabeth Pena, as well as on TV's, My Wife and Kids.



The launch of AsomBroso^TM represents the culmination of President/CEO Rick "Ricardo" Gamarra's personal quest, which began with a chance round of private-stock, "old style" tequila at a friend's home in Guadalajara, Mexico, and culminated with his acquisition of his own tequilary along with specialized tequila making equipment. Because of the stringent regulatory controls over the product, and the sophistication of its manufacturing process, it took Gamarra three years to bring the project to fruition. Gamarra, or Ricardo, as he is known in the industry, is the only "gringo" to have his own tequilary in the actual town of Tequila located in the Guadalajara area.

Two things separate AsomBroso^TM from the rest of the tequila on the market. The first is the old-world approach to its preparation, which not only calls for the multiple distillation and special filtration of the juice of the properly selected, baked and aged agave, but also, in the case of Anejo, requires a five-year maturation term in special French Oak barrels, which gives AsomBroso^TM Anejo its distinctive taste and aromatic profile. The second is its distinctive packaging. Patterned after a decanter found in an 18th Century European castle, each AsomBroso^TM bottle is hand-blown and numbered, and the Anejo is also available in a cedar lined humidor box.

The AsomBroso^TM line of ultra premium tequila is available at select restaurants, bars and retailers throughout California, and will soon be available in various other states. With his philosophy of quality in lieu of quantity, Ricardo Gamarra has strategically positioned AsomBroso^TM as the tequila of choice among discriminating consumers.

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The Dry Platinum Martini

• 2 parts El Tesoro Platinum Tequila
• 1/2 part Dry Vermouth
• Garnish with a lemon twist

Check back for more recipes.

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Ancient Grains for Modern Health



As little as 100 years ago, whole grains and natural foods were a main staple of the human diet. Today, however, processed and packaged foods make up the majority of what we eat, and our health concerns couldn't be higher. To reclaim the healthy diets of our ancestors, take control of our health and live our best lives possible, "ancient" foods are the answer.

Science, in addition to highly qualified dieticians, has shown that ancient grains are inherently more nutritious than modern varieties. Ashley Koff, RD, recently discussed the health benefits of ancient grains on Good Morning America Health, highlighting einkorn, the world's most ancient and nutritious forms of wheat. Einkorn is more nutritious on many levels than modern organic wheat, and even outperforms other "superfoods" including the blueberry in its nutritional value.

Jovial™ Foods is one of the first companies to bring einkorn to the market, with Jovial First Ever™ Einkorn Pasta. This einkorn-based pasta is genetically pure, exceptionally nutritious and surprisingly delicious. Jovial's Whole Grain Einkorn pasta contains a whopping 9 grams of protein per serving and the same amount of Lutein as in one egg. Einkorn has never been hybridized, and is a perfect alternative to modern wheat. Jovial crops are lovingly cultivated by small-scale farmers and their products are masterly crafted by Italian artisans, resulting in the finest nutrient-rich, distinctly flavorful foods.

Incorporating ancient einkorn into your diet is easy. Jovial pasta is delicious eaten hot or cold, and can be used in any pasta dishes where traditional pasta is used. Available in five shapes and varieties, there is a Jovial Einkorn Pasta to suit any dish, and a nutritious addition to your favorite meals. Pick up a box at your favorite natural foods store and give einkorn a try!

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