Laphroaig & Maker’s Mark host online tasting

Laphroaig the Islay single malt Scotch whisky and Maker’s Mark the Kentucky bourbon whisky, will join forces to host an interactive online tasting this month to celebrate the quality and heritage of each brand and highlight the intrinsic link between them

The show is an evolution of Laphroaig Live, the annual online interactive tasting launched in 2007 and viewed by more than 20,000 viewers from 79 countries worldwide last year. For the first time it will be broadcast live from the Maker’s Mark distillery in Kentucky on Saturday September 26th.

Hosted by Laphroaig distillery manager John Campbell, Maker’s Mark master distiller Kevin Smith and whisky writer John Hansell, the show will include a tasting of both Laphroaig and Maker’s Mark and showcase their versatility in cocktails. It will also demonstrate to viewers how Laphroaig is matured in Maker’s Mark barrels. Laphroaig expressions to be tasted will be the 10 Year Old, 18 Year Old and 25 Year Old.

Viewers will include Friends of Laphroaig and Maker’s Mark Ambassadors who are brand fans that have chosen to receive regular updates on the whiskies. The show will also be promoted to a wider audience through twitter as well as web activity throughout September. Viewers will be encouraged to send in questions for the live Q&A session. 

Both brands are distributed by Maxxium UK whose senior brand manager for Laphroaig is Bob Dalrymple, who says: “Laphroaig is the UK’s number one Islay malt with an incredibly loyal following of more then 300,000 Friends of Laphroaig worldwide. Laphroaig has been at the forefront of interactive tastings, which enable our consumers to experience the brand with the expert guidance of John Campbell. This exciting development highlights the link with Maxxium’s premium bourbon, Maker’s Mark and brings together two whiskies with a fantastic heritage and large following of brand fans.”

The show will air on www.distillerylive.us.com at 8pm (1am UK time) and be posted on the Laphroaig website at www.laphroaig.com/live from September 28 for any viewers who miss it.

1 September 2009 - Felicity Murray