It’s been some time since I’ve posted news round-ups to Malt. I’ve been adding snippets to the Malt Facebook and Twitter pages over the past few months. However, since Facebook changed its algorithms, it meant pages have ineffective in spreading information. So I’ve decided to make latest news a regular feature on the site once again. But enough navel-gazing!
Jude Law is getting in on some whisky action. He stars in an extended advert with Johnnie Walker Blue Label, and gets on his dancing shoes. It’s a pretty slick production, which must have cost a lot of money. To use a Hollywood A-lister like this only goes to show how powerful a brand whisky is these days – in my view that’s no bad thing. You can watch it here:
Speaking of strong, stylish brands, discount supermarket Lidl has only gone and won itself a top whisky award. It’s £13.29 Queen Margot 8 Year Blended Scotch Whisky won a “gold outstanding medal” at the International Wine & Spirit Competition. Make of that what you will, but I’m all for cheap blends. Having tried this one recently, there’s no reason cheap blends can’t taste great.
How’s the world whisky market doing? Well, for industry giant Diageo, the Chinese boom looks like it’s over, despite things being better in Brazil:
“… whisky sales to China were down by 20% as exports continued to be affected by government anti-extravagance measures, which have hit the practice of corporate gift-giving.”
What is the world coming to when we can no longer bribe our officials? On a market theme, there’s a press release timed to coincide nicely with the Commonwealth Games that 19% of Scotch whisky exports largely goes to Commonwealth nations. The only surprise to me is that it’s such a small number.
Finally, here’s one to sober you up. A staff member at a leading cancer hospital was alleged to have been selling human body samples in exchange for whisky and cash.
“The allegation tissue samples were sold without patients’ permission if proven will bring shame on the NHS. The idea that individuals have allegedly profited from these sales, again if proven, would be abhorrent.”
I wonder if they were bidding on this?
