“Old smuggler”, which is exactly what the name of one of the oldest whiskey brands sounds like in translation, is positioned as a quality budget blend.
The original name of the drink was in honor of the fearless Scottish distillers of the XNUMXth century, who clandestinely produced and delivered strong malt spirits to customers, despite the dangers and persecution from the authorities.
Today “Old Smuggler” is sold in more than 20 countries, with the main markets being Belgium, USA and Argentina.
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History of the Old Smaggler brand
The first bottle of smuggled scotch was released in 1835. The drink was made in the best Scottish traditions by mixing grain and malt spirits 3 years old. An innovation was the use of sherry casks for maturation. The unique invention was first tested by the creators of the brand – the brothers George and James Stodart.
In 1887, James & George Stodart Limited was sold to The Stirling Bonding Company.
In the early 20th century, “Old Smuggler” made its way to Argentina, where it became an instant hit. In 1947, due to import bans, locals tried to reproduce their favorite product themselves, taking the original recipe as a basis and preserving the unique character of Scotch whiskey. The high quality of the resulting blend was confirmed by the SWA (Scotch Whiskey Association) certificate.
Approved drink and consumers: “Old Smuggler” became the No. 1 brand in Argentina among blended whiskeys.
By the 70s, production volumes reached a record 4,5 million bottles per year.
Celebrities began to regularly appear in videos dedicated to the popular scotch. Among them were the best polo player Juan Carlos Harriot and the famous tennis player Guillermo Vilas.
For the creation of billboards, the “stars” of design were involved: the artists Aniko Szabo and Julio Freire. Since 2006, the Old Smuggler brand has been owned by the Italian company Gruppo Campari.
Manufacturing specifics
The blend consists of malt and grain alcohols. The former are produced in the Scottish Speyside, the latter in South America. The grain part includes barley, wheat and corn.
The drink is aged and bottled in Argentina. For maturation, French and American oak barrels are used.
Types of Old Smuggler
Whiskey “Old Smuggler” is produced in two types: 3-year-old and 12-year-old.
The drink has a pleasant golden color, mild taste with notes of biscuits, cereals, honey and caramel.
Aroma: light, unobtrusive, with hints of toffee, biscuit and smoke.
Finish: soft, creamy, warm, with accents of oak and spices.
Whiskey is best suited for making cocktails, but can also be used neat.
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Relevance: 29.04.2019
Tags: Whiskey and bourbon, Whiskey brands