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New York Bourbon Widow Jane Appoints Maverick Drinks As UK Distributor!

July 23, 2018 by Gary Leave a Comment

“It’s a fantastic product that we know bourbon enthusiasts will love.”

Multi-award-winning UK craft spirits distributor Maverick Drinks is welcoming Widow Jane, the urban bourbon brand with an Empire State of Mind, to its dynamic drinks portfolio.

With a distillery in Red Hook, Brooklyn, Widow Jane releases and produces award-winning bourbons and whiskeys using a proprietary heirloom corn varietal and unique water from the Widow Jane mine in Rosendale, upstate New York.

Now available through Maverick Drinks is Widow Jane 10 Year Old Straight Bourbon Whiskey, distilled in Kentucky and perfected in New York, proofed with Widow Jane’s very own water.

The resulting well-rounded bourbon offers a rye spice to complement the corn, alongside buttery toffee aromas, and notes of cherry wood, olive oil and burnt orange on the palate.

Widow Jane 10 Year Old is released as a single-barrel product, so while core flavours are consistent, there are always tangent notes that make each barrel unique.

We’re proud to finally start growing Widow Jane in the UK and letting people in on what we’re doing in Brooklyn,

We can’t wait to continue to express our intense profile and our commitment to awesome whiskey.
– Vince Oleson: Widow Jane distiller

The team at Widow Jane have managed to source a steady supply of outstanding aged bourbon from Kentucky, which they’ve put their own touch on with the addition of water from the Widow Jane Mine.

It’s a fantastic product that we know bourbon enthusiasts will love.
– Michael Vachon: Head of Brand Development at Maverick Drinks

Widow Jane joins the growing ranks of award-winning brands represented by Maverick Drinks, including the Kyrö Distillery Company, Balcones, Brenne, Bluecoat Gin, FEW Spirits, Filliers, the New York Distilling Company, Smooth Ambler, St George Spirits, Wolfburn, Ableforth’s, That Boutique-y Gin Company and That Boutique-y Whisky Company.

As part of its #ForwardDrinking campaign, Maverick Drinks continues to challenge how brands work with bars up and down the country. The distributor has engaged bar communities throughout the UK with the first in a series of seminars, The Relationships Between Brands and Bars is Broken, to stir up conversation and drive meaningful change.

This philosophy, coupled with the strength of the Maverick Drinks portfolio, played a substantial part in Maverick Drinks being named Spirits Distributor of the Year for the third time in four years at the 2017 International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Filed Under: Maverick Drinks, News

Maverick Drinks Receives The Queen’s Award For Enterprise 2018!

May 8, 2018 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Atom Brands selection!

Maverick Drinks ( and if you know Ableforth’s, That Boutique-y Whisky Company and Drinks by the Dram then you’ll know Maverick Drinks!) has been named as a 2018 recipient of The Queen’s Award For Enterprise: International Trade, one of the most coveted awards in UK business.

Maverick Drinks was founded in 2013

Every year, a select group of companies receives the accolade, which recognises outstanding achievements in export, specifically regarding innovation and best business practice.

The Queen’s Enterprise Award, which is valid for five years, is internationally regarded as one of the most distinguished in the world. There are four categories: Innovation, International Trade, Sustainable Development, and Promoting Opportunity Through Social Mobility.

As the leading distributor of craft spirits, Maverick Drinks kicked off exports for brand owner Atom Brands. Atom Brands has now taken international efforts in-house with great success, while Maverick Drinks focuses solely on the UK.

The business received the award for International Trade, reflecting the tremendous overseas growth from 2016 to 2017, and was specifically recognised for excellence in the “production of multi-award-winning British craft spirits brands, Bathtub Gin, Rumbullion!, That Boutique-y Whisky Company and That Boutique-y Gin Company”.

For 2018, just 152 companies were awarded the Queen’s Award For Enterprise: International Trade

International sales for the company, which produces Ableforth’s and Drinks by the Dram among others, soared by more than 1500%. This growth trajectory is on track to continue in 2018.

For 2018, just 152 companies were awarded the Queen’s Award For Enterprise: International Trade, placing Atom Brands in a very select group of high-achieving exporters.

Winning The Queen’s Enterprise Award is not only a testament to the value of the international trade we have built in the last three years, but is also a massive acknowledgement of the work from our global partners and their absolute belief in Atom Brands.
– Ben Ellefsen: MD at Atom Brands

None of this would come together without the tireless efforts of our logistics crew who are the backbone of getting our goods to market.

A lot of blood, sweat and tears have brought us to this moment and it is a journey that I am immensely proud of.
– Nick Ravenhall: Atom Brands’ global head of sales

Winners receive the Award at a Royal reception, and have permission to use the Queen’s emblem on their own materials throughout the five-year duration.

Maverick Drinks products are available to buy from Master of Malt.

Filed Under: Atom Brands, Awards, Maverick Drinks, News

Maverick Drinks And Proof & Company Share Best Practice Ideas!

March 22, 2018 by Gary Leave a Comment

Maverick Drinks and Proof & Company

Maverick Drinks and Proof & Company, one of Asia Pacific’s leading independent spirits companies, are engaging in a world-first distributor exchange, with each sending senior management figures to the other for a full week to share best practice and discover what makes each of them successful.

The initiative is the first of its kind in the industry

The initiative is the first of its kind in the industry, and represents both Maverick Drinks and Proof & Company’s commitment to championing craft spirits.

We’ve long admired the work that Proof & Company do in Asia and how they’ve completely shaken up the market for craft spirits in that part of the world.

They’re very strong in some areas we have yet to develop, and we’ve managed to succeed in a more mature craft spirits market than Singapore, so I’m excited to see what we can learn from each other.
– Michael Vachon: head of brand development for Maverick Drinks

Maverick Drinks is an inspiration for our own work in a very different part of the world.

There is a great deal that we can learn from Michael and the team, especially in off-trade development and brand management. In an industry that is still dominated by large players and big brands, this exchange is a wonderful opportunity for two teams small in stature but big in passion to collaborate and learn from each other.
– Paul Gabie: Proof & Company co-founder and CEO

During their respective trips, Adam Dobson, global commercial manager of Maverick Drinks and a senior member of the Proof & Company team will immerse themselves in the local industry to gain a greater understanding of distributor-led initiatives that are breaking the mould and gaining traction with local partners.

In July 2017, Maverick Drinks launched its #ForwardDrinking campaign to highlight progressive initiatives in the industry and showcase some of their own. This distributor exchange is another step forward for knowledge sharing with a like-minded business in a different part of the world, helping to bring the global spirits community just a little bit closer.

This philosophy, coupled with the strength of the Maverick Drinks portfolio, played a substantial role in Maverick Drinks being named Spirits Distributor of the Year for the third time in four years at the 2017 International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Filed Under: Maverick Drinks, News, Proof & Company

Kyrö Distillery appoints Maverick Drinks as UK distributor!

March 7, 2018 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Kyrö Distillery Company & Sheep!

Maverick Drinks is proud to welcome Kyrö Distillery Company to its portfolio of inspiring, independent craft spirits.

Founded in 2012 by a group of five friends after a night in a sauna, Kyrö is an all-rye distillery, working exclusively with the grain to produce a range of gins and now single malt whiskies, which are of limited production until late 2019. In 2015, Kyrö’s Napue Gin won the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Gin & Tonic Trophy.

Kyrö Distillery is recognised across the world for creating exceptional spirits, but more importantly, they’re our kind of people.

They’re incredibly hard-working, love what they do, and care deeply about their products and their team. We’re absolutely thrilled to be working with them to spread the word in the UK.
– Michael Vachon: head of brand development at Maverick Drinks

In 2015, Kyrö’s Napue Gin won the International Wine & Spirit Competition’s Gin & Tonic Trophy

We just love how Maverick handles its booze. When we started making rye spirits in Finland, we saw ourselves partnering with people who feel strongly about how spirits taste and equally how they are made and who makes them.

This is a perfect match for us in the UK and we look forward to touring the country with Michael and the Maverick team!
– Miika Lipiäinen: Kyrö Distillery Company CEO

Kyrö Distillery Company joins the growing selection of award-winning brands represented by Maverick Drinks, helping cement its position as the leading distributor of craft spirits in the UK. Kyrö Distillery will also be teaming up with independent bottler That Boutique-y Gin Company, a fellow Maverick Drinks brand, to bring a unique gin expression to market.

As part of its #ForwardDrinking campaign, Maverick Drinks continues to challenge how brands work with bars up and down the country. The distributor is engaging bar communities throughout the UK with the first in a series of seminars, The Relationships Between Brands and Bars is Broken, to stir up conversation and drive meaningful change.

This philosophy, coupled with the strength of the Maverick Drinks portfolio, played a substantial part in Maverick Drinks being named Spirits Distributor of the Year for the third time in four years at the 2017 International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Filed Under: Kyrö Distillery, Maverick Drinks, News

Disruptive drinks innovator Atom Group joins Fast Track 100!

December 20, 2017 by Gary Leave a Comment

The ‘Directors’

The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100

Atom Group, which comprises online retailer Master of Malt, spirits producer Atom Brands, and craft spirits distributor Maverick Drinks, has earned a place in the The Sunday Times Virgin Fast Track 100.

The league table, published on 3 December, definitively ranks Britain’s 100 private companies with the fastest-growing sales over the last three years.

Atom Group was placed 99th in the league table, with sales growing at a compound annual rate of over 46% during the three years to September 2017.

Atom Group is a multi-award-winning drinks and technology group on a mission to disrupt the drinks industry in three different ways:
Master of Malt is re-imagining online drinks retail from the ground up, using cutting edge technology and fanatical customer service to help people explore the world of fine spirits.

Atom Brands is creating a stable of internationally-acclaimed drinks brands unparalleled in their innovativeness and utterly uncompromising in their approach to the quality of the liquid.

Maverick Drinks is assembling the most interesting portfolio of craft brands in the industry, and challenging the ‘pay-to-play’ status quo with their open, no-nonsense approach to doing business.

In everything Atom Group does it is a disruptive innovator; it is baked into its DNA to challenge orthodoxy and received wisdom.

To be recognised as one of the UK’s fastest growing companies is an astonishing achievement for everyone who has worked so hard to help make what once seemed like a crazy dream into reality.

A few years ago we were just a bunch of friends working out of a 380 sq ft shed on a farm in the middle of nowhere. Things have changed a bit since then.

I still can’t quite believe how far the business has come – I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve built together, and very excited about the future.
– Justin Petszaft: Atom Group founder and managing director

Entrepreneurs are the lifeblood of the economy; driving innovation, creating jobs and challenging industry norms. The achievements of the companies on this year’s Fast Track 100 list are fantastic.

It’s clear over the coming years UK business will have to adapt to different conditions and we must do all we can to support our entrepreneurs – who will be the engines of growth for Britain.
– Sir Richard Branson


The last few years have been remarkable ones for Atom Group as its work has been recognised with a string of awards, including:

Master of Malt:
Global Online Whisky Retailer of the Year 2016, 2014, 2013 & 2012: Icons of Whisky
Online Retailer of the Year 2016, 2014: IWSC
Online Retailer of the Year 2017 & 2016; Digital Business of the Year 2017: Digital Entrepreneur Awards
Best Grocery eCommerce 2017; Best Innovation in eCommerce Delivery/Logistics 2017; Medium eCommerce Company of the Year 2016; Best Social Media eCommerce Campaign 2016; The eCommerce Gold Award 2016 (Overall ceremony winner): The eCommerce Awards

Atom Brands:
Overall Grand Spirits Master (Atom Brands); Spirits Masters 2017
Gin Producer of the Year (Atom Brands); IWSC 2017, Spirits Masters 2017
World’s Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky (TBWC Port Ellen 33yo); Spirits Masters 2017
World’s Best Blended Whisky (Lost Distilleries Blend, That Boutique-y Whisky Co Blended Whisky #1, The Golden Age Blend); World Whiskies Awards 2014, 2015; International Spirits Challenge 2016, IWSC 2016
World’s Best Blended Malt Whisky (Reference Series III.2); World Whiskies Awards 2016
World’s Best Grain Whisky (Darkness! North British 18yo Oloroso Finish); World Whiskies Awards 2015
World’s Best Gin (Bathtub & Navy Strength, TBGC Swedish Rose); The World Gin Awards (Compound Gin) 2015, 2016, 2017; International Spirits Challenge 2013; IWSC Trophy (Contemporary Gin, London Dry Gin) 2017
World’s Best Liqueur (MoM 30yo/40yo Whisky Liqueur, Ableforth’s Bathtub Sloe Gin); World Whiskies Awards 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017; International Spirits Challenge 2015
World’s Best Spiced Rum (Rumbullion XO 15yo); World Rum Awards 2015, 2017
World’s Best Premixed Cocktail (Handmade Cocktail Co Manhattan, Boulevardier); World Drinks Awards 2015, 2016, 2017
Best Design and Packaging for Spirits (Bathtub Gin, Rumbullion, That Boutique-y Gin Company); Drinks Business Awards 2012, World Gin Awards 2016, World Rum Awards 2016, Spirits Masters 2017
Whisky Brand Innovator of the Year (Drinks by the Dram); Icons of Whisky 2013, World Whiskies Design Awards, 2012, 2013, Drinks Retailing Awards 2013

Maverick Drinks:
Spirits Distributor of the Year 2017, 2016, 2014: IWSC

Filed Under: Atom Brands, Master of Malt, Maverick Drinks, News

Maverick Drinks Named IWSC Spirits Distributor of the Year 2017!

November 17, 2017 by Gary Leave a Comment

IWSC Spirits Distributor Trophy – Maverick Drinks

Maverick Drinks has been named Spirits Distributor of the Year 2017 by the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) judges, announced at the recent Annual Awards Banquet hosted at Guildhall, London. This is the second year in a row that Maverick Drinks has claimed this title, and the third time in the four years since the distributor was established in 2013.

Maverick Drinks won its first Spirits Distributor of the Year trophy at the International Wine & Spirit Competition in 2014 as a newcomer to the industry – founded only one year before in 2013. In 2016, Maverick Drinks was again rewarded for its unwavering support and education of craft spirits with its second Spirits Distributor of the Year title.

It’s an incredible honour to be recognised by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition. Awards like this push us to continue innovating and driving change in the drinks industry and it once again affirms that craft spirits with provenance and authenticity are increasingly what people are looking for. We’re very fortunate to work with some of the best brands and people in the business.
– Michael Vachon: Maverick Drinks’ head of brand development

This news comes following a huge year for Maverick Drinks, which has seen the recruitment of a new national partner management team, the launch of its industry-wide #forwarddrinking campaign and several additions to its distribution portfolio, including Wolfburn single malt Scotch whisky, Brenne French single malt whisky, Bluecoat American Dry Gin and That Boutique-y Gin Company – which also celebrated success at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, picking up the London Dry Gin Trophy for its Swedish Rose Gin from Hernö at the Annual Awards Banquet.

Maverick Drinks products are available to buy from:-

  • Master of Malt – That Boutique-y Gin
  • Master of Malt – Wolfburn single malt Scotch whisky
  • Master of Malt – Brenne French single malt whisky
  • Master of Malt – Bluecoat American Dry Gin

Filed Under: Maverick Drinks, News

Maverick Drinks Partners With Wolfburn Distillery!

June 22, 2017 by Gary Leave a Comment

Wolfburn’s signature expressions, Aurora and Northland

MAVERICK DRINKS APPOINTED WOLFBURN SINGLE MALT UK DISTRIBUTOR

Maverick Drinks is excited to announce that the Wolfburn distillery has chosen them as their partner to distribute their range of Scotch whiskies in the UK, including their World Whiskies Awards 2017 Gold Medal-winning Northland Single Malt.

The Northland

Wolfburn joins the carefully curated selection of craft spirit brands represented by Maverick Drinks, including Ableforth’s, FEW Spirits, St George Spirits and That Boutique-y Whisky and Gin Company.

The strength of their portfolio and their dedication to driving change in the spirits industry by reducing their customers’ reliance on mainstream brands played a substantial role in Maverick Drinks being named Spirits Distributor of the Year at the 2016 International Wine & Spirit Competition.

We’re absolutely thrilled to represent Wolfburn in the UK. Wolfburn have everything we look for in a brand: extraordinary quality, great design, and amazing people.

Shane and his team have a burgeoning reputation for making some of the best whisky in the world and I know we’re going to have a great time working together.
– Michael Vachon: Maverick Drinks’ Head of Brand Development

The Aurora

We’re hugely proud of our hand-crafted whiskies so it makes a lot of sense to team up with Maverick Drinks, as they’re at the forefront of the spirits revolution in the UK with a genuine focus on craftsmanship and quality.

– Shane Fraser: Wolfburn’s Distillery Manager

Wolfburn’s signature expressions, Northland and Aurora, are both available now from Maverick Drinks with a recommended retail price of £49.95.

Filed Under: Master of Malt, Maverick Drinks, News, Wolfburn

The Golden Age Blend Crowned Best Blended Scotch 2016!

March 24, 2016 by Gary Leave a Comment

The Golden Age Blend - Just 210 bottles are available worldwide

The Golden Age Blend – Just 210 bottles are available worldwide

The Golden Age Blend Crowned Best Blended Scotch 2016!

Named for the ‘Golden Age’ of distilling spanning the early ’60s to the mid ’70s, The Golden Age Blend has been named Best Blended Scotch at the World Whiskies Awards 2016.

Crowned Best Blended Scotch 2016!

Crowned Best Blended Scotch 2016!

A superbly rich, intense and full bodied award-winning blended whisky, it demonstrates the extraordinary depth of flavour that can be found in some of the marvellous whiskies distilled during the ‘Golden Age’. Just 210 bottles are available worldwide.

To create this whisky, The Blended Whisky Company took a selection of the finest venerable malts (all the whiskies used are aged for over 40 years) distilled at Macallan, Glenrothes and Tamdhu. Next, additional character and ‘seasoning’ was added in the form of gently peated whisky from Bunnahabhain.

Finally, an exceptionally well-aged grain whisky from North British was added to tie the other malts together and form the backbone of the blend, at a ratio of approximately 4 parts malt to just 1 part grain.

The Golden Age Blend is available to buy from fine retailers including Master of Malt (RRP £349.95).

Filed Under: Master of Malt, Maverick Drinks, News, The Blended Whisky Company

Maverick Drinks named IWSC Spirits Distributor of the Year!

November 25, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Congratulations!

Congratulations!

Maverick Drinks is absolutely thrilled to announce that it has been awarded the Trophy for Spirits Distributor of the Year 2014 by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition.

Established in 2013, Maverick Drinks had a simple goal: To scour the globe for the very best craft and artisan products and make them available for all in the UK to enjoy.

Starting from nothing, it’s extraordinary success in creating a new market for craft spirits and unique gift ideas has now been recognised by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition, who awarded Maverick Drinks the 2014 Trophy for Spirits Distributor of the Year ahead of some impressive and very well-established competition.

For a new distributor that represents a number of smaller brands and truly innovative products to win one of the highest accolades in the drinks industry is nothing short of incredible. Michael Vachon, Head of Brand Development at Maverick Drinks said: “More and more consumers are choosing products with provenance, authenticity and craftsmanship they admire, and Maverick Drinks continues to pioneer bringing these types of products to market whilst championing the craft distilling movement.”


Maverick Drinks represents some astonishing brands, from the award-winning Bathtub Gin by Professor Cornelius Ampleforth, to several trailblazing spirits brands from the USA (Balcones Distilling, FEW Spirits, New York Distilling Company, Smooth Ambler Spirits, and St. George Spirits) as well as three inspirational European brands (Filliers, Spirit of Hven, and Vestal Vodka).

Each brings something genuinely unique and refreshing to a UK market dominated by mainstream brands. Maverick Drinks also distributes Drinks by the Dram’s unique selection of spirits-filled Christmas Crackers and Advent Calendars.

Filed Under: Awards, Maverick Drinks, News

Tasting Notes: The Reference Range Of Whisky Just Got Bigger!

October 2, 2014 by Gary Leave a Comment

Edu-Dram-cation!

Edu-Dram-cation!

New Samples To Study!

The ‘Reference Series’ is the very first range of educational blended malt Scotch whiskies.

A ground-breaking idea and unique in the marketplace, these blended malt Scotch whiskies not only enable drinkers to learn the ins and outs of whisky production techniques, but also taste superb in their own right, making the learning process thoroughly enjoyable.

The initial 3 releases of the Reference Series comprises blended whiskies which progress from I to III with increasing levels of old, rare and more characterful spirit in the mix.

This will show whisky lovers the progression of flavour profile that comes with the ageing process – a hotly disputed topic which can be clearly understood and appreciated in a controlled manner.

The range will eventually expand further to showcase particular ingredients or production techniques on top of this initial trio, which will be indicated in the name.

‘Reference Series’ is named for the fact one can taste the later editions then “refer” back to the original I, II & III for comparison.

Over time, the series will offer more and more combinations of ingredients and techniques, eventually growing to become the ultimate learning resource to truly understand the production and creation of whisky.

The entire range is available in 3cl bottles from Drinks by the Dram (available now, exclusively from Master Of Malt), so each whisky can be sampled without the need to purchase a full-sized bottle.

Learning has never been so much fun!

Learning has never been so much fun!

Tasting Notes – Reference Series II

Reference Series II has a much higher proportion of very old single malts than Reference Series I.


Reference Series II
Nose: Pale straw colour. Orange fragrances mixed with oak.

Palate: Spicy with zesty orange, sweet sherry and a slight hint of dryness but well tempered.

Finish: Peppery finish, grapefruit, satisfyingly long, oaky.

Overall: A great drinkable dram, well rounded.

50cl, 47.5%
£55.95

Tasting Notes – Reference Series II.3

I’m tasting this out of order (what a rebel!) but this Reference Series just takes a portion of the Reference Series II blend and includes the colouring agent, E150a, also called Spirit Caramel.

Spirit caramel is used by distilleries and brands to achieve consistency of colour between batches whilst not affecting the flavour but this has been a matter of conjecture.

Reference Series II.3 allows you to form your own opinion!


Reference Series II.3
Nose: Darker than II, more like amber. Minty, orange and caramel.

Palate: Fruity with sweet chocolate.

Finish: Spicy hit more pronounced, sweeter finish and grapefruit is still there.

Overall: Though it should taste basically the same I find that this seems sweeter, even icing sugary when compared to the II. Interesting!

50cl, 47.2%
£55.95

Tasting Notes – Reference Series II.1

This Reference Series takes a portion of the Reference Series II blend and finishes it in a fresh 50 litre cask previously used to hold Pedro Ximénez Sherry.


Reference Series II.1
Nose: Sweet, woody with a lovely chocolatey aroma.

Palate: Rich, sweet, sherried fruits.

Finish: Long, peppery sweet n’ spicy that goes on forever.

Overall: Amazing how much sweetness the sherry casks impart when compared with II. It’s achieved a pleasant softness that was missing before.

50cl, 47.5%
£59.95

Tasting Notes – Reference Series II.2

This Reference Series takes a portion of the Reference Series II blend and includes 10% heavily peated Islay Single Malt.


Reference Series II.2
Nose: Heavy peat, smoke and woodyness – basically dominating the nose.

Palate: Peat and smokey, sweet cake mixture and orange.

Finish: Long pepper spice, peat remains but not so powerfully.

Overall: The peats the thing with this dram but not so much as to totally swamp the blend altogether. Nice!

50cl, 47.4%
£56.95

Once again, much food (or drams) for thought – it’s really quite a challenge for the tastebuds and a unique way to see how a whiskies flavour changes with staged additions.

My favourite is proably the Reference Series II.2 with the 10% heavily peated Islay Single Malt. Always a bit of a sucker for peated whiskies I found this to be a nice balance between the range.

But don’t take my word for it – get back to school and enjoy some in-depth study yourself!

Many thanks to @MaverickDrinks for the samples.

Filed Under: Maverick Drinks, News, Reference Whisky, Sampling, Whisky tasting

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