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O-I donates bottles for unique whisky from historic George Washington Distillery
Bottles raise $26,000 at auction for educational and charitable organizations
Perrysburg, Ohio (October 23, 2015) – Two unique whiskies from the historic George Washington Distillery at Mount Vernon in beautiful glass bottles donated by leading glass packaging manufacturer Owens-Illinois (O-I) have raised $26,000 for educational and charitable organizations.
The whiskies are the first Scottish-style single malts crafted at the distillery since it began operating again in 2006, nearly 200 years after the founding father’s original facility was damaged in a fire.
O-I’s stately and elegant Pinch Grandeur bottle, from the company’s Covet Classics(TM) collection, provided the perfect presentation for the distinguished whiskies, which were created through a partnership between George Washington Distillery, the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS), and the Scotch Whisky Association.
In 2012, the three organizations brought together a select team of Scottish and American distillers that included Dr. Bill Lumsden, Director of Distilling for The Glenmorangie Co.; Andy Cant, Distillery Manager for Cardhu Single Malt Distillery, heart of Johnnie Walker blended Scotch Whisky; John Campbell, Distillery Manager for Laphroaig Distillery; Mount Vernon Master Distiller David Pickerell (former Maker’s Mark Master Distiller), and Steve Bashore, Mount Vernon’s Director of Historic Trades.
Together, the team came up with a recipe and a process that celebrated the heritage of the distillery, which Washington built in 1797 at the urging of his farm manager, a Scotsman named James Anderson.
Using 18th-century methods, the distilling team produced 10 gallons of whisky of such fine quality and proof that a second distillation was unnecessary. This whisky was barreled immediately as Distillers’ Reserve. An additional 10 gallons, barreled as Limited Edition, was distilled twice. The whiskies were aged at Mount Vernon for a total of three years in used Bourbon casks, re-coopered in Speyside, Scotland, and in the final months, aged in barrels that previously held Madeira wine, which was a favorite at Washington’s table.
The whiskies were introduced at DISCUS’ 14th annual “Spirit of Mount Vernon” industry gala on October 13. There, the first numbered bottles of the two varieties were auctioned off to raise money for Mount Vernon’s educational programs. Sales of the remaining bottles will benefit charities such as the Wounded Warriors Family Support Program.
“Contributing to this project was a real honor for O-I,” said John Zanini, O-I North America’s vice president of sales for the spirits category. “In addition to supporting a number of worthy organizations, it also celebrates the rich history and future of the spirits industry in the United States.”
O-I is a longstanding supporter of DISCUS and a supplier partner to George Washington Distillery, which uses the company’s Kaleido bottle for their flagship offering, George Washington’s Rye Whiskey. This special whiskey is based on George Washington’s original mash bill recipe and produced using 18th century methods, including a water-powered gristmill, fermenting in wooden mash tubs and distilling in copper pot stills heated by wood fires.
O-I is also a key supplier to many leading global spirits brands as well as the growing craft spirits industry in the U.S. The company’s Covet Classics(TM) collection, which the Pinch Grandeur and Kaleido bottles are part of, gives both established and up-and-coming distillers access to the high-quality, brand-building glass packaging designs they want with the flexibility, convenience and speed-to-market that they need.
For more information on O-I’s Covet Classics(TM) line, visit www.o-i.com/covet-classics1.
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About Covet(TM)
Covet(TM) is a collection of luxury glass packaging products and related services that help super premium brands achieve their business objectives and deepen their connections with consumers. Covet(TM) brings the best of O-I’s global capabilities, including custom glass design and decoration, a collection of classic O-I bottle designs and O-I’s innovation portfolio to help high-end brands seize market opportunities.
About O-I
Owens-Illinois, Inc. (NYSE: OI) is the world’s largest glass container manufacturer and preferred partner for many of the world’s leading food and beverage brands. The Company had revenues of $6.8 billion in 2014 and employs approximately 27,000 people at 81 plants in 23 countries. With global headquarters in Perrysburg, Ohio, USA, O-I delivers safe, sustainable, pure, iconic, brand-building glass packaging to a growing global marketplace. For more information, visit o-i.com.
O-I’s Glass Is Life(TM) movement promotes the widespread benefits of glass packaging in key markets around the globe. Learn more about the reasons to choose glass and join the movement at glassislife.com.
