Always bold, smooth and mixable, BEARFACE appeals to adventure-loving whisky drinkers and bartenders. Explore the Homeplace. Now in its 8th year, the distillery has become a leader in innovating Irish spirits, releasing some world-firsts like Irish whiskey aged in rare Japanese Mizunara oak, Irish single malt aged in Irish oak, and a range of distinctive gins distilled with freshly foraged wild flora and fauna picked in the Wicklow mountains. Bearface Triple Oak Canadian Whisky rating was calculated by tastings.com to be 85 points out of 100 on 10/17/2019. They have always shared our vision for Glendalough and supported our efforts to grow the business. Explore the Cocktails. I later pointed out to the class that the Shelter Point product is a pot distilled whisky – hence its good mouth-feel. The company moved into spirits last year with the launch of “experimental” Canadian whisky brand Bearface. It's Faustinelli's inspired combination of oak-barrel aging that creates whisky like no other. A member of the Mark Anthony Group of Companies, Mark Anthony Brands International develops, markets and distributes a range of premium alcohol brands for sale in markets around the globe. You said you always wanted to work in Canadian whisky. Commenting on the transaction Mark Anthony Brands International Chief Executive Davin Nugent said: “As the pioneer of craft Irish whiskey and gin, Glendalough has quickly established itself as one of Ireland’s leading premium spirit brands. In Canada, we focus more on the role of the master blender than the head distiller. Whisky Advocate magazine is America’s leading spirits publication. Led by Davin Nugent, Mark Anthony Brands International was established in Dublin in 2014. Founded in 2011 by Barry Gallagher and Brian Fagan, Glendalough has become one of the country’s most innovative Irish Whiskey and Gin makers. — a “citizen of the world” if we’ve ever met one. Whisky transformed by the wild. Anthony von Mandl’s production and distribution company (best known for Mission Hill Family Estate, Martin’s Lane Winery, and CheckMate Artisanal Winery) has just launched what it hopes will be a significant industry disrupter: the powerfully spicy, fruity, woodsy Bearface Triple Oak. What’s the difference? The company does not have its own distillery for making whisky so to make their Bearface brand they begin by sourcing a mature 7-year-old Canadian single grain whisky which was aged in in ex-bourbon American oak casks. BEARFACE brand design: Canadian whisky – Hide nothing. Receive the latest on Culture, Style, Cars and Watches, straight to your inbox. Mezcal is also wild — both the way the agave grows and the way it’s made in the open air — so there’s a real connection there. Why did you choose mezcal? Using different types of oak casks and harnessing the rhythm of the seasons, our whisky is transformed by its time in the wild. Bearface “It’s all about innovation,” Faustinelli says of making whisky in … The successes we have enjoyed have been as a direct result of all the hard work of our innovative and passionate team. We recently sat down with Faustinelli to learn more about how he’s reimagining Canadian whisky. The distillation profiles of new-make spirits are like the ABCs. Commenting on the deal, Glendalough Director Brian Fagan said: “It's been an incredible journey for the whole team here at Glendalough. However, after a few notable nods in the whisky awards world, Japanese whisky has since grown to become highly desirable around the globe. It’s always a proud moment, crafting the latest batch of BEARFACE Whisky ready to go out into the world. Today, there are less than a dozen companies, with less than a dozen active distilleries which produce a variety of styles of whisky. Mark Anthony Brands International is a member of the Mark Anthony Group of Companies, one of North America’s largest privately-owned alcohol beverage businesses. County Dublin, Ireland. 11/26/2018 Gismondi on Wine . Please note that MSRP may have changed since the date of our review. Collaboration Collaboration is at the core of the Bearface brand, so we collaborated with each influencer to co-create or facilitate them to create unique content that played to their strengths and unique personalities. It’s about being out there and being exposed in the wilderness, which is how we do things in the Okanagan Valley. The entire Bearface program is owned by Von Mandl Family Estates, better known for its wine holdings, which include Mission Hill Family Estate, Cedar Creek, Martin’s Lane and Check Mate. Made at Canada’s longest continuously owned and operated distillery in the town of Collingwood, Ontario, on Georgian Bay. Fear nothing. In fact, men were known to place classified ads in their local newspaper in search of a wife with distilling skills. My curiosity was further aroused by Mark Bylok’s interview with Andres Faustinelli, the creator of this whisky and master blender for Mark Anthony Wine and Spirits’ new Bearface brand. I brought a bottle to work and our team polished it … The brand sources single grain whisky from distilleries in Canada which have aged in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for seven years. In fact, he is the man behind internationally renowned ready-to-drink brands such as White Claw, Palm Bay, and Mike's Hard Lemonade. Simply put, the approach to creating this whisky places the emphasis at the … Two hundred percent. Until perhaps a decade or so ago, Japanese whiskies have remained a delicacy enjoyed by the Japanese. When nature has done its work, our Master Blender selects the best casks and blends them to create each unique batch of BEARFACE. Can you describe how it affects the flavour in a whisky like Triple Oak? This award-winning Canadian whisky from Mark Anthony Brands was named Best New Whisky at the 2019 Canadian Whisky Awards, and it received gold medals at the 2019 International Wine & Spirit Competition and the 2019 World Whiskies Awards. The Mark Anthony Group of Companies is one of North America's most diversified and successful private beverage companies focused on the alcohol beverage sector. Next it is placed in used French oak wine barrels, and the final finish takes place in new Hungarian oak. But proprietor Anthony von Mandl met and was impressed by, Faustinelli and the Bearface project came to life. Who wants to drink boring whisky? Collingwood’s light, crisp flavour profile is ideal for sipping neat, on the rocks or in a classic lighter cocktail. #HideNothingFearNothing . BEARFACE Whisky . The company does not have its own distillery for making whisky so to make their Bearface brand they begin by sourcing a mature 7-year-old Canadian single grain whisky which was aged in in ex-bourbon American oak casks. Bearface Triple Oak Canadian Whisky is a product of Bearface Spirits (owned by Mark Anthony Wine and Spirits). It’s not a linear process. Bearface is finished at Mission Hill Family Estate winery in West Kelowna by master blender Andres Faustinelli from single-grain Canadian whiskies. Glendalough Distillery was founded by Barry Gallagher & Brian Fagan in 2011. You’ve used oak as a bridge in the blending process. Bearface Whisky was named best new whisky at the 2019 Canadian Whisky Awards. Bearface Triple Oak Canadian Whisky is a product of Bearface Spirits (owned by Mark Anthony Wine and Spirits). Yes, we’ve been working on a unique process we call “elemental aging.” We bring the barrels out into the wild and store them in repurposed shipping containers to expose the whisky to the elements of the Okanagan. Bearface is shaped around a 7 year old light corn whisky which is a “canvas” in the words of Andres Faustinelli, the master blender for the brand. Faustinelli, who has worked in beer, bourbon, wine, and even mezcal, is also something of a renaissance man when it comes to libations. Master Blender Andres Faustinelli Why is that? Conor Brophy, Director, TeneoT: +353 1 6342 554M: +353 86 6039476 E: conor.brophy@teneo.com. Andres Faustinelli was born in Venezuela, raised in Italy, carries a French passport, lives in San Francisco and works in Kelowna, B.C. “We love Darren and his incredible food at Ugly,” says Ellis, who co-owns Hasting-Sunrise’s Dachi with colleague Whiteside. Headquartered in Vancouver, Canada, the group of companies is led by Founder and CEO Anthony von Mandl. We are excited to now become full members of the Mark Anthony family and look forward to building the brand together”. In Colonial times, it was women who were in charge of making the whiskey. Gismondi on Wine . Please note that MSRP may have changed since the date of our review. Home; Commenting on the deal, Glendalough Director Brian Fagan said: “It's been an incredible journey for the whole team here at Glendalough. Other producers use it but rarely put it on the label, so I saw an opportunity. In total, Glendalough is now available in over 40 international markets. If you really want to invent and be creative, Canadian whisky is the most exciting space, because the regulations and definitions give you freedom to explore. The deal comes three years after Mark Anthony Brands International took an initial 40% stake in the fast-growing distiller. Since its inception over 25 years ago, it has been the premier source for information, education, and entertainment for whisky enthusiasts. V5L 1K5 Telephone: 604-558-2739 Web: www.parallel49brewing.com | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram Gallery The People Who Make It Happen Mike Sleeman, Owner Anthony Frustagli, Owner Nick Paladino, Owner Scott … To many, the “One-Eleven” rule, which allows blenders to add a small amount of other spirits to Canadian whisky, has been a kind of secret. Located in Donnybrook House, Dublin, the company was established in Ireland in 2014. Recieve the latest from Sharp with Our Newsletter and Magazine. In just over twenty years the Bolgheri DOC has become an international reference point for Italian red blends. My thinking with Triple Oak was to create something that started off laid- back and mellow and finished off barrel-forward and fruity. WARC subscribers can read. You might not expect Bearface One-Eleven ($49.95; LCBO 12826), a Canadian whisky adulterated with mezcal, to work but, in my opinion, it works … Global Digital Manager- BEARFACE WHISKY Mark Anthony Group July 2019 – Present 3 months. This makes Bearface a true terroir story because we are embracing the elements completely. More than independent bottlers, these brands try to put their own spin on their sourced spirit through additional barrel finishing and blending. Explore the Whisky. Whisky Advocate also sponsors WhiskyFest™, the country’s largest and most respected whisky … Bearface will be a lot more than that if the team at Mark Anthony Wine & Spirits has anything to say about it. Distribution of the Glendalough portfolio for Ireland was recently taken on by Coca-Cola HBC Ireland, with Mark Anthony Crafted Spirits distributing in the United States. The Bearface exhibited good oak character, but was lacking in body and texture. It looks like Bearface is part of the Mark Anthony group, best known for their wine companies and Andres has been the VP of Brand Development there. Bearface first sources an exceptional 7-year-old Canadian whisky, matured in ex-bourbon American oak. Did it take an outsider to see it as a virtue? BEARFACE whiskies sit in a totally different place on the flavor map to everything else out there. Bearface Triple Oak is a Canadian whisky brand released by the Mark Anthony Group. The American oak welcomes you in at the beginning, and then the French oak gives the whisky a lot of dried fruit and cranberry and then the Hungarian oak gives it more of a dry finish, sort of a unique spicy finish. Bearface is dangerously smooth. Comprising of whisky lifestyle & travel instagrammers, whisky photographers, mixologists, bar consultants, whisky tasting network and a mural festival. If I’m at home and in the mood for something a little more sophisticated, I like it in a cocktail called “Old Fearless,” which is very close to an Old Fashioned, but uses cedar bitters. White Claw Hard Seltzer was created and developed in Ireland by Nugent and his team as part of Mark Anthony’s objective to create and develop brands and liquids that better reflect the tastes and expectations of today’s consumers. To date the Dublin-based business has focused on the development and distribution of major innovation projects including the incredibly successful White Claw Hard Seltzer. The company has already developed a major new Canadian Whisky brand called BEARFACE, which was launched in North America earlier this year and is gaining significant international attention, winning the Canadian Whisky of the Year at the 2019 Canadian Whisky Awards, in addition to 10 other prestigious international whisky awards. Founded in 2011 by Barry Gallagher and Brian Fagan, Glendalough has become one of the country’s most innovative Irish Whiskey and Gin makers. The purchase of Glendalough is the first spirit acquisition for Mark Anthony’s Irish business, but not its first move into the spirits category. And, it turns out, his breadth of life and work experience is the secret to his success as Bearface whisky’s Master Blender. Details 1950 Triumph St. Vancouver, B.C. What’s the best way to enjoy Triple Oak 7 year? BEARFACE, a Canadian whisky brand, promoted its products in Canada with a bold personality and a crafted aesthetic to appeal to a young, modern audience. The Whisky Advocate Buying Guide is a powerful tool for learning, discovery, and making the most of your whisky buying budget. There’s a wild element to Bearface. In addition to owning Mission Hill, Martin's Lane, Check Mate, Cedar Creek, Road 13 and Liquidity wineries, Mark Anthony Group of Companies owns White Claw, Bearface Canadian Whisky, Glendalough and many other brands. The Glendalough business will continue to operate as a separate company from Mark Anthony Brands International under the leadership of the existing management team, headed by Barry Gallagher and Brian Fagan. BEARFACE & SHARP Andres Faustinelli was born in Venezuela, raised in Italy, carries a French passport, lives in San Francisco and works in Kelowna, B.C. Not us. Available in the United States since 2016, Mark Anthony International is currently examining additional international markets to launch White Claw in early next year. 5 months ago. The rules allow Canadian whisky makers to be more creative and open up different opportunities. Faustinelli is re-imagining Canadian whisky. BEARFACE Whisky . Use our product locator to find BEARFACE whisky in bars, restaurants and retail outlets across the United States. When you say Bearface is about being exposed and in the wilderness, you’re talking both on a metaphorical and on a literal level, right? Women, like Justo, were also an asset to the whiskey industry during Prohibition (1920-1933), as female bootleggers were often able to get away with more illegal activity than their male counterparts. Initially selling Poitín, the business quickly grew to offer a broader range of premium Irish spirits. The Alberta Premium was the least appreciated of all with comments indicating a certain harshness on the palate. Let our expert tasters be your guide through a deep archive of over 4,000 whisky reviews. Then the whisky is transferred to French oak barrels which held Bordeaux-style red wine from British Columbia winery Mission Hill. The finishing process is all about filling in the gaps of the corn whisky, using all the nuances created by different casks. They give you the letters of the alphabet but, what is more interesting to me and other people in Canadian whisky, is the art of blending, which allows you to turn those letters into words and then turn those words into stories. The difference is that I said: “The rules are different up here – Let’s own it.” That was the plan from day one with Bearface and when we launched the One-Eleven, we became the world’s first-ever whisky to be blended with an agave spirit, mezcal. The Glendalough portfolio presents a truly differentiated offering in both Irish Whiskey and Gin, which uniquely positions the company for significant success, not only in Ireland and North America but in many other international markets. Mark Anthony Brands International today announces the purchase of the remaining shares in Glendalough Distillery to give the company complete ownership of the Irish craft spirits business. Canadian brands like Whistle Pig, Signal Hill, Twelve Barrels, and now Mark Anthony Brands' Bearface Canadian whisky have bypassed the risk and sunk costs of operating their own distilleries and instead have sourced their whiskies from established Canadian producers. MABI owns a number of ready-to-drink brands including White Claw Hard Seltzer. Brands produced at the Walker Distillery include Lot 40, Pike Creek, Gooderham and Worts, Hiram Walker's Special Old, Corby's Royal Reserve, and J.P. Wiser's brands. — a “citizen of the world” if we’ve ever met one. In 2016 we welcomed Mark Anthony Brands on board as a shareholder. As investors since 2016 we have witnessed at first hand the passion and hard work from our Glendalough colleagues in growing their business and we are delighted to now welcome them into the Mark Anthony family”. Vancouver, BC | The Drive is gaining two new hospitality vets to its tight knit community today as Dachi’s Miki Ellis and Stephen Whiteside are joining forces with Ugly Dumpling’s (Ugly) Darren Gee as co-owners. The distillery is owned by Pernod Ricard and operated by Corby Spirit and Wine, of which Pernod has a controlling share. Not going to let any of that get in the way though: if Tim Hortons can call themselves Canadian when owned by an international corporation, Bearface can be a good Canadian whisky. Been the premier source for information, education, and the final finish takes in. 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