THE NAVIGATOR | INTRODUCTION 1 The Navigator 2023/2024 marks the third year of Navigate World Whisky, and now coming into year four we are proud to finally release our third annual showcase. Delayed somewhat due to the recent crisis in our shipping ports, happily it gave us additional time to fine-tune the stories, add in exclusive interviews, and once again pay attention to every last detail. This year sees Navigate World Whisky make huge strides into taking on additional revered partners across a variety of whisky and spirit categories, an inevitable evolution that forms part of the company’s ongoing journey in the world of Fine Spirits. Fine Spirits… what does that mean? We hope you can browse through our Portfolio and be able to truly answer that question. Some of the venerated partners you’ll find on these pages are already respected as the best in the industry, and perhaps none more so than the American whisky distillery, Michter’s. Named ‘The World’s Most Admired Whiskey’ by Drinks International, it has truly been a landmark for NWW to bring the full Michter’s offering to our shores for the very first time. On the opposite side of the globe we find Japan, a country whose whisky we have been a little starved of in South Africa when it comes to choice. Thankfully this is changing, despite the 750ml requirement that still exists in South Africa. Thanks to our ever-strengthening partnership with La Maison du Whisky, Mars have opened up their doors to South Africa for the first time, and you’ll find their first release in this book. Far smaller – in fact the smallest distillery in Japan – is Nagahama, which now extends its range of 500ml bottles to South Africa, including a landmark single cask! Perhaps a point close to the center of Japan and America lies the Isle of Islay where the Wills family produce their Kilchoman Islay single malt. Being relatively fresh on the whisky scene myself, I recall tasting their very first releases back in 2009. To now be representing them in our market is truly a momentous occasion. We aim to expand their offering in South Africa, to reach more outlets, to reach more homes, and to reach more spirits enthusiasts so that everybody can enjoy a taste of this incredible Islay Farm Distillery. In true Navigate World Whisky style, we also see the release of several new independent bottlings. Teaming up with the ‘Whiskey Sponge’ Angus MacRaild, also known for his regular reviews on WhiskyFun.com, alongside the famous and respected Serge Valentin, we welcome the arrival of a special cask selection just for South Africa. The gentlemen from ‘Rest & Be Thankful’ have also opened up their account with five casks, including two single casks from Islay and two Jamaican rum bottlings. Then from Chicago, the lovely Dr. Sonat Birnecker Hart extends her words and whisky to our market. There are unicorn bottlings from Lux Row Distillers, a company we’ll be unpacking more of in the near future. Look for the blended whiskies from Woven, a new innovative blending brand pushing beyond the borders of just Scotland. There’s a new wave of rums including the final instalment in the Mauritian rum discovery, a secretive local and undisclosed spirit bottling that is certain to raise eyebrows, and even some bubbly (you heard correctly). Whilst The Navigator was created to provide insight into the world of fine spirits, it has often been referred to and used as an educational tool. We’ve expanded on this with insight into the new Japanese regulations, along with an overview of the Irish Technical File. Still, perhaps, for me at least, the most interesting reads are the stories coming from the dozen or so interviews with industry figureheads and leading lights in the industry; the likes of Thierry Benitah, Anthony Wills and Joseph J. Magliocco, who all share their expertise and insight into the captivating and dynamic industry of fine spirits. I hope you like it! - Alex de Ujfalussy Founder of Navigate World Whisky
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