The Balvenie & Todd Snyder Join Forces To Create Rare Craft Collection

NEW YORK, Aug. 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Once forgotten by mainstream society, traditional handcrafted products are again emerging from workshops, lofts and studios across America. The world's most handcrafted single malt Scotch whisky, The Balvenie, in partnership with menswear designer Todd Snyder is celebrating some of the best examples of American craftsmanship with the Rare Craft Collection, a series of gallery-style events that honor the practice and preservation of traditional crafts.

This unique Collection is the product of The Balvenie Rare Craft Roadshow, a two-year search across the United States for craftspeople whose collected works exist as the foundation of rare craft in America.  To help curate the Collection, The Balvenie has teamed up with Todd Snyder to select a small group of artisans to represent the hundreds of craftspeople the brand has met on its travels.  Their crafts and labors of love will be presented in the following six cities across the US:

• Carmel, California – August 13^th – 17^th 
• Dallas, Texas – September 10^th – 11^th
• New York City, New York – October 7^th – 11^th
• Chicago, Illinois – October 15^th – 17^th
• Washington D.C. – November 11^th – 12^th
• Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – November 19^th – 20^st

"As the only single malt Scotch whisky to retain complete control over the five rare crafts that go into the production of its acclaimed single malt, The Balvenie has a kinship with artisans who still ply their craft the way it has been done for decades," stated Andrew Weir, US Senior Brand Manager for The Balvenie. "Todd Snyder has shown a discerning eye and appreciation for well-crafted goods through his work on his own menswear line as well as his history with Ralph Lauren and at J. Crew and he's helped us create a remarkable Collection that honors some of the best in American craftsmanship today."

Iowa native Todd Snyder, whose surname means "one who makes outer garments" in Dutch, learned the art of cutting and sewing at the iconic Des Moines haberdashery Badowers while studying textile and clothing design at Iowa State University. Inspired by Savile Row craftsmanship, military tailoring, and a distinct New York sensibility, Todd launched his eponymous menswear collection for Fall 2011 and garnered wide critical and commercial praise in the US. Snyder has been nominated for the CFDA Swarovski Award for Menswear in 2012 and 2013, was named one of GQ's Best New Menswear Designers in 2012 and is currently one of ten finalists for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund.

During the previous two decades, Snyder honed his skills in New York, designing outerwear for Polo Ralph Lauren, working as Director of Menswear for the Gap, and SVP of menswear at J. Crew, where he revamped men's styling, introduced formalwear, and launched a series of collaborations with heritage brands that culminated in the popular Liquor Store boutique in 2008. 

"I'm honored that The Balvenie has chosen me to curate their Rare Craft Collection," stated Todd Snyder. "I've always been a strong supporter of American craftspeople and this is a great opportunity to highlight some of them to a wider audience with a brand I personally respect and admire."

A sample of the craftspeople to be featured in the Rare Craft Collection includes:

• Graham Thompson of Optimo Hats in Chicago, Illinois along with his team of expert hat makers, create top of the line fedoras, porkpies, homburgs as well as many other styles for hat lovers around the world.
• RH Lee of Offerman Woodshop in Los Angeles, California who along with a team of woodworkers builds handmade furniture, small boats, cabinetry and much more to order.
• Rick Kelly of Kelly Guitars based in Greenwich Village, New York, crafts guitars by hand, using reclaimed lumber, specifically white pine that he rescues from trash heaps and decomposition.
• Schirley Zisman of Golden Bear Sportswear in San Francisco, California is the lead designer for the authentic leather and wool outerwear manufacturer that has produced Varsity, Bomber and Motorcycle jackets since the 1950's.

To RSVP for The Rare Craft Collection or to learn more, please visit TheBalvenie.com/Collection. Must be 21 and over to attend.

About The Balvenie
The Balvenie is a unique range of Single Malt whiskies hand crafted in Scotland's Speyside region by William Grant & Sons.  Created by internationally renowned malt master David Stewart, The Balvenie is unique in that it retains complete control over the five rare crafts that go into the production of its acclaimed whisky: nowhere else will you find a distillery that still grows its own barley, malts in its own traditional malting floor, employs coopers to tend every cask, a coppersmith to maintain the stills and a malt master to ensure that the resulting spirit is consistently excellent.  It is this dedicated to producing a truly handcrafted whisky that has led to the Balvenie receiving the highest plaudits at a range of international spirits competitions, with the Balvenie 21 Year Old Portwood recently picking up the Single Malt Trophy at both the International Spirits Challenge and the International Wine and Spirits competition.

The Balvenie core range includes The Balvenie DoubleWood 12 Year Old ($49.99), The Balvenie 14 Year old Caribbean Cask ($65.99), The Balvenie Single Barrel 15 Year Old ($79.99), The Balvenie DoubleWood 17 Year Old ($129.99). The Balvenie PortWood 21 Year Old ($169.99) in addition to a variety of limited release expressions.  For further information visit www.thebalvenie.com.

About The Rare Craft Roadshow
The Rare Craft Roadshow was a two year nationwide search for craftsmen and artisans who maintained a dedication to the practice and preservation of traditional crafts. To celebrate the individuals discovered on the tour, The Balvenie produced a unique 30 minute documentary, Handmade: A Celebration of American Craftsmanship, in partnership with acclaimed director Rob Meyer. The film highlights the state of craftsmanship in America and shines a light on some of the unsung heroes of their industries. The film will have its television debut on Saturday October 5^th at 9:30AM and will re-air Friday October 11^th at 10:30AM. Viewers can visit http://america.discovery.com to find their local channel.

About Todd Snyder
The designer menswear label was founded by Todd Snyder in 2011. An industry veteran, Snyder's 20 year career spans experience with industry heavyweights: Ralph Lauren, Gap and J. Crew. Influenced by his Iowa upbringing, the Todd Snyder collection is rooted in American classics: tailored suiting, traditional knits and outerwear styled with thoughtful ease and finish, yet constructed using luxurious Italian and Japanese fabrics and yarns. Since his launch, Todd Snyder has been selected as one of GQ Magazine's Best New Designers in America (2012), nominated by FGI for the Rising Star Award (2013) and nominated twice for the CFDA Swarovski Menswear Award (2012, 2013). He is a current finalist for the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund. Todd Snyder is available at MRPORTER, Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorf Goodman, as well as specialty stores such as Odin, Confederacy and Ron Herman, and the brand's own e-commerce, toddsnyder.com. 

About William Grant & Sons
William Grant & Sons, Ltd. is an independent family-owned distiller headquartered in the United Kingdom and founded by William Grant in 1887. Today, the luxury spirits company is run by the fifth generation of his family and distills some of the world's leading brands of Scotch whisky, including the world's most awarded single malt Glenfiddich^®, The Balvenie^® range of handcrafted single malts and the world's third largest blended Scotch Grant's^® along with iconic premium spirits brands Hendrick's^® Gin, Sailor Jerry^® Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey and Milagro^® Tequila.

William Grant & Sons has been honored as "Distiller of the Year" by the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition and International Spirits Challenge nine times over the past 14 years, and most recently by Whisky Advocate in 2013.

Founded in 1964, William Grant & Sons USA is a wholly-owned subsidiary of William Grant & Sons, Ltd. and features one of the fastest growing spirits portfolios in the USA with brands including Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Hendrick's Gin, Sailor Jerry Rum, Tullamore D.E.W. Irish Whiskey, Milagro Tequila, Stolichnaya Vodka, Grant's, Hudson Whiskey, Gibson's Finest, Monkey Shoulder, Clan MacGregor, Reyka Vodka, Solerno Blood Orange Liqueur, Montelobos Mezcal, Lillet, Art In The Age, The Knot, and Raynal French Brandy. For more information on the company and its brands, please visit www.grantusa.com.

SOURCE The Balvenie