September, 2024 - BourbonSphere

Penelope Bourbon Releases 2024 Estate Collection

Penelope Bourbon introduced its new Estate Collection of limited-availability aged whiskey and bourbon releases – Founders Reserve, Private Select and Single Barrel. The collection represents the pinnacle of Penelope’s craftsmanship, from hand-selected barrels to meticulously crafted blends. The new premium releases spotlight masterful innovations in aged wheat whiskey, exquisite blends of aged straight bourbon whiskey …

The 2024 Estate Collection reflects Penelope Bourbon Founder and Master Blender Danny Polise’s passion for bourbon making as a journey of discovery and reinvention. To create the collection, Polise and his team evolved the brand beyond Penelope’s well-known 4- to 6-year-aged offerings by selecting 9- to 11-year superior-aged barrels to develop the releases.

“It was a thrill to explore the warehouses and hunt for the perfect barrels to create the collection,” said Polise. “We pride ourselves on the details in blending, and took a hands-on approach to find specific nuances and variations in order to curate these releases. The result is an outstanding premium collection illustrating the breadth of both fine distillate and blending.”

The exceptional craftsmanship of the Penelope Estate Collection demonstrates the brand’s commitment to offering a portfolio of high-quality aged products sought out by aficionados, and hand-crafted in limited allocations by Penelope’s signature standards.

“Innovation and quality are at the heart of everything we do, and the 2024 Estate Collection takes those characteristics to an entirely new level,” said Michael Paladini, founder, Penelope Bourbon and vice president of strategy, MGP Ingredients. “These three releases showcase the best of the best in our rickhouses, allowing us to create one-of-a-kind aged whiskeys that take Penelope to new heights. Each product in the Estate Collection is unique – from the blend to the age and the mash bill. There’s something in this collection for everyone.”

Penelope Founders Reserve features 24 barrels of experimental straight wheat whiskey with a mash bill of 95% wheat and 5% barley malt aged 11 years in charred new American oak barrels at the historic Ross & Squibb Distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. Polise and the Penelope team tapped into the distillery’s rich heritage to seek out and batch unique and rare spirits in five lots, and bottled the whiskey at cask strength to give each its own character, offering connoisseurs a unique and varied tasting experience. Each bottle of Founders Reserve is packaged in a dark green box featuring rich gold embossed Penelope Bourbon Estate Collection branding. The interior of the box lists complete details for all five lots.

Founders Reserve imparts an aroma of rich caramelized sugar and vanilla bean with a touch of cherry, flavors of maple buttercream frosting with hints of white pepper and a bit of oak, and a savory finish with lingering notes of brown sugar and toffee. Each of the five lots features a unique proof point:

Lot B: 118.4 proof (59.2% ABV)
Lot C: 116.6 proof (58.3% ABV)
Lot D: 109.5 proof (54.75% ABV)
Lot E: 107.6 proof (53.8% ABV)
Lot F: 108.2 proof (54.1% ABV)

Very limited quantities of Founders Reserve will be available for a minimum suggested retail price of $199.00 at Lux Row Distillers in Bardstown, Kentucky, and through e-commerce partners in select markets beginning in the October/November timeframe.

Penelope Private Select is an annual release that pushes the boundaries of what blended bourbon can be. This innovative expression showcases the unique characteristics of the finest 9-year-aged straight bourbon barrel stocks hand-selected from two different states. Bottled at 101.2 proof (50.6% ABV), the 2024 release features a mash bill of 74% corn, 20% rye, 1% wheat and 5% malted barley.

Penelope Private Select opens with rich caramel, vanilla custard and cherry fruit on the nose, with flavors of marshmallow, caramel, sweet cherry and black pepper on the palate. The finish of this distinctive bourbon features notes of vanilla crème brûlée, allspice and light smoke. A limited quantity of 6,000 (6-in) cases ship to retailers nationwide in September/October with a minimum suggested retail price of $79.99.

Penelope Single Barrel reveals the character that lies within the finest aged bourbon stocks. Each 10-year-aged barrel has been hand-selected from various warehouses and floors, revealing profiles too exceptional to blend. With two rye mash bill options – 21% and 36% –Penelope Single Barrel is a celebration of the individuality and complexity that can only be found in a single barrel of well-aged bourbon.

Single Barrel 21% is made from a mash bill of 75% corn, 21% rye and 4% malted barley. Bottled at 98 proof (49% ABV), this premium release opens with aromas of vanilla, caramel, dried fruit and sweet cherry followed by notes of caramel, buttercream frosting, maraschino cherry and light rye spice on the palate with a finish featuring dried cherry and marshmallow with lingering spice. Single Barrel 21% ships to Open states in October at a minimum suggested retail price of $89.99.
Single Barrel 36% is made from a mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye and 4% malted barley. Bottled at 105 proof (52.5% ABV), this distinctive innovation features an aroma of butterscotch, vanilla and light fruit on the nose and flavors of candied caramel, vanilla and chocolate cocoa. The long rye spice finish features notes of lingering butterscotch and roasted nuts. Single Barrel 36% ships to Control states in October at a minimum suggested retail price of $89.99.

Scotland’s Isle of Harris Distillery Expands Line With New Malt

The Isle of Harris Distillery today releases the second permanent expression within The Hearach single malt range, The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured, exactly one year following the historic release of the distillery’s inaugural whisky. The new Oloroso expression is entirely matured in first fill Oloroso sherry butts, for a bold and deeply aromatic spirit that …

The new Oloroso expression is entirely matured in first fill Oloroso sherry butts, for a bold and deeply aromatic spirit that builds upon the complexity and drinkability that fans of The Hearach have come to expect, while tapping into growing consumer interest in sherry matured whisky. The rich dram features notes of orange peel, warming spices, fireside smoke and toasted hazelnuts that evoke a cozy winter evening – an antidote to the cooler nights as the evenings become longer and the autumnal chill sets in.

The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured is available for purchase from Tuesday 24^th September at 10am, with bottles for sale online, at the distillery, and through speciality whisky sellers in the UK at an RRP of £75.

Bottled at 46% ABV, the non-chilled filtered spirit is lightly peated at 12-15ppm, matured in casks hand-picked for quality from the respected Bodega José y Miguel Martín in the beautiful Andalusia region in southern Spain.

Distilled, matured, married and bottled on the Isle of Harris, The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured is crafted by the same team of dedicated locals behind the success of the inaugural single malt – named after the Scottish Gaelic word that refers to a native of the Isle of Harris. With the release of the Oloroso expression, the distillery ethos of ‘people and place woven together’ expands to encompass the talented Spanish sherry winemakers and coopers who use the same care in crafting exceptional Oloroso, and the casks that have lent their flavor to the final spirit.

Simon Erlanger, Managing Director at Isle of Harris Distillery, commented, “After years of careful development, it’s finally time to share the next expression of The Hearach with the world – marking another milestone just one year after the outstanding success of The Hearach’s inaugural launch.

“The Hearach Oloroso Cask Matured has allowed us to build a strong connection between The Isle of Harris Distillery and the family sherry makers José y Miguel Martín of Andalusia. It has been an incredible experience working with a team with a similar dedication to craft and discovering the similarities between our cultures and communities.”

Opened in 2015 to create sustainable employment for their island community, the second core expression of The Hearach joins the inaugural single malt and multi-award-winning Isle of Harris Gin in helping the distillery fulfil its purpose supporting the island economy through sustainable career opportunities – growing from a founding team of 10 in 2015 to over 45 full-time employees in 2024.

Batches one through four are available now, with additional product to come in 2025. The whisky is also now available internationally in the United States, France, and Germany, with additional markets to follow in the coming months.

The World’s Most Remote Distillery?

Few places are as remote as the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, and that makes the Faer Isles Distillery the world’s most remote distillery.… Read More

Few places are as remote as the Faroe Islands in the North Atlantic, and that makes the Faer Isles Distillery the world’s most remote distillery. A group of friends founded the distillery several years ago, and have persuaded more than a thousand shareholders to join them via two crowdfunding campaigns. The first Faer Isles whisky is set for release in late 2026, and co-founder Danial Hoydal gives us a preview on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, a coming port strike on the U.S. East Coast could play havoc with whisky shipments for the holidays, and in our Behind the Label segment, we’ll go behind the creation of The Storyman whisky with actor James Cosmo.

Episode 1076: September 29, 2024

Image courtesy Faer Isles Distillery.

Tasting the New Blackberry-flavored Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

crown royal blackberry

Since February, the new blackberry-flavored Crown Royal Canadian whisky was quietly appearing at select retailers. From that point until the official announcement of the new flavor of Crown Royal in March and beyond, brand fans have been trying to locate the new flavor of Crown Royal. It quickly became a hit on TikTok where people […]

The post Tasting the New Blackberry-flavored Crown Royal Canadian Whisky first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

crown royal blackberry

It quickly became a hit on TikTok where people shared their thoughts on it, naming it, no pun intended, “The Drink of Summer 2024,” and trying out cocktail recipes made with the blackberry-flavored whisky.

In order to test out this new flavored whisky that has social media buzzing, Bottle Raiders Chief Spirits Critic Jay West, t8ke, decided to crack open the bottle on YouTube and share his experience with it.

Tasting the New Blackberry-flavored Crown Royal Canadian Whisky

If you have tried Crown Royal Blackberry, what was your experience? If not, are you interested in trying it, or do you steer clear of flavored whiskey altogether?

The post Tasting the New Blackberry-flavored Crown Royal Canadian Whisky first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Return of the rums on Whiskyfun

Trois Rivières 2007 (42%, OB, Martinique, agricole, cognac cask, cask #M2-15)
Isautier 13 yo 2008/2023 ‘L’aventurier’ (58%, OB, La Réunion, LMdW, 581 bottles)
Ten Cane 12 yo 2012/2024 (58.6%, Whisky Concerto, Trinidad, Recital 8.1)
Bra…

Trois Rivières 2007 (42%, OB, Martinique, agricole, cognac cask, cask #M2-15)

Isautier 13 yo 2008/2023 ‘L’aventurier’ (58%, OB, La Réunion, LMdW, 581 bottles)

Ten Cane 12 yo 2012/2024 (58.6%, Whisky Concerto, Trinidad, Recital 8.1)

Brazil 13 yo 2011/2024 (55.5%, FRC for Sea Shepherd, Kirsch Import, American oak + Imburana)

Mhoba ‘Strand 101’ (58%, OB, South Africa, +/-2023)

Fiji 2015/2024 (60.90%, Zn09, 195 bottles)

Jamaïque 2013/2023 (65.5%, L’Esprit, Maison de l’Hédonisme 10th anniversary, cask #MDH 2013-1, 246 bottles)

Caroni 1999/2024 ‘Rum Bullion’ (58.9%, Jean Boyer, Trinidad, cask #223, 262 bottles)

The Glenlivet Rolls Out Oldest Whisky in Its History

glenlivet

Founded in 1824, this is the oldest single malt whisky to be released by the Glenlivet Distillery. Only 100 bottles of this limited-edition cask will be available for purchase, according to the distiller. According to the article, The Whisky Exchange was the exclusive retailer of the new release, which carries the full title: The Glenlivet […]

The post The Glenlivet Rolls Out Oldest Whisky in Its History first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

glenlivet

According to the article, The Whisky Exchange was the exclusive retailer of the new release, which carries the full title: The Glenlivet Eternal Collection, First Edition: 55 Year Old. The Whisky Exchange sells the whisky in a limited run of 100 bottles for £43,500, including VAT.

When this Scotch whisky was distilled fifty years ago, Harold Wilson was prime minister, Richard Nixon was in the Oval Office, and The Beatles had just released Abbey Road. It matured for more than five decades in a sherry cask before being bottled this year.

The Glenlivet Rolls Out Oldest Whisky

Glenlivet

“A medley of autumn fruits, sun-drenched Seville oranges, and sticky dates enveloped by the spiced warmth of cinnamon and nutmeg on the nose, alongside the sweet, warming flavors of homemade blackcurrant jam and vanilla fudge, balanced with zesty citrus notes on the palate.”

To create the sculpture that houses the decanter, Chivas Brothers, which owns The Glenlivet, teamed up with computational architect Michael Hansmeyer, who used hand-sculpted jesmonite and rose-gold plating.

‘I created this sculpture as a tribute to the complexity of The Glenlivet’s oldest expression and the rugged beauty of the distillery’s Scottish landscape, capturing the spirit of where innovation meets tradition,’ said Hansmeyer.

Balmforth called the launch of The Eternal Collection ‘a monumental moment for whisky connoisseurs and luxury appreciators’.

He added: ‘It epitomizes The Glenlivet’s commitment to excellence within Scotch innovation as we continue to push to creative new heights in single malts.’

In celebration of the launch, The Glenlivet has created an auction lot with a bottle of The Glenlivet 55 and a unique Hansmeyer sculpture. All proceeds will benefit the National Trust for Scotland.

The post The Glenlivet Rolls Out Oldest Whisky in Its History first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey’s French Oak Harvest Rye Featuring John Mellencamp’s Self-Portrait

Hard Truth Distilling Co. and Mellencamp Whiskey Company release French Oak Harvest Rye, their third collaboration. Featuring John Mellencamp’s self-portrait, this limited-edition straight rye whiskey is crafted with Indiana-grown grains and finished in charred French Oak barrels. A portion of sales supports sustainable farming through the Grounded in Truth campaign and Farm Aid.

The post Hard Truth and Mellencamp Whiskey’s French Oak Harvest Rye Featuring John Mellencamp’s Self-Portrait first appeared on BourbonBlog.

John Mellencamp Self Portrait French Oak Rye

Hard Truth Distilling Co. and Mellencamp Whiskey Company tell BourbonBlog.com they are back with their third collaboration. While John Mellencamp’s art has adorned the previous two releases – Farmer’s Reserve and Harvest Rye – and this time, John Mellencamp is lending his own self-portrait to the whiskey release that will be embraced by both music and spirits fans alike.

Mellencamp’s son, Hud Mellencamp, along with co-founder Levi Collison, founded Mellencamp Whiskey Company and collaborated with Hard Truth Distilling Co. to create the series. They are now introducing French Oak Harvest Rye, a straight rye whiskey with a distinctive charred French Oak barrel finish.

BourbonBlog.com’s own Tom Fischer has previously interviewed the two founders along with Master Distiller Bryan Smith about the whiskeys on this link.

This latest offering is the third in a four-part, limited edition series that celebrates regional craftsmanship and sustainable farming in Indiana.

Each bottle is bottled at 104 proof (52% ABV) and has an MSRP of $69.99. It is being sold with pre-orders from ReserveBar.com

For collectors of the whiskey series and Mellencamp fans alike, the whiskey also offers a special touch—a bottle adorned with a self-portrait of John Mellencamp, titled “American Fool,” based on an oil painting he created in 2020.

Celebrating Indiana Grain and a French Oak Finish

The new French Oak Harvest Rye is a whiskey crafted from a mash bill that features previously unreleased Sweet Mash Whiskey, a hallmark of Hard Truth’s innovation.

With a mash bill of 72% rye and 28% corn, it is composed entirely of Indiana-grown grain. The addition of the French Oak barrel finish adds a new layer of complexity.

This finishing process in charred French Oak barrels enhances the whiskey’s flavor profile, accentuating fruit-forward notes that create a more vibrant and balanced taste experience.

What makes this release stand out is its dedication to honoring the region where the ingredients are grown, with a strong focus on supporting sustainable farming practices through Hard Truth’s ‘Grounded in Truth’ campaign.

This initiative, launched by Hard Truth Distilling Co., celebrates and supports small, independent farmers, many of whom provide the local grains used in their spirits. A portion of the proceeds from each bottle sold benefits Farm Aid, an organization that advocates for family farmers and promotes sustainable agriculture—a cause long championed by the Mellencamp family.
Mellencamp Whiskey Company

The Self-Portrait by John Mellencamp on the Bottle

Adding even more significance to the Mellencamp French Oak Harvest Rye is the bottle itself. John Mellencamp, known for his artistic pursuits as much as his musical career, created the self-portrait that graces this limited-edition bottle.

Titled “American Fool,” the painting was completed in 2020 and is a perfect reflection of Mellencamp’s rugged Americana style.

This bottle is the third release in a four-part series that combines artistry, whiskey-making expertise, and family collaboration.

Each bottle is designed to be a collector’s item, with the art as much a focal point as the liquid inside.

With a portion of sales supporting sustainable farming in Indiana, it’s an opportunity to own a limited edition Mellencamp Whiskey Co. release while contributing to a worthy cause.

For the latest updates on whiskey releases, subscribe to our Bourbonblog.com newsletter here.

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Kavalan Taiwanese Distillery Releases New Lán Whisky

Kavalan

As a tribute to its birthplace Yilan County, Taiwan, Taiwanese whisky producer Kavalan has added a floral-inspired single malt. The new spirit is named Lán after the Mandarin word for orchid. The expression is offered at 43% ABV in limited markets worldwide and was launched in Asia at the Hong Kong Whisky Festival, Korea Bar, […]

The post Kavalan Taiwanese Distillery Releases New Lán Whisky first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Kavalan

As a tribute to its birthplace Yilan County, Taiwan, Taiwanese whisky producer Kavalan has added a floral-inspired single malt. The new spirit is named Lán after the Mandarin word for orchid.

The expression is offered at 43% ABV in limited markets worldwide and was launched in Asia at the Hong Kong Whisky Festival, Korea Bar, and the Spirits Show. It was launched in Europe at Whisky Live Paris in September.

In the first phase, Lán will be launched in the EU, Cambodia, Thailand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Hong Kong, and Canada. In the second phase, all other countries where Kavalan is currently sold will be impacted.

Kavalan Releases New Lán Whisky

Kavalan

Kavalan’s CEO, Y.T. Lee, shared his inspiration for the floral whisky, which draws from the ‘King Car Peach’ orchid, exclusively cultivated by Kavalan’s parent company, King Car.

“Our Port-aged Lán whisky captures the delicate floral aromas of the King Car Peach orchid”, said Lee.

“It offers a sophisticated blend of vanilla and roasted nuts, enriched by our signature STR (shaved, toasted, re-charred) technique using Vinho wine casks, resulting in a smooth, fruity profile with layers of caramel sweetness.”

The STR technique is said to unlock the hidden flavors within oak casks. Since 1988, King Car Group has been involved in orchid research and cultivation, leading to the creation of Lán whiskey.

Despite the faster process, the amount of whiskey produced is significantly less. The amount lost to evaporation is much higher. Kavalan typically loses 12% to evaporation, while Scotch loses 2%.

Kavalan has been nominated in the category of Whisky/Whiskey Brand of the Year at this year’s The Spirits Business Awards.

The Kavalan Solist ex-Bourbon whisky is a complex, single malt whisky with notes of vanilla, fruit, and coconut. The whisky is not chill-filtered, so it retains the qualities of a single malt whisky and is bottled at cask strength.

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The Hendersons Move From Angel’s Envy To True Story

By Richard Thomas When Wes Henderson teamed up with his father Lincoln, a veteran of Brown-Forman whiskey-making and Hall of Famer, to found Angel’s Envy, the father-and-son team did more than establish another sourced whiskey brand. Their company was built around the concept of secondary maturation, more popularly known as finishing, which was still a …

By Richard Thomas

Angel's Envy Bourbon Whiskey — The original Angel’s Envy
*(Credit: Angel’s Envy)*

When Wes Henderson teamed up with his father Lincoln, a veteran of Brown-Forman whiskey-making and Hall of Famer, to found Angel’s Envy, the father-and-son team did more than establish another sourced whiskey brand. Their company was built around the concept of secondary maturation, more popularly known as finishing, which was still a novel concept in American Whiskey when the flagship ruby port-finished Angel’s Envy Bourbon was first introduced in 2011. In the early 2010s, it was not uncommon to see (ignorant) croakers on whiskey forums declare that if the bourbon was moved to a second barrel for another round of aging, it was no longer bourbon. More than any other brand in America, Angel’s Envy popularized the practice of cask finishing bourbon

Another thing Wes and Lincoln did was start a family company. Lincoln Henderson passed away in 2013 and Angel’s Envy was bought by Bacardi in 2015, but West remained at the helm and brought more and more family to work at the company through the decade. Wes Henderson finally left Angel’s Envy in 2022. The next year, he bought The Kentucky Castle, an upscale hotel located in the vicinity of the renowned Keeneland race track, along with some surrounding property, and announced the intention to build a $92 million distillery.

The move should not have surprised anyone. Henderson grew up in the business, and as he puts it “my comfort aroma isn’t apple pie, but fermenting mash.”

Upon that news in 2023, it was inevitable that Wes Henderson would launch of a new whiskey brand in 2024: True Story. Henderson already has the experience of taking Angel’s Envy from a sourced whiskey brand; to building and operating an urban distillery; and to transitioning from sourced whiskey to in-house production. Now that experience is being applied to an all-new venture, with the help of sons he trained in the business and former colleagues. At the introduction of the True Story team at their launch event earlier this week, there were so many Hendersons involved I was left wondering who was not there. His old CFO from Angel’s Envy has come over to True Story, and Henderson has brought in the doyen of bourbon-style Kentucky hospitality, Peggy Noe Stevens.

The experience puts True Story on a familiar launch pad: start with sourced whiskey, put an interesting and worthy finish on it, take that to market. Henderson has done exactly that with True Story Bourbon in particular. This is a five to six year old Kentucky bourbon (most definitely not MGP, but sourced through three undisclosed Kentucky distilleries), given a finish of six months in Portuguese white Moscatel casks. Like the Ruby Port chosen for Angel’s Envy, Moscatel is a dessert wine, and one that has not been chosen as the basis for any finished whiskey in regular production. My initial thoughts were that the choice gave the underlying bourbon a whisp of dry wood, but also a layer of syrupy fruit cocktail flavor. True Story Bourbon is bottled at 90 proof and should retail for $59.99.

True Story Bourbon and True Story Rye
*(Credit: True Story)*

Also in this initial release is True Story Rye. This is a blend of MGP’s familiar 95% rye with a 91% rye made at an undisclosed Northern Kentucky Distillery (the remainder of both mash bills is malted barley). After five to eight years of aging, the whiskey is given a finish of up to a year in Amburana, PX and Oloroso Sherry casks. The Amburana is the exotic choice: it is a South American wood used principally to age Brazilian cachaca, but which lately has become a trendy wood choice for American whiskeys, noted for imparting a strong cinnamon-forward character. In this instance, my initial impression was the rye took on a musty, rum cake with raisins character, one that leaned heavily on the baking spices and even had a trace of sandalwood to it. This bottle was done at 100 proof and had a $69.99 price tag.

The sketch for the overall plan is to build the distillery and bind up True Story not just as a whiskey company, but also as part of a visitor experience that would combine the Kentucky Castle with the whiskey, horse racing and other bourbon sites (Woodford Reserve and Castle & Key are both also located in Woodford County, only 15 miles away). It’s an ambitious plan, but one begun and pursued by a seasoned and talented team.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | September 27, 2024

Welcome to Inbox – our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from arou…

Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/ piece of news/ PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.

Here is a round-up of this week's whisky news.

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Diageo, Scotland's largest whisky producer, has announced the line-up for their annual Special Releases Collection. The Diageo Special Releases: Spirited Xchange Second Edition is formed of eight single malts, which are limited in number. This year's collection is designed to push the boundaries of Scotch whisky and features familiar distilleries alongside lesser known hidden gems. The Special Releases were first launched over two decades ago.

The eight rare and collectable single malts have been crafted by Dr. Stuart Morrison, Master Blender for the series at Diageo. Each bottling uses photography for the first time to capture the whisky's character and flavour profile. The collection is available in selected world markets including Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the UK and the USA, plus global travel retail and via www.malts.com.

The following bottlings make up the Diageo Special Releases: Spirited Xchange: Second Edition. Prices were not revealed in the press release.

Benrinnes | Grand Crescendo - 21 years old and matured in American oak ex-red wine, European oak and rejuvenated casks. Speyside. 55.4% ABV. £355/ US$480.
Caol Ila | Ambrosial Feast - 11 years old, unpeated and matured in re-fill American oak and rejuvenated ex-red wine casks. Islay. 57.3% ABV. £82/ US$110.
Lagavulin | Fireside Tales - 12 years old and matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and re-fill casks. Islay. 57.4% ABV. £135/ US$180.
Mortlach | Midnight Dusk - finished in sweet ex-Ramandolo white wine and ex-Sangiovese red wine casks. Speyside. 57.5% ABV. £225/ US$300.
Oban | Coastal Orchard - 10 years old and matured in new freshly charred American oak barrels and finished in ex-Oloroso seasoned and re-fill casks. Highlands. 58% ABV. £90 US$120.
Roseisle | Origami Kite II - 12 years old and only the second ever expression released, matured in re-fill and first-fill ex-bourbon casks. Speyside. 55.6% ABV. £112/ US$150.
The Singleton | Autumn Walk - 14 years old and matured in ex-bourbon, rejuvenated ex-red wine and refill casks, then finished with European oak casks with Pyrenean Oak cask-ends. Speyside. 54.7% ABV. £116/ US$155.
Talisker | Tidal Churn - 8 years old and matured in stone-spun retoasted oak casks. Islands. 58.7% ABV. £79/ US$105.

The English whisky brand of Fielden have announced a new four part limited edition series, and the first bottling in that series. The Fielden Fieldnotes series will kick off with Fielden Hedgerow and is designed to celebrate the heritage cereals used to create their spirit and the diverse locations that they are grown. The series will be split into four editions highlighting Fruity & Creamy, Fresh & Delicate, Pastry & Nutty and Fruity & Spicy. Hedgerow represents Fruity & Creamy.

Fielden Hedgerow has used four cask types - 2x ex-bourbon American oak, 1x ex-Sauternes dessert wine and 1x ex-vintage Port barrique. There will be just 1,000 bottles, each individually numbered, and they are released at 46.1% ABV. Bottles will be available from early October from www.fielden.com and specialist retailers in the UK. Each will cost £100.

The Loch Lomond Group has announced a new series of rare single malt from the closed Lowland distillery of Littlemill, which would be Scotland's oldest were it still in production - Littlemill The Cask Reflections Collection. The company hold much of the dwindling stocks and plan to showcase it throughout this series. Each bottling will be created by Michael Henry, the Master Blender for LLG.

Littlemill The Cask Reflections Release No.1 is bottled at 33 years of age and has been matured for much of its life in ex-bourbon casks. It has undergone a final four-month maturation period in rare Japanese mizunara oak casks prior to bottling. The whisky is released at the natural cask strength of 49.1% ABV and presented in a decanter designed by Glencairn Crystal. There are just 570 bottles and these are available via selected whisky specialists and luxury retailers worldwide. Each decanter will cost £3,800.

The Glenlivet, the popular Speyside distillery, has unvieled its oldest official bottling to date as part of their 200th anniversary celebrations. The Glenlivet Eternal Collection: First Edition 55 years old has been maturing in a single ex-sherry cask since the late-1960s and has been nurtured by Kevin Balmforth, the Cask Master at The Glenlivet. The rare single malt launches the distillery's Eternal Collection, which will showcase some of the rarest stock maturing in their warehouses.

The new whisky is housed in a spherical decanter, which sits inside a sculpture created by computational architect Michael Hansmeyer. There are just 100 decanters and they will be available exclusively at The Whisky Exchange to begin with. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 42.2% ABV. Each decanter will cost €50,000/ US$55,900/ £41,800.