Whisky For Everyone - BourbonSphere

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | November 1, 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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The Islay blended malt brand of Big Peat, owned by independent bottlers Douglas Laing & Co, has announced a small batch cocktail extension to its range - the Big Peat Boulevardier. The new product is a smoky take on the classic cocktail which traditionally features whisky (normally bourbon or rye), red vermouth and bitter orange aperitif.

After blending the three ingredients have been aged in an ex-Islay whisky cask to add additional smoky flavours. The Big Peat Boulevardier is bottled at 29.5% ABV and suggested to be served over ice. There are just 450 bottles in the initial small batch release. It will be available exclusively from www.douglaslaing.com with each bottling costing £28.

The Canadian whisky brand of Crown Royal has announced an evolution of its popular Reserve bottling, which will now carry an age statement. The Crown Royal Reserve 12 years old maintains a similar recipe to the previous no-age statement expression and uses casks hand-selected by Mark Balkenende, the brand's Master Blender. The new whisky forms part of the brand's 'commitment to excellence' and is bottled at 40% ABV. It will initially be available in Canada and the USA. A bottle will cost US$50.

Justerini & Brooks, the London-based prestigious wine and spirits retailer, has announced a limited edition single malt bottling to celebrate its 275th anniversary. The Knockando Cask of Distinction 32 years old is taken from a single European oak first-fill ex-sherry cask and was distilled and filled in 1992. It was selected from the company's extensive cask portfolio.

Knockando is an important ingredient in the famous and highly-awarded J&B blend, a factor that was considered for the special bottling. The whisky is released at its natural cask strength of 50.7% ABV and there are just 453 bottles. Each will cost £1,210 and will be available via www.justerinis.com and selected retailers worldwide. The whisky forms part of a wider celebratory series that includes several 'once in a lifetime' vintage wines.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | October 25, 2024

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

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The west Highland distillery of Ardnamurchan celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and is commemorating the occasion with the bottling of its first ever 10 years old single malt. The Ardnamurchan 10 years old Anniversary Release uses the distillery's unpeated spirit and features some of the first whisky ever produced in 2014. This has been matured in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels with half then finished for one year in ex-Champagne casks. It is bottled at 50% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The whisky will be available from late-October via specialist whisky retailers in the UK and globally. A bottle will cost £65.

The closed Lowland distillery of Littlemill has announced its oldest ever release with the second bottling in the Vanguards Collection. The Littlemill Vanguards Collection Chapter Two was originally distilled and filled to re-fillex-bourbon barrels in October 1976, before being transferred to re-fill American oak hogsheads in 1996. In recent years, the casks have been nurtured by Michael Henry, the Master Blender for brand owner Loch Lomond Group. It is bottled at 47 years of age.

The whisky features a partnership with glass artist Bethany Wood, owner of Blowfish Glass in Stourbridge. She produced 250 unique glass stoppers that are used in the decanter designed by Glencairn Crystal. The Littlemill Vanguards Collection Chapter Two is released at 44.2% ABV and is of natural colour. There are just 250 decanters available in selected world markets. Each decanter will cost £14,500/ US$18,850. For further information, please visit www.littlemilldistillery.com.

The west coast Highland distillery of Oban has announced the thrid and final bottling in The Maclean Series - Oban Grandson Derek. The series celebrates the craft and expertise shown by three generations of the Maclean family who have worked at Oban over a 70 year period dating to 1953. It kicked off with Old Teddy in 2019 and was followed by Young Teddy in 2023. It has been created by Stuart Morrison, Master Blender at brand owner Diageo.

Oban Grandson Derek honours Derek Maclean (pictured, above), the third generation, and has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a joint finishing period in ex-Pinot Noir and ex-Sangiovese red wine casks. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 52.3% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. There are just 4,662 bottles and these will be on sale exclusively at the Oban distillery shop. Each will cost £210.

The Indian single malt brand of Rampur has released a new whisky into its core range - the Rampur Barrel Blush. The whisky has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in ex-shiraz red wine barrels sourced from Australia. It has been created by Anup Barik, the Master Distiller for Rampur, and will initially be avialable in the UK before being rolled out to other selected world markets later in the year. The Rampur Barrel Blush is bottled at 45% ABV and will cost £65 per bottle.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | October 18, 2024

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

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The Lowland distillery of Bladnoch, the most southernly in Scotland, has announced the line-up for their annual Peated Collection. The Bladnoch Peated Collection 2024 Edition features four whiskies using peated malt during production and has been created by Dr. Nick Savage, the Master Distiller at Bladnoch. This includes the annually released Alinta Reserve, plus three single cask expressions - these are all selected from a rare peated malt production run that happened in 2009.

The 2024 release of Alinta Reserve features only ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry cask matured spirit and is bottled at 46.7% ABV. The three single casks are the Peated Single Cask 2024/01 matured in ex-Tokaji dessert wine casks from Hungary and bottled at 51.7% ABV, Peated Single Cask 2024/02 matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 55% ABV, and Peated Single Cask 2024/03 matured in ex-rum barrels and released at 54.2% ABV.

All bottlings are non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The Alinta Reserve will cost £120 per bottle and the Peated Single Casks £200 each. They will be available in limited numbers in selected world markets and via the Bladnoch website.

In a similar move to Bladnoch, The Glasgow Distillery Co. have released three limited edition peated single malts into their Glasgow 1770 Small Batch Series. The Glasgow 1770 Islay Cask Finish (57.3% ABV/ 303 bottles) and Madeira Cask Finish (58% ABV/ 298 bottles) have both seen initial maturation in virgin American oak casks before respective finishing periods in ex-peated whisky casks from Islay and ex-Madeira casks from the island of Madeira.

The Glasgow 1770 Marsala Cask Finish (60.2% ABV/ 860 bottles) has undergone a full seven-year maturation in ex-Marsala casks from Sicily. All are non-chill filtered and of natural colour. All three bottlings will be available from The Glasgow Distillery Co. website and selected specialist retailers in the UK. Each will cost £59.

Mossburn, the independent distillers and blenders, have announced the second bottling in their Cask Collaboration Series - the Mossburn 12 years old Domaine Dupont Calvados Cask Finish. This follows the inaugural release that saw collaboration with Foursquare rum. The blended malt features only single malts from the Speyside region of Scotland aged 12 years and above. These were aged in ex-bourbon barrels before marrying and placement in French oak ex-Calvados casks from the renowned Domaine Dupont in Normandy, one of France's finest producers of apple brandy.

The new bottling is released at the natural cask strength of 57.2% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. There are just 7,500 bottles and these will be available in selected global markets, plus the UK and USA. A bottle will cost £65/ €80/ US$90.

The Isle of Raasay distillery has launched the second bottling in its Dùn Cana single malt series. The Dùn Cana Sherry Quarter Cask Release: Second Edition features both peated and unpeated spirit in a ratio of 53% to 47% respectively. These have been matured separately in ex-American Rye casks before undergoing a second maturation in Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry quarter casks (125 litre capacity) for six months. It is bottled at 52% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. There are 15,000 bottles in the release and each will cost £85.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | October 11, 2024

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

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The Speyside distillery of Benromach has announced the latest addition to its Contrasts Series - the Benromach Contrasts Unpeated. The rare spirit, which is only produced for short periods occasionally, has been aged in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks for nine years. It has been created by Keith Cruickshank, the long-serving Distillery Manager at Benromach, and is bottled at 46% ABV. It is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The new whisky will be available in selected specialist retailers in selected markets worldwide. A bottle will cost £60.

"With our Contrasts range, we aim to develop whiskies that showcase the handmade skills of our distillers - and this is no exception. But this particular unpeated release provides the very definition of a contrast when compared to our regular lightly peated spirit."
Keith Cruickshank.

The popular Canadian brand of Crown Royal has announced a new high-aged blended whisky as the third installment in its Extra Rare Series. The Crown Royal 31 years old has been created from casks personally selected by Mark Balkenende, the Master Blender for Crown Royal, and is bottled at 46% ABV. It will be available in Canada and 10 selected US states including Ariizona, California, Ohio and Texas. The recommended retail price is US$599.

The innovative distillery of Loch Lomond has announced a new series of age statement single malts, and the first whisky in the collection. The Loch Lomond Waypoint Series will represent different significant waypoints in The Loch Lomond & Trossachs National Park. The first is a 16 years old and repressents the beautiful Falls of Falloch. The whisky has been distilled exclusively through the distillery's swan-necked stills and matured in ex-bourbon casks.

The new whisky has then had a finishing period of 12 months in ex-Cognac barrels and has been created by Michael Henry, the Master Distiller at Loch Lomond, and is bottled at 46.2% ABV. It is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour, and will be available worldwide through specialist whisky retailers. A bottle will cost £82.

The Speyside distillery of Mortlach has launched its oldest and rarest single malt to date - the Mortlach 50 years old. It is the latest and final bottling in the brand's Singing Stills Series. The whisky is taken from a single re-fill American oak ex-bourbon barrel that has matured at the distillery for over five decades. It was distilled through the distillery's original direct-fired stills and filled to the cask in 1971 and was hand selected by Dr. Craig Wilson, the Master Blender for single malts at Diageo. There are just 67 bottles available through selected luxury and specialist whisky retailers globally. It is bottled at 47.3% ABV and will cost £22,950/ US$30,000.

The Scallywag blended malt brand, owned by independent bottlers Douglas Laing & Co, has launched a limited edition for the forthcoming festive season - the Scallywag Winter Edition 2024. As with all Scallywag bottlings, the new whisky only contains single malts from the Speyside region of Scotland. These have been married before experiencing a finishing period in ex-orange wine casks sourced from Spain. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 53.9% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. Scallywag Winter Edition 2024 is available from specialist retailers worldwide and will cost £65.

The Speyside distillery of Tamnavulin has announced a new single malt to its double cask matured core range - the Tamnavulin Port Cask Finish. The ageing begins in American oak ex-bourbon casks before being transferred for a finishing period to ex-Tawny Port casks sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal. The whisky has been created by Kirsty Hodge, the Master Whisky Maker at Tamnavulin, and is bottled at 40% ABV. It will initially be launched in UK supermarkets including Asda, Sainsbury's and Tesco. A bottle will cost £35.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | October 4, 2024

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

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The Northern Irish distillery of Bushmills has announced the fifth batch of their highly-acclaimed Causeway Collection. The series of single malts are inspired by The Giant's Causeway, which is located on the Co. Antrim coast and just two miles from the distillery. The 2024 edition features eight whiskies, which include some of Bushmills' rarest spirits, that are aged between 10 and 23 years of age.

The Bushmills Causeway Collection 2024 features three firsts for the brand with the 10 years old Barolo Cask, 2010 Double Moscatel Cask (finished in two different ex-Moscatel casks) and 22 years old Mizunara Oak. Other highlights include the 2011 Oloroso Sherry Cask and 23 years old Madeira Cask. All eight whiskies are bottled at their natural cask strength and are non-chill filtered and of natural colour. Prices range from £76 to £385/ US$100 to US$505. They will be available in selected world markets including China, France, Germany, Ireland, the UK and the USA, plus travel retail.

Bushmills have also announced the latest addition into their travel retail exclusive World Wood Series range - the Bushmills 12 years old PX Casks. It follows 15- and 21-year old expressions released in 2023. This, like the Causeway Collection, has been created by Alex Thomas - the Master Blender for Bushmills. This new whisky has matured for 11 years in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels before a one-year in first and second-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV and will be available in airports throughout Asia. A bottle will cost US$70.

The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has revealed the second trio of whiskies in its Cask Curation Series. The Dalmore Cask Curation Series Port Edition showcases three rare single malts in partnership with Symington Family Estates, the makes of Graham's Port. It features bottlings at 27-, 30- and 43-years of age. Each has been finished in different rare vintage single harvest Tawny Port barrels from Graham's. Further additions to the series will appear in 2025 and 2026.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Port Edition 27 Year Old 1997 Cask Finish has been matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in Cask No. 2 – a very rare 1997 Single Harvest Graham's Tawny Port cask. It is bottled at 49.3% ABV. The Dalmore Cask Curation Port Edition 30 Year Old 1994 Cask Finish has been matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in Cask No. 3 – a very rare 1994 Single Harvest Graham's Tawny Port cask. It is bottled at 43.9% ABV.

The Dalmore Cask Curation Port Edition 43 Year Old 1952 Cask Finish has been matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and then finished in Cask No. 1 – a 1952 Single Harvest Graham's Tawny Port cask. It is bottled at 41.8% ABV. All are non-chillfiltered and of natural colour. The trio will only be sold as a set, and this will cost £35,000.

The independent Scottish distiller of Eden Mill has partnered with a local salt company to create a sugar syrup aimed at cocktail aficionados and bartenders. The Eden Mill Smoked Salt Sugar Syrup sees the Lowland distillery collaborate with fellow Fife business East Neuk Salt Company to create an ingredient to add depth to your favourite cocktail or mocktail.

The hand-harvested sea salt flakes, which are 100% organic, were smoked on former Eden Mill single malt whisky barrel staves. The staves were also used to smoke the sugar used to make the syrup. The syrup is available from Eden Mill's two retail stores in Edinburgh and St. Andrew's, plus via www.edenmill.com - here there is a deal where each bottle of The Guard Bridge blended malt will come with a free bottle of the syrup for a limited period.

The Islay farm distillery of Kilchoman has launched a new limited that has been fully matured in ex-Port casks. The Kilchoman Port Cask Matured is the third such release and the oldest such release to date. The inaugural Port Cask Matured was released in 2014 and the second in 2018. The 2024 edition has been matured for a minimum of six years in re-fill ex-Port barrels. This new bottling will be available in selected specialist whisky retailers worldwide. The whisky is released at 50% ABV and a bottle will cost £88.

The Lowland distillery of Kingsbarns has bottled its oldest ever single malt to date with their latest limited edition release. The Kingsbarns Distillery Reserve 2024 is bottled at 8 years old and has been fully matured in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It is released in its purest form - at the natural cask strength of 58.2% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural colour. There will be just 3,000 bottles and these will be available via the brand website www.kingsbarnsdistillery.com and the distillery shop in Fife from October 16. A bottle will cost £75.

The Kentucky distillery of Michter's has launched two expressions into its rare Legacy Series - the Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon and Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash. In 1753, Swiss farmer John Shenk founded Shenk’s distillery in Pennsylvania. This distillery was later renamed Bomberger’s distillery in the 1800s before its name changed again to Michter’s in the mid-20th Century. This heritage is what the Michter’s Legacy Series honours.

Bomberger’s Declaration Bourbon (pictured, above right) is a Kentucky straight bourbon with a high malted rye percentage in the recipe and is aged in rare Chinquapin oak barrels. It is bottled at 54% ABV. Shenk’s Homestead Sour Mash Whiskey (pictured, above left) is a Kentucky rye whiskey that has matured in French oak casks. It is bottled at 45.6% ABV. Both whiskeys are now available in limited quantities and cost £120.

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

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.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | September 20, 2024

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

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The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has announced the fifth bottling in its annual Tales series of single malts - the Glenmorangie A Tale of Ice Cream. The new limited-edition whisky is inspired by trips to the ice cream parlour. It features spirit initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period in high-vanillin virgin American oak barrels. These barrels have been lightly charred to bring out extra vanilla notes from the wood.

A Tale of Ice Cream has been created by Gillian Macdonald, the Master Blender for Glenmorangie, and Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation for the brand. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available via www.glenmorangie.com and the distillery shop in Tain, plus through selected whisky retailers worldwide. A bottle will cost £76.

"By ageing Glenmorangie in bourbon and high-vanillin casks we have magnified the sweetest, creamiest side of our whisky. Sipping A Tale of Ice Cream is like sinking your spoon into a carousel of flavour. We invite whisky lovers old and new to indulge their sweet tooth and enjoy this ultimate treat."
Dr. Bill Lumsden.

The award-winning blended malt of Big Peat, which is part of Douglas Laing & Co's Remarkable Regional Malts range, has revealed a limited-edition bottling to celebrate the brand's 15th anniversary. Big Peat first hit the market in September 2009 and this commemorative whisky has seen a predominant maturation in ex-red wine casks. As with all Big Peat releases, the whiskies in the blended malt are all single malts from the famous whisky island of Islay. Big Peat 15th Anniversary Edition is bottled at 50% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The new release will be available globally with a bottle costing £65/ €75.

The Campbeltown distillery of Glen Scotia has announced the second bottling in its five-part Icons of Campbeltown series, which is inspired by etchings on the town's famous Market Cross. The Glen Scotia Icons of Campbeltown No.2 is bottled at 14 years of age and was created by Michael Henry, the Master Blender for Glen Scotia. It has undergone maturation in ex-bourbon barrels before a six-month finishing period in ex-Barolo red wine casks from Italy. The packaging features artwork from renowned Marvel and Disney illustrator Joel Holtzman. The whisky is released at 56.8% ABV and will be available in limited numbers in selected world markets. A bottle will cost £98.

The Lowland distillery of Bladnoch has announced changes to its two core ranges. Two new age statements - Bladnoch 13 years old and Bladnoch 16 years old - will join the existing 19- and 30-year olds to form the new Bladnoch Heritage Collection. As a result the current 11- and 14-year olds will be discontinued. Both new whiskies have been created by Dr. Nick Savage, the Master Blender for Bladnoch.

The Bladnoch 13 years old has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels while the Bladnoch 16 years old has been matured in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. They are priced at £85 and £110 respectively. Both are released at 46.7% ABV and are non-chill filtered and of natural colour. They will be available globally. In another move, the distillery has renamed its core no age statement range as The Twinned Cask Collection to reflect the fact that two cask types are married together to create each whisky in the range.

The American distillery of Koval has announced a new range of premium limited edition organic spirits - Thresh & Winnow. The range kicks off with two whiskeys - a 10 year old rye and an 8 year old American single malt - and will be followed later in the Autumn by two gins. Both whiskeys are from single barrels, released at 50% ABV and are bottled-in-bond. The range is packaged in a bespoke luxury bottle designed by Dando Projects, which shows some of the key ingredients in the spirits. The two whiskeys are available at Koval's store and tasting room in Chicago and will see limited distribution in selected other states and cities. No indication of price was given in the press release.

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | September 13, 2024

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

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The west Highland craft distillery of Nc' nean has announced its latest limited edition organic single malt - the Nc' nean Huntress Orchard Cobbler. Unusually, the distillery produces two different spirits - one designed for shorter maturation and release at younger age, and one for longer maturation and older bottling. This release features spirit from the time when they switched from one to the next, where cut points are adjusted on the still. This allows fruitier esters to develop in the spirit.

The Nc' nean Huntress Orchard Cobbler is bottled at 48.5% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be available in the UK and eight US states including Delaware, Maryland, Massachussets, New Jersey, New York, Oregon, Texas and Washington. A bottle will cost £80/ US$105.

"This whisky perfectly encapsulates our creativity, innovation, and unique approach to whisky. It is crafted from the transitional weeks between our two recipes, resulting in this wonderfully fruity spirit. This unplanned outcome highlights the magic of experimentation and the beauty of doing things differently."
Annabel Thomas | Founder & CEO of Nc' nean.

The independently-owned Speyside distillery of Benromach has launched one of its oldest ever single malts - the rare Benromach 50 years old. The whisky has laid in the distillery's warehouses since the early-1970s and is released at the natural cask strength of 54.6% ABV. The rare whisky is presented in a handcrafted and handblown glass decanter created by Highland hot glass studio Glasstorm. This includes battuto, which is a highly skilled technique that sees the glass hand-sculpted by the glassmaker. It means that each decanter is unique. There are just 248 decanters available and they will be available in selected markets worldwide. A bottle will cost £20,000/ US$26,290.

The American bourbon brand of Wild Turkey has released a special commemorative whiskey to celebrate the remarkable career of Jimmy Russell, the long-serving Master Distiller. This year marks the 70th anniversary since Russell began working at the distillery in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky on September 10 1954. Hi remarkable career includes establishing Wild Turkey as a global brand and being inducted into the Bourbon Hall of Fame.

The Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell's 70th Anniversary 8-Year-Old Bourbon features whiskeys of 8- and 9-years of age that were hand-selected by son Eddie Russell and grandson Bruce Russell, who both work at the distillery in senior positions, from Jimmy's favourite rickhouses. It is bottled at 101 Proof (50.5% ABV) and the bottle features Russell's signature. The bourbon is available in the USA and selected international markets in limited numbers. A bottle will cost US$50.

The Highland distillery of Fettercairn has announced the third bottling of its annual Scottish Oak Programme release - the Fettercairn 18 years old Scottish Oak Finish. The bottling, which was first released in 2022, is initially matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in casks made from responsibly-sourced native Scottish oak. The 2024 Edition is bottled at 46.8% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The new whisky will be available from October in the UK and selected world markets, with a bottle costing £212.

"The Scottish Oak Programme is one of my proudest achievements and the annual release of the Fettercairn 18 year old is a regular reminder of the journey our team has gone through so far. We hope more people experience how truly special Scottish oak is and the incredible flavours it can impart to Scotch whisky."
Gregg Glass | Master Whisky Maker at Fettercairn.

The Irish single pot still brand of Redbreast has announced a new age statement that will permanently join its core range - the Redbreast 18 years old. It represents the first ever bottling of this age by the brand and has already won several awards at global spirits competitions. The new expression is triple distilled and uses malted and unmalted barley. It features an intriguing four-cask maturation using a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-Oloroso and ex-cream sherries, and ex-Ruby Port casks.

The Redbreast 18 years old has been created by Dave McCabe, the Master Blender for Redbreast, and is bottled at 46% ABV. It is available via www.redbreastwhiskey.com and in numerous world markets including Australia, Canada, Central Europe, Ireland, Scandanavia, Taiwan, the UK and the USA. A bottle will cost €225/ US$249/ £189.

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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | September 6, 2024

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

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The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has released three whiskies into a new collection - Dalmore The Distillery Select Series. New expressions will be added annually. The 2024 Edition features rare samples of casks laid down in specific cask types and includes the 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish, 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes and the 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish. All are bottled at cask strength and are both non-chill filtered and of natural colour.

The Dalmore 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish is bottled at 15 years old and features a finish in ex-sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass in Spain. It is released at 52.8% ABV and there are just 2,736 bottles. Each will cost £300. The Dalmore 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes features a duo of cask finishes - ex-Amarone red wine from Italy and ex-Port wine from Portugal. There are just 918 bottles at 45.8% ABV. Each bottle will cost £1,000.

The Dalmore 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish is bottled at 24 years old and 50.3% ABV. Initial maturation was in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period in ex-Calvados barrels sourced from the House of Drouin in France. There are just 383 bottles and each will cost £5,000. All will be available in Dalmore Boutiques around the globe, plus in specialist and luxury retailers. For more information, please visit www.thedalmore.com.

The Indian single malt brand of Rampur has announced the latest additions to its limited edition Jugalbandi series. The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 and #6 have been distilled at the Rampur distillery in the Himalayan foothills and created by Anup Barik, the brand's Master Blender. Jugalbandi translates as 'entwined twins' and refers to a traditional Indian musician and their instrument playing in harmony.

The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 (pictured, above left) has been initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in ex-Tokaji wine casks from Hungary. It is bottled at 55.6% ABV. The Rampur Jugalbandi #6 (pictured, above right) has seen full maturation in ex-Madeira wine barrels. It is bottled at 55.8% ABV. Both will retail at £400 per bottle and be available in selected world markets including Europe, Singapore, the UK, the USA and global travel retail.

The luxury single cask single malt bottler of Ferg & Harris have launched five new whiskies into their 2024 collection. Each features a special cask finish and is bottled at the natural cask strength. They will be available to purchase from www.fergandharris.co.uk and selected independent whisky retailers. The list of the five bottlings and details are listed below:

Tormore 11 years old / Speyside/ 63.3% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in virgin oak/ 205 bottles/ £90
Longmorn 12 years old / Speyside/ 58.8% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in ex-white Port/ 288 bottles/ £125
Bunnahabhain 14 years old / Islay/ 54.7% ABV/ ex-Oloroso sherry, finished in ex-Sauternes/ 281 bottles/ £140
Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 64.2% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in virgin oak/ 284 bottles/ £130
Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 63.1% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in ex-white Port/ 279 bottles/ £130.

The Islay distillery of Ardbeg has announced the rebirth of a classic - the Ardbeg 17 years old. The returning whisky will be limited edition and exclusive to Ardbeg Committee members. The original Ardbeg 17 years old was released in 1997 shortly after the distillery reopened, but was retired in 2004. Now 20 years later, a complete replica is back.

The whisky has been created by Gillian Macdonald, Ardbeg's Master Blender, and matured in ex-bourbon barrels. It is bottled at 40% ABV, just as the original was. Ardbeg 17 years old 2024 Edition will be available to Ardbeg Committee members only via www.ardbeg.com, the distillery visitor centre shop and in Ardbeg Embassies worldwide. A bottle will cost £160.

The Speyside distillery of Tamdhu has announced a new rare whisky collection and the first bottling in that collection. The Tamdhu Dedication Collection kicks off with the release of Tamdhu 43 years old. The whisky is a combination of three ex-Oloroso sherry casks that were distilled and filled in 1978 and 1979. It is presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter, which is individually numbered, and housed within a hand-built octagonal wooden casket. Tamdhu 43 years old is bottled at 50.8% ABV and there are just 100 bottles available. It will be on sale from late-September via specialist and luxury retailers. A bottle will cost £13,500.

"At Tamdhu, our whisky is the ultimate artistic expression. So to launch this landmark collection we did not want to get side-tracked by gimmicks. Or look away from our whisky. Because it is there, in the spirit itself, where you see our craft, passion and dedication."
Sandy McIntyre | Distillery Manager at Tamdhu.

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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | August 30, 2024

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

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The island distillery of Jura has announced a new series of single malts designed to excite whisky connoisseurs and explorers alike, and the first whisky in that series. The Jura Perspective No.1 is the inaugural bottling in the Perspectives series. Each expression in the range will be limited edition bottled at 46.5% ABV and be of natural colour and non-chill filtered. Each bottle also carries a unique geometric gold and black design, meaning that no two bottles are the same.

The Jura Perspective No.1 is released at 16 years old and has seen initial maturation in ex-bourbon barrels, before a finishing period in ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It has been created to show off the fruity style of spirit that comes from Jura's tall stills. The new whisky will be available in selected retailers in France and the UK, as well as other selected European markets. A bottle will cost £70/ €80.

The Islay distillery of Bowmore, the oldest on the famous Hebridean whisky island, have unvieled two new ranges - the Bowmore Sherry Oak Collection and Bowmore Appellations. Both ranges are the first to feature a newly redesigned bottle, label and packaging - this has been created to 'elevate and premiumise the brand' and 'reflect Bowmore's desirability and collectability in the Scotch single malt market'. This uses black as the feature colour, paying homage to the legendary Bowmore Black bottling, and will be rolled out across the core domestic and travel retail ranges in 2025.

The Bowmore Sherry Oak Collection (pictured, above) features four whiskies. All are bottled at 43% ABV and have been solely matured in European oak ex-sherry casks. The 12 years old will cost £59/ US$75 and the 15 years old, which has been matured in first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks will cost £115/ US$150. The 18- and 21-year olds both feature ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and will retail for £198/ US$260 and £405/ US$535 respectively. They will be available in specialist and luxury retailers in selected cities from September - these include London, Munich, Paris and Toronto.

The Bowmore Appellations (pictured, above) is a travel retail exclusive range that highlights casks from some of the world's best wine regions. The 14 years old is matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in ex-Bordeaux red wine barriques. It will cost £50/ US$67. The 16 years old has matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before finishing in ex-Port casks from the Douro Valley. It will cost £82/ US$108.

The 19 years old has matured in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in ex-Pinot Noir casks from Burgundy. It will cost £150/US$200. The 22 years old has matured in ex-bourbon casks before finishing in ex-Sauternes dessert wine casks from France. It will cost £380/ US$500. All will be available in key airports including London Heathrow and Singapore Changi from September. No indications of alcohol strength have been revealed.

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