Bespoke Whisky, Bespoke Tweed

Collaborations between whisky makers and design houses are becoming more common, and this week, we’ll look at a partnership where each side brought their own… Read More

Collaborations between whisky makers and design houses are becoming more common, and this week, we’ll look at a partnership where each side brought their own unique skills to form a successful collaboration. The Grant family’s House of Hazelwood has teamed up with London’s Huntsman Savile Row to create a 50-year-old Huntsman whisky, along with a unique House of Hazelwood tweed for Huntsman’s bespoke suits. We’ll talk with Huntsman creative director Campbell Carey and Jonathan Gibson of the House of Hazelwood on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, strikes against Chivas Brothers have been called off after the company proposed new contract terms, and we have more award winners announced this week. 

Episode 1034: December 10, 2023

Links: House of Hazelwood | Huntsman Savile Row | Chivas Brothers | Unite | GMB Scotland | Angus Dundee Distillers | Brown-Forman | Scotch Malt Whisky Society | Whisky Advocate | Icons of Whisky Scotland | CaskShare | Preservation Distillery | Puncher’s Chance Bourbon | Sagamore Spirit | Milam & Greene | Wilderness Trail Distillery | Berry Bros. & Rudd | Glenglassaugh | The Macallan | Maverick Whiskey

CaskShare Unveils Exclusive Bottleling of Ultra Rare Macallan

A limited run of 190 bottles of the rare malt Scottish whisky will go on sale globally via ballot for $4,250 under its Collective Series label.  Members will have priority access to the bottles, which will be bottled in January 2024 and promptly dispatched to eager consumers in March 2024.

CaskShare Unveils Exclusive Bottleling of Ultra Rare Macallan

Caskshare, a leading Scottish-based whisky business dedicated to bringing the world of unique bottles and one-of-a-kind products within reach of rare malt enthusiasts, is thrilled to announce the launch of a highly anticipated ballot of a truly exceptional offering: a very rare Macallan distilled in 1991. As meticulous curators, discerning bottlers, and exclusive sellers of the most extraordinary and rare whiskies, Caskshare is expanding its horizons in the US market offering an unprecedented opportunity to savor this exceptional Scotch.

A limited run of 190 bottles of the rare malt Scottish whisky will go on sale globally via ballot for $4,250 under its Collective Series label.  Members will have priority access to the bottles, which will be bottled in January 2024 and promptly dispatched to eager consumers in March 2024. Members enjoy priority access, and the remaining bottles will be selectively distributed/sold randomly.This exceptional whisky distilled at Macallan Distillery will be bottled at 32YOhaving undergone a unique aging process starting in a first-fill ex-bourbon cask and culminating in a PX Sherry cask finish, boasts an astonishingly high single-cask ABV of 49%.

The ballot will open globally on Thursday, December 7th, and close midday on Thursday, December 14th.

This announcement follows the remarkable sale of aMacallan 1926 bottle sold for $2.7 million on November 18th. The release featuring the art of Italian artist Valerio Adami made a new record for any bottle of spirit or wine sold at auction.

John Robertson, Managing Director of Caskshare, remarked, "We are honored to be able to bring you this very rare whisky from one of Scotland's best-known distilleries. We are passionate about sourcing the best whisky Scotland has to offer and this whisky distilled at The Macallan Distillery is no different. It's a rare and momentous occasion when a cask of such unparalleled rarity emerges. We’ve coupled this whisky with an exceptional piece of art and anticipate that it will be eagerly sought after by both discerning connoisseurs and fervent collectors alike."

The Collective Series has been curated to encompass a spectrum, from reasonably priced to opulent single-cask whiskies. Each bottle carries its own unique identity, and the artistic labels embody a profound connection to the product's story, provenance, and craftsmanship.

“The artistry on our bottles is a deliberate choice – just as we curate distinctive whiskies, we also curate collaborations with artists for the bottle design,” says John Robertson, Managing Director of Caskshare.  “For this release, we teamed up with acclaimed American artist Tristan Eaton for the exclusive bottle design. Drawing inspiration from two of Eaton's evocative murals paying homage to Alexander Graham Bell –the Scottish-born inventor of the telephone and of the American Telecoms Company– we felt that this was the perfect partner to beautifully showcase the intricate interplay between Scottish innovation and American artistic ingenuity as we launch the Collective Series here in the US.

When Caskshare launched several years ago, it leaned into its single glass-to-cask concept but quickly realized they wanted to put a spin on these bottlings and created what they call their Collective Series.  Through this Collective Series, Caskshare's vision is to have all of its special single casks become part of an ongoing series of collective bottlings, featuring special rarities and super high-end gems.  Up until now, collectors and enthusiasts would order from the UK site and when the bottles were ready, would receive their special purchases.  This applied to everyone, from the UK, the US and beyond.  But since the US market has a large majority of high-end whisky buyers & collectors, the company launched its US site to provide greater access to unique bottles Caskshare endorsed and curated, all with the vision of eventually offering its own acquired single caskswith shipping directly from the US. --giving customers access to whisky you can't buy anywhere else with local shipping and duty rates.

This new limited-run release is the first to be available to consumers in US dollars and is the first step in bringing in the rest of the collection series to Caskshare US, finally fully launching the concept here in the US.  Within the next few months, the Collective Series bottles which have been available via Caskshare.com will now be available to be shipped locally with no international shipping costs.

Founded in 2019, Caskshare is a pioneering whisky business dedicated to making the world of unique, one-of-a-kind whiskies accessible to all, bridging the gap between whisky aficionados and exceptional single malt experiences. With an extensive network of connoisseurs, Caskshare brings forth the most extraordinary offerings, connecting passionate whisky enthusiasts with limited-edition treasures.

To enter the ballot, visit: www.caskshare.com/macallan-32

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (March 24, 2023)

Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky an…



Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. It was created 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 the round-up of the news from this week. 
 
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Ardbeg
The Islay distillery of Ardbeg have announced their latest limited edition - Ardbeg BizarreBQ. The barbeque-inspired whisky is a first for the distillery and has seen Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Ardbeg, collaborate with expert griller DJ BBQ (AKA Christian Stevenson). The whisky has been created using ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, plus double charred American oak barrels and extra-charred 'barbeque' casks. The limited edition is bottled at 50.9% ABV and will initially be available from the visitor centre shop on Islay and in Germany from April 3. Other global markets, including the UK, will see stock from June onwards. A bottle will cost £75.
 
"Ardbeg BizarreBQ is certainly a hare-brained idea, but with DJ BBQ’s help I was able to cook up something truly incredible. Puffs of charcoal and soot mingle with smoky wood and the undeniable smell of bonfire and BBQ embers linger in the background."
Dr. Bill Lumsden.


 
Caskshare
 

The whisky company of Caskshare has released four special bottlings that has seen them collaborate with artists from around the world. The Caskshare Collective Series feature specially commissioned artworks from three artists on the labels.
 
Collective Series 310031 'Bothy' (pictured, above right) is a 14 years old single malt from the Dailuaine distillery in Speyside. It has been matured in a single ex-bourbon cask which has yielded just 215 bottles. The artwork has been created by Evie Grace, a Scottish freelance artist and designer whi drew inspiration from drinking whisky while staying in a Scottish bothy. A bottle costs £85.

Collective Series 4033 (pictured, above second right) and 4067 (pictured, above left) both feature artwork by Somerset-based artist and screen printer Pheobe Phillips. Both whiskies are from Agitator in Sweden - 4033 is a peated single malt matured in casks made from chestnut with 180 bottles, while 4067 is a four grain whisky matured in ex-white Port casks with 310 bottles. Both are £75.

Collective Series 72013 (pictured, above second left) is exclusive to Caskshare Collective members only. It is a nine years old blended malt and features artwork from Martha Duncan, a former student at the Glasgow School of Art. She often depicts Scottish motifs in her illustrations. All bottlings are available from www.caskshare.com.

 

Cotswolds
The English distillery of Cotswolds has announced the fourth edition in their limited edition Hearts & Crafts series - the Cotswolds Hearts & Crafts Banyuls Cask. The new whisky has experienced a full maturation in a small batch of French oak casks that were previously filled with Banyuls, a sweet dessert wine from the south west of France. It is bottled at 55.1% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. There are just 1,510 bottles and these will be available exclusively from www.cotswoldsdistillery.com. A bottle will cost £95.

 
Glenallachie
 

The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie has added three new limited edition expressions to its Virgin Oak Series - the Glenallachie 7 years old Hungarian Virgin Oak Finish, 8 years old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish and 10 years old Spanish Virgin Oak Finish. Each new whisky was initially matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels before undergoing an 18 month finishing period in the different oak varieties.

The Glenallachie 7 years old Hungarian Virgin Oak Finish features casks constructed of Quercus Petraea sourced from the Zemplén forest in north eastern Hungary. Glenallachie are one of the first Scottish distilleries to use virgin Hungarian oak. The 8 years old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish has seen secondary maturation in rare Sessile Oak sourced from the west coast of Scotland.

The 10 years old Spanish Virgin Oak has been matured in casks made of Quercus Robur sourced from the Cantabrian mountains in northern Spain. All three single malts are bottled at 48% ABV and are non chill-filtered and of natural colour. They will be available in limited quantities through specialist retailers worldwide. The Glenallachie 7 years old Hungarian Virgin Oak Finish will cost £63, the 8 years old Scottish Virgin Oak Finish £66 and the 10 years old Spanish Virgin Oak Finish £70.
 
"Virgin oak of varying provenance presents endless possibilities to me as a whisky maker. Exploring a variety of oak types, toasting and charring the casks to particular levels, and then closely observing the spirit development over time has been a truly joyful experience."
Billy Walker / Master Distiller at Glenallachie.

 

Rock Island

Douglas Laing & Co, the family-owned independent blender and bottler, have announced a new limited edition expression of their Rock Island blended malt - the Rock Island 14 years old Sherry Edition. As with all expressions of Rock Island, the whisky is created using single malts from Scottish islands. These include Arran, Islay, Jura and Orkney. All have been aged for a minimum of 14 years and predominantly in ex-sherry casks. 
 
The Rock Island 14 years old Sherry Edition is bottled at 46.8% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It is presented in a blue foiled tube and will be available via specialist retailers in Asia, Australia, Europe and North America. A bottle will cost £65/ $US80.
 
 

White Peak
The English distillery of White Peak has announced its first permanent whisky following a successful year-long series of small batch and single cask bottlings. Wire Works Caduro, named after a brand of cable made at the Johnson & Nephew factory that is now home to the distillery, has been matured in American and French oak casks. These are first-fill ex-bourbon and ex-red wine STRs (shaved, toasted and recharred), which were filled with White Peak's lightly peated single malt. 
 
Wire Works Caduro is bottled at 46.8% ABV and will initially be available selected specialist retailers in the UK. It will also be available from the distillery with the option to refill the bottle at a 15% discounted price. A new bottle will cost £60, while a refill will cost £51.


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Caskshare – The New Range

I was delighted to receive an invite from Steph Middleton to taste the new range of bottlings in their offices in Edinburgh. Their office also has an impressive bar and seating...
thanks for reading Whisky Boys Whisky Blog

I was delighted to receive an invite from Steph Middleton to taste the new range of bottlings in their offices in Edinburgh. Their office also has an impressive bar and seating...

thanks for reading Whisky Boys Whisky Blog