Glenturret Reveals 18-Year-Old For Hotel

The Glenturret Distillery released a limited edition 18-year-old single malt to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the The Gleneagles hotel, which is located a few miles away from the Glenturret Distillery. The Glenturret Gleneagles Centenary was bottled at 46.5% alcohol by volume [93 proof] and is said to offer notes of cinnamon, ginger and vanilla. […]

The post Glenturret Reveals 18-Year-Old For Hotel first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

The Glenturret Distillery released a limited edition 18-year-old single malt to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the The Gleneagles hotel, which is located a few miles away from the Glenturret Distillery.

The Glenturret Gleneagles Centenary was bottled at 46.5% alcohol by volume [93 proof] and is said to offer notes of cinnamon, ginger and vanilla.

Only 600 hand-numbered bottles of The Glenturret Gleneagles Centenary are being made available for $455 per 700ml bottle – though each purchase includes a complimentary tour of The Glenturret Distillery [Scotland’s oldest distillery, established in 1763].

However, a caveat – only a portion of the 600 bottles will be sold to the public, while the rest will be released exclusively to hotel residents.

The post Glenturret Reveals 18-Year-Old For Hotel first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | July 19, 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. 
 
________
 
 

The House of Hazelwood has revealed its third collection of aged and rare whiskies, which have been curated using whiskies selected from one of the greatest inventories of Scotch in existence. This is owned by the Gordon family and the collection is designed to showcase their adventurous spirit. 
 
The House of Hazelwood - The 2024 Collection consists of eight blended malt and grain whiskies, which cover a wide range of flavour profiles. These are split into two sub-collections - The Charles Gordon Collection and The Legacy Collection. Details are below. The bottles can be purchased via the House of Hazelwood website and selected whisky retailers in selected markets - these include France, Germany, Italy, Taiwan, the UK and the USA.

The Charles Gordon Collection
  • A Minute to Midnight/ 45 years old blend/ 58.6% ABV/ 154 bottles/ £4,000
  • The Garden at Hazelwood/ 47 years old blended malt/ 45.8% ABV/ 137 bottles/ £4,500
  • The Old Ways/ 1972 vintage single grain/ 50.1% ABV/ 123 bottles/ £3,500
  • The Last Trace/ 58 years old blended malt/ 43.1% ABV/ 65 bottles/ £6,000
 
The Legacy Collection
  • The Hazelwood Highlander/ 33 years old blend/ 45.8% ABV/ 203 bottles/ £1,200
  • The Transatlantic/ 33 years old blended grain/ 57.3% ABV/ 291 bottles/ £1,300
  • The Silk Traveller/ 44 years old single grain/ 47.6% ABV/ 212 bottles/ £1,500
  • Queen of the Hebrides/ 36 years old Islay blended malt/ 43.4% ABV/ 274 bottles/ £2,000
 
 
 

The Highland distillery of Glenturret has announced the release of its 2024 bottlings of single malts. The Glenturret 2024 Collection consists of eight whiskies, which have been created by Bob Dalgano - the Master Whisky Maker for Glenturret. This includes four core range products - the Glenturret Triple Wood (£62), 7 years old Peat Smoked (£67), 10 years old Peat Smoked (£67) and 12 years old (£70). These form the foundation of the collection.

They are joined by four limited editions. These include the Glenturret 14 years old Peat Smoked (£150), which is a distillery exclusive bottling matured in European oak ex-sherry casks, and the 15 years old (£165), which is restricted to 6,000 bottles. There are also two extremely scarce older age statements - the 25 years old (£1,400) plus the 30 years old (£2,100). These have just 210 and 300 bottles available respectively. All are available via www.theglenturret.com and selected specialist whisky retailers worldwide. 

 


The Speyside distillery of Aultmore has unveiled a new travel retail range of single malts named as Aultmore: The Cask Finish Collection. The set consists of four whiskies - 12-, 18-, 21- and 25-years old - all of which have undergone initial maturation periods in American oak re-fill ex-bourbon hogsheads and barrels. Each has then been finished in a different style of cask to add an alternative flavour profile. They have been created by Stephanie Macleod, the award-winning Malt Master for Aultmore.

The 12 years old has been finished in second-fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks and will cost £45/ US$58. The 18 years old has seen a secondary maturation in second-fill ex-Madeira wine barrels and will cost £132/ US$180. The 21 years old features a finish in second-fill ex-Calvados brandy casks and will cost £195/ US$250. The 25 years old has been finished in first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks and will cost £390/ US$500. All are bottled at 46% ABV and are of natural colour and non-chill filtered.
 


The new whiskies also feature fully recyclable secondary packaging and a tin bottle seal, which makes them entirely plastic free. The decision has also been made to release these whiskies in 50cl bottles, rather than the traditional 70cl. They are available now in airports within Africa, India, the Middle East and the UK. Asia, Australia and the Pacific region will follow later in the year.



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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | February 23, 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 this week's whisky news ... 

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Benriach
 

The Speyside distillery of Benriach has announced the launch of a new rare bottling that will be exclusive to the travel retail market - the Benriach Triple Distilled 25 years old. The whisky uses some of the innovative distillery's initial triple distilled spirit, which was first produced for short periods each year in the late 1990s. This spirit has been matured in three cask types - ex-bourbon, ex-Oloroso sherry and virgin oak. 
 
The new whisky has been created by Dr. Rachel Barrie, the Master Blender for Benriach. The Benriach Triple Distilled 25 years old is bottled at 47% ABV and will be available in selected travel retail outlets worldwide. There are just 5,400 bottles available. Each will cost £300/ $US380.
 


Glenturret
The Highland distillery of Glenturret has revealed a new premium limited edition single malt to celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Jaguar C-Type, one of the most influential motor cars of the 1950s. The collaboration sees whisky with a minimum age of 32 years drawn from just five casks. These were hand-selected by Bob Dalgarno, the Master Whisky Maker for Glenturret. Four were European oak ex-Oloroso sherry hogsheads and one was an American oak ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry hogshead cask. There are just 220 bottles available, a number which reflects the horsepower of the Jaguar C-Type. 
 
The Glenturret x Jaguar C-Type 70th Anniversary Edition is released at the natural strength of 42.3% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available exclusively from the Glenturret website. A bottle will cost £2,200.


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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News (November 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 whisk…



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 this week's whisky news ...
 
________
 
 
Berry Brothers & Rudd
 

The esteemed London wine and spirits merchant of Berry Brothers & Rudd have announced a special limited edition Scotch single malt to help commemorate the company's 325th anniversary. The single ex-bourbon barrel has been hand-selected by Lizzy Rudd, the Chairperson of BB&R. This cask has yielded just 232 bottles. 
 
The spirit was distilled at the iconic Laphroaig distillery on Islay and filled to cask in 1999. The Berry Brothers & Rudd 325th Anniversary Laphroaig 1999 will only be available at BB&R's London store or via www.bbr.com. A bottle will cost £800.
 
"We started bottling casks under our own label in the early 19th century, so to celebrate our 325th anniversary we wanted to offer something truly exceptional. This exclusive bottling from Laphroaig is a testament to our long-standing commitment to curating the finest spirits."
Lizzy Rudd.

 
Glenturret
 

The Highland distillery of Glenturret has launched the third and final bottling in its Manager's Dram series. The Glenturret Manager's Dram Release No.3 has been crafted by Ian Renwick, the Distillery Manager, and is a marriage of peated and unpeated Glenturret single malts. These have been aged in both European and American oak ex-sherry casks, and American oak ex-bourbon barrels. 
 
The new whisky is bottled at 47% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It follows on from the Manager's Dram Release No.1 from 2021 and Release No.2 from 2022. The Glenturret Manager's Dram Release No.3 will retail for £175 and is exclusive to the visitor centre shop at the distillery.


Laphroaig
 

The famous Islay distillery of Laphroaig has launched a new limited edition rare single malt that will be the inaugural bottling in a new series. Laphroaig - The Archive Collection 36 year old has been matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks before being transferred to second-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogsheads. The Archive Collection will showcase and commemorate some of the skills of the distillery's whisky makers.

This first release in the series was distilled and filled to cask in 1985 and has then matured for over three and a half decades. It represents one of the oldest Laphroaig single malts to be released by the distillery in over 20 years. Laphroaig - The Archive Collection 36 year old is limited to just 400 bottles and these will be available in specialist and luxury retailers worldwide. Each bottle will cost £3,750/ $US4,750. The next bottling is expected in 2024.
 
"The Archive Collection is the pinnacle of our range and showcases our passion and craftsmanship in every bottle we produce. This exceptional spirit balances the depth of character and the unique flavours that can only be found in the rarest of Laphroaig whiskies."
Barry MacAffer | Distillery Manager at Laphroaig.


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Review / Glenturret 35 years old

The Highland distillery of Glenturret, which is the oldest currently in operation in Scotland, has revealed the line-up of its core range for 2023. Several of the releases have appeared in previous years but each has a different recipe. The Glenturret …


The Highland distillery of Glenturret, which is the oldest currently in operation in Scotland, has revealed the line-up of its core range for 2023. Several of the releases have appeared in previous years but each has a different recipe. The Glenturret 2023 Edition also features this Glenturret 35 years old for the first time, which is the oldest to appear in the range since the new format changed in 2020. There are eight whiskies in total - the Glenturret Triple Wood, 7 years old Peat Smoked, 10 years old Peat Smoked, 12 years old, 15 years old, 25 years old and 30 years old. 

Glenturret is located in the Perthshire town of Crieff and was founded by a group of illicit whisky producers in 1775. It was originally a small farm operation called Hosh Distillery and was finally legalised in 1837 when John Drummond took over. The name was only changed to Glenturret in 1875 on the 100th anniversary. 

Glenturret is one of the smaller distilleries in Scotland with an annual production capacity of only 150,000 litres. It is also one of the most traditional with most work completed by hand. The current owners are Lalique, the famous jewellery and crystal producer, who took over in 2018.

The Glenturret 35 years old is created from just a single European oak ex-Oloroso butt that was distilled and filled in 1988, which has yielded just 185 bottles. It is released at 42.8% ABV and was hand selected by Bob Dalgarno, the Master Blender for Glenturret. It is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It will be available in luxury and whisky retailers in selected markets globally. A bottle will cost £5,000.

Our tasting notes

The colour is deep mahogany amber and the nose is rich, savoury and expressive. Aromas of lush tropical fruits - think of pineapple, apricot and peach especially - combine with delicious warming wood spices (imagine cinnamon, cedarwood and sandalwood). Also present are aromas of raisin and crystalised ginger, along with hints of vanilla and menthol.

On the palate this whisky is initially superbly sweet before becoming more savoury. Notes of caramel and golden syrup dominate early on and are supported well by the lush ripe tropical fruits from the nose. Mango is more evident now and sits alongside the pineapple, peach and apricot. Then comes a note of baked custard tart and soft green apple.

Then come a lovely set of savoury notes. Elegant and warming baking spices, such as cinnamon and gingerbread, mingle with antique notes of old furniture and dusty cigar box. These are notes that only come with advanced age and cannot be recreated otherwise. The combination with the sweeter and fruitier notes is sublime.

The finish is long and lingering with the tropical characteristics lingering well. Once these begin to fade along with the other sweeter elements then the old oak and warming spices take hold. They drag the finish out even further with an exquisite complexity.

What's the verdict?

The Glenturret 35 years old is a fantastic whisky and one that shows just how good old whisky can be with sympathetic cask management. Of course it is expensive, but then all whisky of 25+ years is these days. It may not be a 'whisky for everyone' but it will definitely be a 'whisky for someone'. The rarity of this whisky made it a real treat to sample and if you get the opportunity, then you should do the same. Fabulous stuff.


Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (July 14, 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 whisk…



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. 
 
________
 
Bruichladdich 
 

The Islay distillery of Bruichladdich, which was the first Scotch whisky distillery in Scotland to receive a B-Corp accreditation in 2020, has revealed a major overhaul of its packaging. This begins with a new bottle for its signature The Classic Ten single malt. The concept behind the new design is to significantly reduce the brand’s carbon footprint and be eco-friendlier and more sustainable. 
 
The new bottle now contains at least 60% recycled glass and is 32% lighter than the previous incarnation. The bottle will no longer be presented in a secondary metal tin to further reduce environmental impact. In combination, these moves will reduce the packaging’s CO2 emissions by 65%. The packaging also features organic ink and a stopper made from polypropylene; a synthetic resin made from bio-based sources. 
 
The Classic Ten new bottle is available now via www.bruichladdich.com and will be rolled out globally over the coming months. It will cost £45.
 
 

Glenallachie 
The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie has announced the third bottling of its limited edition 30 years old expression – the oldest Glenallachie release to date. The Glenallachie 30 years old Cask Strength Batch 3 has been created by owner and Master Distiller, Billy Walker. The new whisky features single malts dating back to the early 1990s and these have been matured in a marriage of ex-Pedro Ximénez and ex-Oloroso sherry hogsheads, plus several virgin American oak casks. 
 
These have yielded just 2,400 bottles, which are released at the natural cask strength of 48.9% ABV. It is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The Glenallachie 30 years old Cask Strength Batch 3 will be available in specialist whisky retailers in selected world markets. A bottle will cost £670. 
 
 
Glenturret 
 

The Highland distillery of Glenturret, which is the oldest currently in operation in Scotland, has revealed the line-up of its core range for 2023. Several of the releases have appeared in previous years but each has a different recipe. The Glenturret 2023 Edition also features the Glenturret 35 years old for the first time. There are eight whiskies in the range. 
 
The Glenturret Triple Wood has been created using American oak ex-bourbon barrels, plus American oak and European oak ex-sherry casks. It is bottled at 43% ABV. The Glenturret 7 years old Peat Smoked is a marriage of classic unpeated Glenturret spirit and their heavily peated spirit. It is bottled at 46% ABV. The Glenturret 10 years old Peat Smoked is bottled at the higher strength of 48.4% ABV. 
 
The Glenturret 12 years old uses both American and European oak ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximénez sherry casks and is bottled at 46.4% ABV. The Glenturret 15 years old is made from several different cask types ranging from quarter cask size up to puncheon. This includes one ex-Amontillado sherry cask. It is bottled at 50.8% ABV. 
 
Kicking off The Extremely Scarce Collection is the Glenturret 25 years old features just six casks – a mix of American and European oak – and is bottled at 42.6% ABV. There are just 210 bottles. The Glenturret 30 years is made from just five casks, and these include ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and ex-Port. There are just 500 bottles, which are released at 42.7% ABV. 
 
The Glenturret 35 years old is created from just a single European oak ex-Oloroso butt, which has yielded just 185 bottles. It is released at 42.8% ABV. Each whisky has been created by Bob Dalgarno, the Master Blender for Glenturret. All are non-chill filtered, except the Triple Wood, and all are of natural colour. The prices were not revealed in the press release. All will be available in selected markets globally.
 
 
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Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (January 6, 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. 
 
This is the first Inbox of 2023. We hope that everyone had a wonderful festive period and a happy New Year. We hope that 2023 delivers everything that you want. Anyway, here is the round-up of the news since the last Inbox in December.
 
________
 
 
Berry Brothers & Rudd
 

The famous London wine and spirit merchant of Berry Brothers & Rudd has announced the line-up of its latest seasonal collection of whiskies. The 2022 Winter Release consists of eight whiskies - 6 Scotch, one French and one Japanese (all pictured, above) - plus a Fijian rum.

The six Scotch single malts include the small batch Blair Athol 2012, which will retail for £60 per bottle, plus five single cask offerings - Dailuaine 2009 (£75), Linkwood 2011 Oloroso Finish (£95), Williamson 2013 Moscatel Barrel (£96), Blair Athol 2008 Tokaji Gonchi Finish (£105) and Glen Garioch 1988 (£450).
 
The French whisky is from the Kornog distillery and was distilled in 2006. It will cost £160 per bottle. Japanese whisky is a rare Chichibu 2014 single cask, which has yielded just 213 bottles. Each will cost £475. In addition the Fiji Rum 2010 will retail for £120. All will be available from Berry Bros. & Rudd store in London and www.bbr.com, plus selected whisky retailers in the UK.

 
Glenturret 
 

The Highland distillery of Glenturret, Scotland's oldest that remains in operation, has announced the second bottling in its prestigious The Glenturret by Lalique series. The series is a super premium limited edition single malt collection in collaboration with legendary French crystal manufacturers Lalique, who own the distillery.

The Glenturret Prowess has been crafted by Bob Dalgarno, the Master Blender for Glenturret, from just two casks - one filled in 1987 and one filled in 1988. These were married and bottled in December 2022 at 33 years of age. It is released at 43.9% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. There are just 320 bottles and each is housed in a bespoke crystal decanter designed by Marc Larminaux, the Artistic & Creative Director at Lalique.

Each decanter of the Glenturret Prowess will cost £11,800/ US$14,000. All enquires can be made via the special page of the Glenturret website - for more information, please click here.


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The Glenturret – more than just a distillery

We’re currently running a competition to win a fantastic trip to visit Glenturret, so I decided to head up to Scotland to see what all the fuss was about, and make sure that the prize…

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – The Glenturret – more than just a distillery

We’re currently running a competition to win a fantastic trip to visit Glenturret, so I decided to head up to Scotland to see what all the fuss was about, and make sure that the prize is as excellent as it seemed.

In short: it is.

Glenturret has two quite different sides. At its heart, it’s one of the oldest operating distilleries in Scotland, with new research suggesting that it might even be the oldest. It’s very traditional in its whisky making and until recently, not a lot had changed since the late 1950s. However, there is another side – its visitors centre.

Glenturret Towser

Outside the visitor is a statue of Towser, Glenturret’s famed mouser, who passed away in 1987 after almost 24 years of guarding the distillery

Originally founded as a home for Famous Grouse back in 2002, the Glenturret visitors centre – and the distillery as a whole – has recently seen many changes. In 2018, a group of investors bought the distillery and the past few years have seen it reinvent itself, but not too much.

In the beginning was…Hosh

Scotland and whisky were very different back in the 1770s. Illicit distilleries filled the glens and exciseman roamed, on the lookout for unlicensed stills. Until recently, the history books said that a distillery called Hosh was founded on the site of modern-day Glenturret in 1775, a place where there may well have been illegal stills for as much as 60 years previously. Hosh then bought the name Glenturret off a nearby, now-long-closed distillery in 1874, and the distillery we know today was officially christened.

However, documents unearthed by the new distillery owners suggest that there is evidence of an even older distillery on site before Hosh – Thurot – running at least as far back as 1763. It was then sold in 1814 before taking on the name Hosh, and then became Glenturret in 1874, as previously reckoned.

Whatever the case, they’ve been making whisky on the site, at the edge of the town of Crieff, for a very long time.

Traditionally made

Glenturret Tun Room

The Tun room, complete with traditional wooden vessels

When writer Alfred Barnard visited in 1887 as part of his completist circuit of all of the distilleries of Great Britain and Ireland (with an account appropriately published as The Distilleries of Great Britain and Ireland), he specifically commented on how traditional Glenturret distillery was:

“Here are no new fads, appliances, or patents, but, like the buildings, the vessels are all of the ancient pattern.”

While the distillery was stripped of equipment in the 1920s, it was rebuilt in the 1950s to ‘the ancient pattern’, and nothing much had changed since.

However, the new owners asked the distillery team to look at what they’d like to upgrade, and with a few tweaks, a new mash tun and a bit of rescheduling, they’re more sustainable and making more spirit.

After preparation in the obligatory Porteus mill, grain is mixed with water in the distillery’s new mash tun. A bit larger, more energy efficient, more easy to clean and much easier to control, it is the biggest upgrade the distillery has seen in more than 50 years.

Glenturret New Mash Tun

The new mash tun – pretty much the only thing to change at the distillery in years.

From there, it’s business as usual: there are wooden washbacks, where yeast is mixed with the wort and left to ferment and create alcohol, and a pair of copper stills, all in a row of buildings that would be very familiar to stillmen past.

Dinner for one (michelin Star)

While the distillery hasn’t changed, the visitors centre has. Modifications had to be done with great care as for years, thanks to the Famous Grouse Experience, it was one of the the most popular distilleries to visit in Scotland. Rather than overhaul the general visitors experience the new owners decided to add something – a restaurant: The Glenturret Lalique.

Adding a restaurant – even one with the Lalique name attached – might not seem that impressive, but when you see that it was awarded a Michelin Star after only seven months of operating, and then look at the menu, you realise this is not your run of the mill purveyor of a post-tour soup-and-a-sandwich.

Glenturret Main Course

An incredible lamb dish from the lunch menu – it looked simple but was packed with little elements of flavour and texture that complemented the lamb. Vegetarian options are available.

Head Chef Mark Donald previously worked at The Balmoral in Edinburgh, but was tempted into the The Glenturret team during the pandemic and given free reign to create a new gastronomic destination in the southern Highlands. He built a team of talented chefs and has worked with the distillery to bring elements of whisky making into the menu. From using Glenturret malt in the house bread to using the temperatures of various stages in the whisky-making process while cooking, the restaurant sits at the heart of the distillery in more ways than just location.

The new boss(es)

This refurbishment and reinvention is very much thanks to the new owners: Hanjörg Wyss (businessman, philanthropist and football fan) and Silvio Denz (owner of famed glassware maker Lalique and big fan of fine dining).

Denz has been heavily involved in the development of the restaurant. Lalique created the interior and provide the glassware, and Denz brought his extensive experience of working with fine dining restaurants around the world. Further awards are already on the cards, and from my brief experience of its delights, they are well deserved.

A game of two halves

While Lalique and luxury go hand in hand, Glenturret carefully balances the rarified world of Michelin-starred dining and a working distillery with one of Scotland’s most popular visitors centres. Step away from the shiny glassware and excellent food, and you are back into the world of whisky making, with tours showing you around the small, but perfectly formed site.

Whether you feel like splashing out on one of Scotland’s best restaurants, or want to get your nose in a washback, you can find both at Glenturret.

Our Glenturret competition closes on 30 September 2022 at 23.59pm. The full prize not only includes lunch at The Glenturret Lalique and a VIP tour of the distillery, but also a night at the incredible Gleneagles Hotel. To enter, all you need to do is buy a bottle of The Glenturret whisky – full details and links to eligible bottles are over on our Glenturret competition page.

Originally published on The Whisky Exchange Blog – The Glenturret – more than just a distillery

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (September 16, 2022)

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 last week. 
 
________
 
 
Berry Brothers & Rudd
 

The legendary London-based wine and spirits retailer of Berry Brothers & Rudd have announced the second round of bottlings in their Nordic Cask range. The five bottlings feature whiskies from Denmark, Finland and Sweden, plus a multi-country blend. The individual single casks were selected by Jonny McMillan, the Reserve Whisky Manager at the company. The series is designed to showcase the quality and innovation coming from the region's distilleries. Details of the five bottlings are below. 
 
  • 2012 Single Cask / Swedish Single Malt from Smӧgen / 59.6% ABV.
  • 2013 Single Cask / Finnish Single Malt from Teerenpeli / 59.9% ABV.
  • 2017 Single Cask / Danish Rye Whisky from Stauning /58.9% ABV.
  • 2019 Single Cask / Danish Single Malt from Thy / 57.6% ABV.
  • Vindӧga Blended Nordic Malt Whisky / 59.7% ABV.
 
The Vindӧga Blended Nordic Malt Whisky, which has been matured in ex-Sherry casks, is a blend of whiskies from the distilleries of Fary Lochan (Denmark), Teerenpeli (Finland), Smögen (Sweden), High Coast (Sweden), Mosgaard (Denmark), and Myken (Norway). Prices and quantities of each bottling were not revealed in the press release.

 
Glenturret
 

Scotland's oldest working distillery, Glenturret in Perthshire, has launched its oldest ever single malt - the Glenturret 50 years old. The whisky has been drawn from a single re-fill ex-Sherry cask, which was distilled and filled in 1972. The cask has yielded just 150 bottles. The Glenturret 50 years old is presented in a bespoke black crystal decanter designed by luxury French manufacturers Lalique. The whisky is released at 40% ABV and will only be available via the distillery shop and website. Each bottle will cost £40,000. 
 
"We are so excited to be releasing a 50 years old expression for the first time ever. But to do it in partnership with the extraordinary creative talents at Lalique is just incredible. The result is a rare and unique collector’s piece that really does justice to the remarkable liquid found inside."
John Laurie / Managing Director at Glenturret.

 

Kings County
 
The New-York based craft distillery of Kings County has announced the launch of a new blended bourbon that will sit within its core range. The Kings County Blended Bourbon is a combination of straight whiskeys whhich have been matured in American oak barrels for two years. By law a blended bourbon must be a minimum of 51% straight bourbon. Kings County have used different whiskeys across their maturing stock to create the new product. The Kings County Blended Bourbon is bottled at 43% ABV and will be available from late September in selected specialist stores in the USA. A bottle will cost $55 US.
 
"Creating a blended bourbon is a way of asking whiskey drinkers to reconsider an overlooked category of spirit. Blended whiskey is most often associated with Scotch or Canadian whiskies. We used the all-but-forgotten category of blended bourbon to create the American version of these reliable and endlessly versatile spirits."
Craig Spoelman / Co-Founder & Distiller at Kings County.


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Review / Glenturret Triple Wood, 7 years old Peat Smoked & 12 years old (2022 Editions)

These three whiskies form part of the 2022 range from the Highland distillery of Glenturret, which is Scotland’s oldest remaining single malt distillery. Six of the whiskies remain the same as in 2021, although all feature new liquids. These have been …



These three whiskies form part of the 2022 range from the Highland distillery of Glenturret, which is Scotland's oldest remaining single malt distillery. Six of the whiskies remain the same as in 2021, although all feature new liquids. These have been created by Bob Dalgarno - the Glenturret's Whisky Maker. It is the third release of the small batch range, which kicked off in 2020. The one new addition is the 7 years old Peat Smoked. 

Glenturret is located in the Perthshire town of Crieff and was founded by a group of illicit whisky producers in 1775. It was originally a small farm operation called Hosh Distillery and was finally legalised in 1837 when John Drummond took over. The name was only changed to Glenturret in 1875 on the 100th anniversary. Glenturret is one of the smaller distilleries in Scotland with an annual production capacity of only 150,000 litres. It is also one of the most traditional with most work still completed by hand. The current owners are Lalique, the famous jewellry and crystal producer, who took over in 2018.

The entry point to the 2022 range is the Glenturret Triple Wood. This sees a combination of three cask types - ex-bourbon, plus American oak and European oak - and is bottled at 45% ABV. The new 7 years old Peat Smoked slots in next and uses peated malt spirit. This has been matured in re-fill and ex-sherry casks, and is bottled at 44% ABV. The 10 years old Peat Smoked has been matured in both first fill and second fill European and American oak casks, and is released at 50% ABV. 

Next is the 12 years old, which has been matured in American oak and European oak hogsheads. It is released at 46% ABV. The 15 years old features a high percentage of European oak barrels and comes in at 53% ABV. The five expressions are joined by two very limited older variants - the 25 and 30 year olds. The 25 years old consists of just 210 bottles and is released at 42.4% ABV. The 30 years old features a combination of ex-Port, ex-Moscatel and ex-sherry casks. There are just 750 bottles relased at 42% ABV. 

All are of natural colour and all, except the Triple Wood and 7 years old Peat Smoked, are non chill-filtered. The Glenturret 2022 range will be available through selected specialist retailers in selected world markets and via www.theglenturret.com.
 

Our tasting notes


Glenturret Triple Wood
45% ABV / £50
 
The colour is deep gold and the nose is fruity, sweet and rich. Aromas of raisin, sultana and candied orange mingle with toffee, caramel and a blob of honey. Baking spices and fresh oak linger underneath.

On the palate this whisky is equally as rich and fruity. The dried fruits lead the way with raisin, currant and juicy plump sultana all evident. There is also a suggestion of dried apple and apricot, fig and orange peel. These fruity notes are baked up with toffee and caramel again, along with a building spiciness. This takes the whisky is a slightly more savoury direction than expected. It is in danger of becoming too woody but a lovely cereal notes just about holds the oak back. There is a tannic dryness and heat that develops towards the finish, which is of decent length. The wood and spice really come through now, especially once the sweet and fruity elements fade.
 


Glenturret 7 years old Peat Smoked
44% ABV / £53
 
The colour is pale gold and the nose is vibrant, lively and expressive. Crisp green apple, vanilla and honey are joined by pungent peat smoke. This has an ashy and mossy feel with aromas of damp earth, wet leaves and bonfire ash. There is also a hint of white chocolate.

On the palate this whisky is fresh and peaty straight away. The damp earthiness and wet, leafy note are evident and are joined by some honey, golden syrup, boiled sweets and vanilla essence. The smokiness becomes more ashy with time and this takes the whisky in a drier direction twards the finish. Further notes of cereal biscuits, white chocolate, icing sugar and lemon zest are also detectable. A pinch of baking spice and clove also come through, as does a late note of gingerbread. The finish is of decent length and it is the peat smoke that punches through everything to draw the finish out. The savoury and peaty notes really come to the fore with a pleasant peppery heat rounding things off.



Glenturret 12 years old
46% ABV / £67

The colour is deep amber and the nose is bold, rich and packed with fruity aromas. Toffee apple and poached pear mix with dried fruits such as raisin, sultana and orange. Depth is added by warm wood spices and earthy baking spice in the background.

On the palate this whisky is rich and luxurious with a velvety and silky mouthfeel. The dried fruits come through first now (think of raisin, sultana and orange again but with a hint of something darker like fig and date) and are joined by a lovely milk chocolate note. Then come cooked green fruit, reminding us of baked apple and poached pear. Toffee, brown sugar and caramel with a hint of molasses are also present. The warming wood spices and earthy baking spices then begin to take control - imagine freshly sawn oak combining with cinnamon, all-spice and a pinch of ginger and clove. The finish is short and a bit hot, which are the only negatives really.

What's the verdict?

The seven new whiskies in this year's range are sure to sell well, especially the very limited older expressions. Of the ones that we sampled, the range provides a proper mixed bag. This is true for both style and quality. 
 
The Triple Wood is big, bold and a little confused. It lives on the edge of being too woody, but would appeal to some. The 7 years old Peat Smoked is a new addition and works very nicely. It is one of the better Highland peated malts that we have tasted recently and we commend it for that. The 12 years old is our favourite though. It exhibits lovely rich and decadent notes, and makes you want to go back for another sip. It is just a shame about that slightly short finish ...