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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | April 5, 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.

Inbox has taken a two-week break while we were away on a much needed holiday. Here is a round-up of the whisky news that has landed since the last edition ...

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The independent bottler of Gordon & Macphail has launched the fourth whisky in its Mr. George Legacy series. The series honours George Urqhart, a legendary figure in Gordon & Macphail's history and widely regarded as 'the father of Scotch single malt'. The bottling features a single first-fill ex-sherry butt that was filled at Glen Grant distillery in 1958, nurtured by G&M for 65 years and then bottled in November 2023. It is released at 56.5% ABV and will cost £7,500.

The Spirit of Yorkshire have announced their first special release of the year - the Filey Bay Porter Cask. The new limited edition features spirit distilled in 2018 and filled to ex-bourbon casks that had previously held Rip Curl porter from the brand's sister brewery, Top Wold. In turn, Rip Curl had been matured for 15 months in ex-Filey Bay casks. There are just 2,000 bottles. It is released at 50% ABV and will cost £80.

The Irish single pot still brand of Redbreast has released the fourth whiskey into its Iberian Series - the Redbreast Cuatro Bariles Edition. The new bottling will be exclusive to the travel retail sector. It features a combination of four distinct cask types - ex-bourbon, Spanish oak ex-sherry butts, ex-Tawny Port hogsheads and European virgin oak. It is bottled at 46% ABV and will cost €108.

The Islay farm distillery of Kilchoman have announced a new addition to their core range - the Kilchoman Batch Strength. It joins the Machir Bay and Sanaig expressions. The whisky has been matured in a combination of re-charred ex-red wine casks, ex-Oloroso sherry butts and ex-bourbon barrels. It has been bottled at 57% ABV and will be available worldwide. A bottle will cost £65.

The Highland distillery of Dalmore has launched the second bottling of its prestigious Luminary Series. The Dalmore Luminary - The Rare 2024 Edition has seen Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker at Dalmore, and Richard Paterson OBE, Master Distiller at Dalmore, collaborate with Melodie Leung, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects. Leung created the extraordinary sculptural housing for the bottle.

The Rare comprises of a 49-year old whisky, matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and finished in a blend of Port Colheita 1963, Apostoles sherry, ex-bourbon and a unique 1951/virgin oak hybrid cask. Just one bottle exists and will be auctioned by Sotherby's in May. All proceeds will go to the V&A Dundee.

Alongside The Rare bottling, another has been released for worldwide distribution. The Dalmore Luminary - The Collectible 2024 Edition features a small percentage of rare peated Dalmore spirit. The whisky is bottld at 16 years old and has been matured in ex-bourbon and ex-Apostoles sherry casks, plus ex-Tawny Port pipes. There are 20,000 bottles and each will retail for £275.

The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie has released a trio of ex-sherry cask whiskies in its Wood Collection series. A second trio will be released later in 2024. The Glenallachie 'Sherry Series' Wood Collection features three single malts at nine years of age - the Fino Cask Finish, Amontillado Cask Finish and Oloroso Cask Finish. All are bottled at 48% ABV and are both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. Each will cost £60.

The Danish whisky brand of Stauning has launched a new hybrid whisky featuring single malt and rye. Stauning HØST (pronounced 'hurst' and meaning 'harvest' in Danish) pays homage to the turning seasons and local cereals used to produce the whisky. The single malt and rye whiskies have been matured in ex-bourbon casks with a small percentage of ex-Port barrels. The new expression is bottled at 40.5% ABV and is expected to retail for £45.

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Catching Up with Ardbeg’s Colin Gordon

It’s been three years since Colin Gordon left Islay’s Lagavulin Distillery to move down the road and take over for the retiring Mickey Heads at… Read More

It’s been three years since Colin Gordon left Islay’s Lagavulin Distillery to move down the road and take over for the retiring Mickey Heads at Ardbeg. Since then, Ardbeg has commissioned a completely new stillhouse and visitor traffic has recovered from the pandemic. We’ll catch up with Colin Gordon on this week’s WhiskyCast In-Depth. In the news, the clock is ticking toward a partial U.S. government shutdown that could affect whisky makers and consumers, while Scotland’s government is debating an increase in the minimum unit price for whisky and other alcoholic beverages. We’ll also hear from Campari CEO Bob Kunce-Concewitz on his company’s expansion plans, check in with Wild Turkey’s Eddie Russell on the latest expansion of the Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse Series, and get a preview of this year’s Diageo Special Releases from master blender Stuart Morrison.

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (September 22, 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 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.

We were away last week for a much needed holiday and we returned to find our inbox full of news about new releases. There are many so we have slightly altered the format to accommodate the many new bottlings that have been announced. Here we go ...

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The independent bottling company of Douglas Laing & Co. have been busy announcing two different sets of new releases. First is the XOP Single Cask Diamond Anniversary set, a selection of six single casks chosen to commemorate the company's 75th anniversary. The bottlings include Blair Athol 30 years old, Macallan 35 years old, Port Ellen 40 years old, Cameronbridge 45 years old, Port Dundas 45 years old and Speyside's Finest 55 years old. A price for the set was not given in the press release.

Douglas Laing have also released two seasonal limited editions - the Big Peat Christmas 2023 Edition and Scallywag Winter Edition Batch #4. The Scallywag is made from only Speyside single malts that have been matured in 100% ex-sherry casks, both Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez. It is bottled at 52.5% ABV and will cost £65. The Big Peat is bottled at the natural cask strength of 54.8% ABV and features only Islay single malts. It will cost £60. Both are of natural colour and non chill-filtered.

The Torabhaig distillery on the isle of Skye has launched a limited edition - the Torabhaig Allt Gleann Batch Strength. The whisky is a cask strength version of their popular Allt Gleann bottling and was distilled in 2017 and 2018. It forms part of The Legacy Series, is bottled at 61.1% ABV and has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels. A bottle will cost £75/ €85/ $US89.

Elsewhere, Fife distillery Eden Mill have released a blended malt named The Guard Bridge. This features single malts from the Highlands and Lowlands of Scotland, including some from Eden Mill, that have been matured in a mix of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV and will cost £45.

The Islay distillery of Bowmore have added two further expressions to its rare Timeless Series - the Bowmore 29 years old and 33 years old. The 29 years old features whiskies distilled and filled to cask in 1991 and 1992. These casks were a combination of European oak ex-sherry and American oak ex-bourbon. It is bottled at 53.7% ABV and will cost £1,500/ $US1,800 in domestic markets. The 33 years old has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and undergone a finish is a selection of ex-sherry casks. It is bottled at 45.5% ABV and will be available in global travel retail, costing £2,300/ $US2,800. Both have just 3,000 bottles available.

The independent bottler of Gordon & Macphail have released the latest bottling in their Private Collection range - the Gordon & Macphail 1949 from Glenlivet Distillery. The whisky is 74 years old and was filled to a single re-fill ex-sherry butt on New Year's Day 1949 and bottled in March of this year. It is released at 49.3% ABV and there are just 192 bottles. These will sell for £35,000 each.

The closed Lowland distillery of Littlemill has also released a very old whisky - the Littlemill 45 years old - Chapter 1. The bottling is the first of four planned for the new Vanguard Collection. The collection will celebrate the pioneers of of Scotland's oldest licensed distillery. The whisky was distilled and filled to a re-fill American oak cask in October 1977, before undergoing a five-year finishing period in a first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogshead. It is released at 50.5% ABV and there are just 250 bottles. Each will cost £12,500.

The leading Scotch blended brand of Johnnie Walker has revealed a limited edition of its popular Blue Label - the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Elusive Umami. The whisky has been created by Master Blender Emma Walker in collaboration with renowned Japanese chef Kei Kobayashi and is designed to show the enigmatic flavour of umami. It is bottled at 43% ABV and will cost £285/ $US350.

Elsewhere, the Highland distillery of Glendronach has released the latest bottling in its premium Grandeur series. The Glendronach Grandeur Batch 12 is over 29 years old and features rare Spanish oak ex-Oloroso sherry casks married together by Master Blender, Dr. Rachel Barrie. It is bottled at 49.2% ABV and will cost £870.

The Irish single pot still brand of Redbreast has launched the third bottling in its Iberian series of whiskeys. The Redbreast Tawny Port Cask Edition has been finished in ex-Tawny Port casks sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal, and created by Master Blender Billy Leighton. The initial ageing was in ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. It is bottled at 46% ABV and will cost £79/ €100/ $US100.

The Islay distillery of Kilchoman has released the 13th edition of their 100% Islay bottling. The Kilchoman 100% Islay Batch 13 features only barley grown on the distillery farm that were harvested in 2012, 2013 and 2014 and then matured for a minimum of eight years. There are 13,000 bottles and it is released at 50% ABV. A bottle will cost £85.

The east Highland distillery of Fettercairn has announced the fourth annual bottling of its 16 years old expression. The Fettercairn 16 years old 2023 Edition features whisky matured in first-fill ex-Port pipes and ex-bourbon casks. It has been created by blender Gregg Glass and is released at 46.4% ABV. It is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. A bottle will cost £82. A one-litre bottle will also be available in global travel retail.

Independent bottler Elements of Islay has released a former Feis Ile limited bottling to the global market. The Elements of Islay Beach Bonfire has been created by blender Oliver Chilton and features several different Islay single malts. It is bottled at the natural strength of 54.5% ABV and will be available in selected world markets including Asia, Europe and the USA. A bottle will cost £80/ $US115.00/ €85.

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Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (April 28, 2023)

Here is the round-up of the news from this week.

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Bladnoch

The Lowland distillery of Bladnich has announced the release of The King's Cask, a whisky to commemorate the forthcoming coronation of King Charles III. The distillery visitor centre was opened by King Charles in September 2019. Dr. Nick Savage, the Master Distiller at Bladnoch, has selected a single cask that has previously held Tokaji dessert wine, which is known as 'The King's wine'. The whisky was distilled in 2008 and bottled in 2023.

The cask has yielded just 289 bottles and these are released at the strength of 47.7% ABV. It is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. Bladnoch The King's Cask will be available from the date of the coronation on May 6 from the Bladnoch visitor centre and selected specialist UK retailers. A bottle will cost £180.

"I am delighted that Bladnoch is commemorating this historic event with such a unique and special release. It is a testament to the quality and craftsmanship of our team, and the centuries-old tradition that goes into creating every drop of Bladnoch whisky."
David Prior / Owner of Bladnoch.

Glenmorangie

The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has anniunced the third release into its limited edition Cadboll Estate series. The Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate 15 years old has been crafted by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie. The Cadboll Estate is located just a few miles from the distillery and grows the barley for this release. It has been aged in American oak ex-bourbon casks for 15 years with a small pocket finished in ex-Amontillado sherry casks.

The Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate 15 years old is bottled at 43% ABV and is initally available at the distillery shop in Tain and via www.glenmorangie.com. It will see wider distribution through the UK and selected world markets from early May. A bottle will cost £75/ $US95.

"Created at Glenmorangie from field to glass, our Cadboll Estate series captures the true essence of our Highland world for whisky lovers to experience, and this third batch includes a parcel of whisky finished in casks seasoned with Amontillado - my favourite sherry."
Dr. Bill Lumsden.

Gordon & Macphail

The family-owned independent bottler of Gordon & Macphail have also released a new whisky to commemorate the coronation of King Charles III. The whisky is from a single first-fill ex-sherry cask that was distilled and filled at the Speyside distillery of Glen Grant in 1948 - the year of King Charles' birth. It is bottled at 74 years of age and at the natural cask strength of 50.4% ABV. There are just 281 bottles. The King Charles Coronation Edition is priced at £25,000/ $US31,500 per bottle and will be available via selected specialist and luxury retailers worldwide.

As part of the release, Gordon & Macphail will donate £25,000 to The Prince's Foundation - a charity that teaches young people heritage craft and traditional art skills.

Inchdairnie

The Fife distillery of Inchdairnie have announced the release of their highly anticipated first whisky - Ryelaw. The whisky was distilled from a mix of 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley in 2017. Both cereals were grown at farms in the Kingdom of Fife, including Ryelaw Farm from which the whisky takes its name. The spirit was then matured in charred virgin American oak casks for five years. It has been bottled at 46.3% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour.

Ryelaw is made for just one week each year at the groundbreaking distillery. It is available from specialist and luxury retailers in the UK with world distribution coming soon. A bottle will cost £110.

"We have been preparing for this day for well over a decade, and it is only now that we feel the quality of RyeLaw meets our exacting standards. While we are rooted in Scotch whisky tradition, we have explored what is possible when agriculture meets industry and innovative technologies combine with methodology."
Ian Palmer / Founder & Managing Director at Inchdairnie.

Loch Lomond

The Loch Lomond distillery has launched the third and final bottling in its Remarkable Stills series. The trilogy is completed by the Loch Lomond 47 years old. It follows previous releases at 45- and 46-years of age and is one of the oldest ever releases from the distillery. The series celebrates the distillery's unique straight necked stills and has been curated by Michael Henry, the Master Blender at Loch Lomond. Initial maturation has been in re-fill ex-bourbon casks before a four year finishing period in re-fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks.

The Loch Lomond 47 years old has been bottled at 44.3% ABV and is limited to just 200 bottles. These will be available in selected specialist and luxury retailers worldwide at a cost of £5,750/ $US7,200.

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Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (April 21, 2023)

Here is the round-up of the news from this week.

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Bimber

The London distillery of Bimber has announced its oldest batched single malt to date - the Bimber Ex-Bourbon Oak Casks Batch No.4. The whisky has been crafted from the distillery's oldest pocket of first-fill ex-bourbon casks. These were filled in 2017, which was just Bimber's second year of production.

The new bottling is also Bimber's largest to date - there are 7,000 bottles available. These will be initially available from the distillery in west London before being released to selected specialist retailers in the UK. It will also be available in selected world markets including selected countries in Asia and Europe, plus the USA. A bottle will cost £68/ US$85.

"Whilst the number of Bimber enthusiasts continues to grow, as a small craft distillery we have struggled to keep up with the exponential demand for our products. As our largest ever release, we hope that Batch 4 will quench some of the continued global demand that we are seeing for our London single malt whiskies."
Matt Mackay / Director of Marketing & Communications at Bimber.

Bushmills

The Irish whiskey brand of Bushmills has announced the release of two premium whiskey to permanently sit at the top of their core range of triple distilled single malts - the Bushmills 25 years old and 30 years old. The 25 years old (pictured, left) has experienced a four year initial maturation in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before a 21 year secondary maturation in ex-Port pipes. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The whiskey will be available worldwide and retail for US$900/ £790/ €850.

The Bushmills 30 years old (pictured, right) is positioned at the top of the core range and has again experienced a lengthy secondary maturation. The whiskey was initially aged for 14 years in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks before being transferred to ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a further 16 year period. It is also bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be available worldwide at a cost of US$2,200/ £1,990/ €2,000. Both whiskies were created by Alex Thomas, the Master Blender for Bushmills.

Gordon & Macphail

The family owned independent bottling company of Gordon & Macphail have launched the third bottling in their annual Mr. George Legacy series. The series honours the legacy of George Urquhart, known as 'Mr. George' in the Scotch industry, who joined the family business in 1933. The Mr. George Legacy Glen Grant 1959 represents the final cask held by the company from that particular year. The whisky was distilled in October 1959 and filled to a single first-fill ex-sherry butt (Cask #3665). It has been bottled in November 2022 at 63 years of age and with the natural cask strength of 56.5% ABV. The cask has yielded just 368 bottles.

The Gordon & Macphail Mr. George Legacy Glen Grant 1959 is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour, and is said to retain a subtle background smokiness not found in modern Speyside whiskies. It will be available worldwide in specialist and luxury retailers. A bottle will cost £6,500/ US$8,100.

"Ninety years ago my grandfather, Mr George, joined Gordon & MacPhail as an apprentice to his father, John. His philosophy and principles live on through the business today and his attention to detail and unwavering commitment to quality remain the foundation stones of our business."
Stuart Urquhart / Operations Director at Gordon & Macphail.

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Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (October 14, 2022)

Here is the round-up of the news from this last week. There is quite a bit ...

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Ardbeg

The Islay distillery of Ardbeg has announced an Ardbeg Committee exclusive that is pitched as the smokiest Ardbeg single malt ever - the Ardbeg Hypernova. The new whisky is an evolution of previous cult classic Supernova and shows peat levels in excess of 170ppm (phenol parts per million). This is over three times the regular level of Ardbeg spirit. The Ardbeg Hypernova is bottled at 51% ABV and will be available in limited numbers from the Ardbeg Committee part of the Ardbeg website and Ardbeg Embassies around the world. Membership is free and open to all Ardbeg fans or peaty whisky drinkers. A bottle will cost £190.

Glendronach

The east Highland distillery of Glendronach has announced the latest limited edition release into its revered Grandeur series. The series showcases some of the oldest whiskies maturing at Glendronach. The Glendronach Grandeur Batch 11 has been created by Dr. Rachel Barrie, the Master Blender for Glendronach, from a small batch of hand selected ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.

Grandeur Batch 11 has been bottled at 28 years old and at the natural cask strength of 48.9% ABV. The exact number of bottles in the batch was not revealed in the press release but they will be available in specialist whisky and luxury retailers worldwide. Each bottle will cost £700/ $785 US/ €805.

Gordon & Macphail

The family owned independent bottling company of Gordon & Macphail have announced a new series of rare whiskies - The Recollection Series - and the first three bottlings in the series. The three whiskies are all from closed single malt distilleries - Glen Mhor, Lochside and St. Magdelene. Each is a single cask selected from Gordon & Macphail's own maturing stocks by members of the family. All will be available from specialist and luxury retailers worldwide.

The Glen Mhor 1982 is bottled at 40 years old and at the natural cask strength of 50.8% ABV. It comes from a single re-fill ex-sherry hogshead, which has yielded just 174 bottles. Each will cost £2,250/ $3,500 US. The Lochside 1981 is also 40 years old and also from a single re-fill ex-sherry hogshead. There are 141 bottles at 49.2% ABV. Each will cost £3,200/ $5,000 US. The St. Magdelene 1982 is 39 years old and comes from a single re-fill ex-bourbon hogshead. There are 165 bottles at 54.8% ABV. Each will cost £2,250/ $3,500 US.

"Each remarkable expression is an unrepeatable moment in Scotland’s rich liquid heritage. Having carefully assessed the progress of each spirit down the decades, we it is the right moment to reveal these landmark single malts. We hope the annual series will excite single malt enthusiasts."
Stuart Urquhart / Operations Director at Gordon & Macphail.

Hibiki

The House of Suntory has announced the release of Hibiki Blossom Harmony. The new whisky is a limited edition blend that has been finished in Sakura cherrywood casks. The Spring time heralds the world famous Sakura cherry blossom in Japan and the casks have been made from those trees.

The Hibiki Blossom Harmony is designed to showcase this unique wood type and marries single malt and single grain whiskies from Suntory's Chita, Hakushu and Yamazaki distilleries before a finishing period in the cherrywood casks. It has been created by Shinji Fukuyo, the fifth generation Chief Blender at Suntory.

The Hibiki Blossom Harmony is bottled at 43% ABV and is available in selected specialist whisky retailers in the UK. A bottle will cost £175.

Jameson

Ireland's biggest selling whiskey brand has announced the latest addition to its core range - the Jameson Single Pot Still. The releases celebrates the traditional whiskey style that is unique to Ireland and produced using a mix of malted and unmalted barley. The spirit has then been triple distilled. The Jameson Single Pot Still has been created by Kevin O'Gorman, the Master Distiller for Jameson, and has been matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks. These have then been finished in three virgin oak casks made of American, European and Irish oak, before being married back together.

The Jameson Single Pot Still has been bottled at 46% ABV and is initially available in Ireland and the UK only. This includes at Dublin airport, the Midelton distillery and Bow Street in Dublin and at Jameson online. A bottle will cost €60/ £52.

Lagavulin

The Islay distillery of Lagavulin celebrates its continuing sponsorship of the Hebridean island's jazz festival with a pair of limited edition releases. It is the first time that they have bottle two whiskies for the annual event - one will be exclusively on sale at the distillery and the other to a wider audience. The distillery exclusive Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 14 years old (pictured, left) has been matured in re-fill American oak barrels before a five year finishing period in ex-brandy casks. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 55.4% ABV and there are just 3,000 bottles in the batch. The packaging features highlights from previous editions of the festival on the famous whisky island. A bottle will cost £220.

The second bottling - the Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival 7 years old - is available for those unable to attend the festival (pictured, right). It is on sale via malts.com. It features a combination of ex-bourbon and re-fill American oak hogshead casks and is also bottled at the natural cask strength. This is 59.5% ABV. There are just 2,490 bottles and each will cost £95. Both bottlings are available on a first come, first served basis until sold out. Both whiskies were selected by Jordan Paisley, the Distillery Manager at Lagavulin. The Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival is now in its 24th year and has covered all areas of jazz over the two decades.

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Review / Benromach 40 years old (2022 Edition)

The small traditional Speyside distillery of Benromach has announced the second annual release of its rare 40 years old. It follows a similar 2021 release, which scooped the Best In Show prize at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2022. The new edition has been created from a handful of ex-sherry casks selected by Keith Cruickshank, the Distillery Manager at Benromach. It is the distillery's oldest age statement release.

Benromach was founded in 1898 and built next to the Aberdeen-Inverness railway line in Forres. It remains one of the smallest operating in the Speyside region and was one of the last designed by the renowned Victorian distillery architect Charles Doig. It was built as Forres Distillery and became Benromach in 1919, taking the name from the nearby Romach Hills. Benromach is currently owned by Gordon & MacPhail and they renovated it after a period of closure, re-opening in 1998. A recent expansion has increased the annual capacity to 700,000 litres.

The Benromach 40 years old 2022 Edition is bottled at the natural cask strength of 57.6% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It comes presented in a black stained oak casket with copper trim. There are just 1,000 bottles and these will be available in specialist retailers in selected world market. A bottle will cost £1,000/ $1,200 US.

Our tasting notes

The colour is deep amber gold and the nose is exquisite, rich and multi-layered. Caramel and toffee aromas rise first but are quickly joined by candied citrus peel (imagine good quality orange marmalade), gingerbread and some earthy baking spices. These include cinnamon, clove and mace. Underneath are savoury aromas of leather, antique furniture and cigar box.

On the palate this enticing whisky is equally as exquisite, rich and spicy. The bold ABV, which is surprising for something of such age, exaggerates and accentuates the flavours. The orange marmalade/ candied citrus notes appears first this time and is followed shortly afterwards by caramel, toffee, milk chocolate and some crystallised fruits. A hint of baked apple and black cherry compote also sit in the background.

As with the nose there is plenty of depth and complexity evident. Layers of oak spice, baking spice and savoury notes compliment the sweeter and fruitier characteristics. Toasted oak, hazelnut praline and walnut mingle with gingerbread, cinnamon biscuits, liquorice root and clove. These notes give a wonderful warmth and drag the whisky towards the finish. Leather and cedarwood are also evident, as is a late drop of citrus oil and distant whisp of gentle peat smoke.

The finish is long and warming with a late peppery kick. The sweet and fruity elements fade slowly and this allows the oak and baking spices, along with the savoury characteristics to come to the fore. A late hit of black cherry and orange oil adds to the delight.

What's the verdict?

This year's edition of the Benromach 40 years old is absolutely exquisite. This was distilled before the most recent closure and whiskies from this era are particularly rare. As a result you have to pay the price. That said, £1,000 is not bad for something of this age compared to offerings from competitor brands.

The whisky is deliciously rich with a multi-layered depth and complexity. The bitter orange and distinct caramel sweetness are beautifully complimented by the warming oaky and baking spices. Underneath is the hint of Benroamch's signature gentle peat smoke and those delightful savoury notes. A simply sublime single malt.

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (July 29, 2022)

Here is the round-up of the news from this last week.

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Fettercairn

The east Highland distillery of Fettercairn has unveiled the 2022 Edition of their small batch 16 years old expression. It is the third such annual release in the series, which is designed to show different maturation journeys of the distillery's distinctive spirit. This year has seen the whisky initially matured in first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry barrels before a further maturation period in first-fill ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. It was then finished in ex-bourbon barrels.

The Fettercairn 16 years old 2022 Edition is bottled at 46.4% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. The number of bottles was not revealed in the press release. It will be available shortly in key European markets including Belgium, France, Germany, Netherlands and the UK. This will expand to Asia and travel retail later in the year. A bottle will cost £72/ €85.

Glenallachie

The Speyside distillery of Glenallachie have launched the second bottling into their Billy Walker 50th Anniversary The Past, Present & Future Series - the Glenallachie 16 years old Mizunara Virgin Oak Finish. The series celebrates co-owner and Master Distiller Billy Walker's half century of service in the Scotch whisky industry. The whisky was initially matured in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks before a final finishing period in virgin Japanese Mizunara oak barrels - this is the first time that Walker has worked with rare Mizunara oak.

The new whisky has been released at 48% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. There are just 2,900 bottles and these will be available worldwide via selected specialist retailers. Each will cost £280/ €335/ $340 US.

Glenmorangie

The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has announced a bold new revamp of its packaging for its core range. The new livery and design has been created to 'highlight Glenmorangie's deliciousness'. The bottle has seen an elegant evolution with wider shoulders, tapered body and larger stopper. The packaging carton sees a graphic new design to grab attention and bold colouration to stand out on the shelf. It also features curved linework to mirror the new bottle shape. The revamped packaging will be available worldwide from early August. The liquid for each bottling remains the same.

"Our whisky is truly delicious and our reimagined packaging brings its flavours to the fore. We see this as an opportunity to show a playful elegance which reflects our creativity in whisky making; and to ensure our single malt stands out by using bold colours and enhanced branding."
Louise Dennett / Global Head of Brand at Glenmorangie.

Gordon & Macphail

The family owned independent bottler of Gordon & Macphail have released their last ever cask distilled at the Milton distillery in Speyside. In 1951 its name was changed to Strathisla. Bottlings under the Milton name are extremely rare. The whisky was distilled and filled to a single first-fill ex-sherry puncheon (cask #383) in 1949 and has been maturing in Gordon & Macphail's warehouses ever since. This cask has yielded just 180 bottles of the precious whisky, which is released at 72 years of age and the natural cask strength of 48.6% ABV. It will be available in specialist and luxury retailers worldwide. A bottle will cost £50,000/ $65,000 US.

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Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (May 27, 2022)

Here is the round-up of the news from this last week.

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Epicurean

The Lowland blended malt brand has released a limited cask strength expression into its range - The Epicurean Glasgow Edition. The whisky is inspired by the city of Glasgow and its Art Deco roots of the 1920s. The black bottle with gold lettering and trim reflects this. As with all versions of the Epicurean only single malts produced in the Lowland region are included. The blended malt has been bottled at the natural cask strength of 56.8% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. There are just 3,000 bottles in the batch and these will be available worldwide via selected specialist retailers. A bottle will cost £52.50/ €62.

Gordon & Macphail

The family-owned independent bottling company of Gordon & Macphail has released a rare whisky to celebrate The Queen's Platinum Jubilee - the Gordon & Macphail Private Collection 1952 from Glen Grant Distillery. The whisky was filled to a single first-fill ex-sherry butt on January 26, 1952. It has spent the following 70 years maturing in G&M's warehouses in Elgin, before being bottled on February 6 this year - the date of The Queen's accession to the throne 70 years ago. There are just 256 bottles and these are released at the natural cask strength of 52.3% ABV. Each bottle will cost £20,000. It will be available through luxury retailers in selected world markets.

Johnnie Walker

The biggest-selling Scotch whisky brand of Johnnie Walker has announced a new limited edition version of its popular Black Label that will be available in selected world markets - the Johnnie Walker Black Label Sherry Finish. All whiskies in the blend are at least 12 years old and feature distilleries such as Caol Ila from Islay, Cardhu from Speyside, Cameronbridge and Glenkinchie from the Lowlands and Clynelish from the Highlands. The blend was created by Emma Walker, Master Blender for Johnnie Walker, and was then finished in specially selected ex-sherry casks sourced from Jerez in Spain. No indication of price or number of bottles were given in the press release.

Kilchoman

The family-owned farm distillery of Kichoman have announced details of its annual limited edition bottling to celebrate Islay's Fèis Ìle festival. The Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2022 Release is one of the distillery's oldest whisky releases to date and is bottled at 16 years old. It is a combination of just five first-fill ex-bourbon barrels that were filled in 2006, making them some of the earliest casks at Kilchoman. The whisky is made using heavily peated (50ppm) malt and there are just 865 bottles. It has been bottled at the natural cask strength of 52.1% ABV.

The Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2022 Release will only be available from the distillery shop on Kilchoman Day (Thursday 2 June) until sold out. Each bottle will cost £150.

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Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (May 13, 2022)

Here is the round-up of the news from this last week.

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Benriach

The innovative Speyside distillery of Benriach has announced the second bottling in its Malting Season series. The Benriach Malting Season Second Edition uses malted barley produced on Benriach's own traditional malting floor, which is one of only two operational malting floors currently being used in Speyside. The barley for this batch was malted in Autumn 2013, before being distilled and filled to 30 first-fill ex-bourbon barrels in November. The whisky has been bottled at 48.9% ABV and will initially be available only at the Benriach visitor centre. A global release will follow in June. A bottle will cost £99/ $125 US.

"The highly skilled process of floor malting keeps a traditional part of the whisky making process alive and pays homage to Benriach’s creative whisky making heritage. The Malting Season releases show this off perfectly."
Stewart Buchanan / Global Brand Ambassador at Benriach.

Gordon & Macphail

The family-owned independent bottler of Gordon & Macphail have announced the second whisky in their Mr. George Legacy series - the Gordon & Macphail Mr. George Legacy 1957 from Glen Grant Distillery. The series honours George Urquhart, known as 'Mr. George' in the whisky industry, who was in charge of the company when this whisky was distilled and filled to cask.

This was on 10 October 1957. It has spent its entire 64 year maturation in a single first-fill ex-sherry butt (Cask #3483) before being bottled on 9 November 2021. The cask yielded just 298 bottles. It is released at the natural cask strength of 56.1% ABV. Each bottle will cost £6,000/ $7,310 US and be available via selected specialist whisky and luxury retailers worldwide.

Loch Lomond

The Loch Lomond distillery has announced the second bottling in its Remarkable Stills series - the Loch Lomond 46 years old. The series is designed to celebrate the distillery's unique straight-necked stills.

The unpeated spirit used was distilled and filled to American oak ex-bourbon casks in 1974. This was then split and then transferred to either ex-Oloroso or ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks for a two year finishing period. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 45.3% ABV.

The Loch Lomond 46 years old is limited to just 200 bottles and is presented with a handcrafted oak casket. It will be available in selected specialist retailers worldwide and each bottle will cost £4,500/ $5,485 US.

Timorous Beastie

Douglas Laing & Co. has announced a new limited edition bottling for its Timorous Beastie blended malt - the Timorous Beastie 'Meet The Beast' 13 years old. The new whisky is a marriage of Highland single malts and all have been matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels for a minimum of 13 years. It is released today (May 13) and is inspired by the superstition surrounding Friday 13th. A coordinated marketing plan for the launch includes engagement with 60 global specialist retailers, e-commerce site takeovers and targeted social media campaigns.

Timorous Beastie 'Meet The Beast' 13 years old is limited to just 3,000 bottles. It is released at the natural cask strength of 52.5% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. A bottle will cost £75/ $92 US.

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