johnnie walker blue label ghost and rare

Inbox / Whisky News Round Up Part 1 (September 9, 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 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 have been on holiday for the last couple of weeks and several items of whisky news have appeared during our absence. Here is the first part in our round-up of the news from our time away. Part two will follow shortly.

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Circumstance

The English distillery of Circumstance, which is in the city of Bristol, have launched their first whisky. The inaugural release is a single grain whisky made from 85% malted and 15% unmalted barley and then distilled through Circumstance's hybrid still, which is a combination of a copper pot and column still. The spirit has been matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks for three years. There are just 518 bottles of the Circumstance Single Grain Whisky and they are only available from the distillery. No details of the ABV strength were given in the press release. A bottle will sell for £60.

Johnnie Walker

The world's best selling Scotch whisky brand of Johnnie Walker has announced the fifth edition in its Blue Label Ghost & Rare series. As with the other bottlings in the series, the new whisky focuses on a particular distillery. In this case it is the closed 'ghost' single grain distillery of Port Dundas in Glasgow. It is the first Ghost & Rare release created by Dr. Emma Walker, the new Master Blender for Johnnie Walker.

The Port Dundas distillery was locaed on the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canal and was founded in 1811. It closed almost 200 years later in 2010. Other whiskies included in the blend are from the 'ghost' distilleries of Cambus and Brora. Rare whiskies from Auchroisk, Cameronbridge, Clynelish, Dailuaine and Glenkinchie also feature.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare : Port Dundas is bottled at 43.8% ABV and will be available globally from October. Each bottle is individually numbered. Details of the recommended retail price were not given in the press release.

Kilchoman

The family-owned farm distillery of Kilchoman have announced the 12th edition of their award-winning annual 100% Islay bottling. The new limited edition has been created from 35 casks - 29 ex-bourbon barrels and 6 ex-Oloroso sherry butts. The whiskies were all distilled in 2011, 2012 or 2013 and matured for a minimum of 8 years. It is bottled at 50% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. There are 12,500 bottles in this year's batch and these will be available in selected specialist retailers in selected global markets. Details of price were not given in the press release.

Littlemill

The closed distillery of Littlemill has released a special limited edition to celebrate 250 years since the distillery was founded. Littlemill began production in 1772 in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire and was destroyed by fire in 2004. It was never rebuilt. The new whisky was selected from a single cask by Michael Henry, the Master Blender for Littlemill's parent company Loch Lomond Distillers. The spirit was distilled in October 1976 and filled to an American oak ex-bourbon hogshead. Henry transferred this to first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogshead for its final six months. It has been bottled at 45 years old.

Littlemill 45 years old is bottled at 41.8% ABV and there are just 250 bottles. Enquiries should be made to the Littlemill website. The price was not revealed in the press release.

Talisker

The Talisker distillery on the western isle of Skye has revealed a new core product that will be a travel retail exclusive - Talisker Surge. The new whisky is designed to show the elemental stormy forces that shape Skye and the Talisker distillery. surge features whiskies of differing ages that have been matured in American oak ex-bourbon casks. The travel retail exclusive will be available in UK from September, before being released in Asia during October and Australia in December. There will also be a Talisker sample bar located in Terminal 5 at London's Heathrow Airport during October and November. Talisker Surge is bottled at 45.8% ABV and will cost £85/ €95/ $115 US per bottle.

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Review / Johnnie Walker Blue Label ‘Ghost & Rare’ Pittyvaich

This whisky is the fourth bottling in the Blue Label Ghost & Rare series from Johnnie Walker. The best selling Scotch whisky brand created the limited edition series to highlight old and rare whiskies from closed distilleries. This new release focuses on the 'ghost' Speyside distillery of Pittyvaich, which only operated from 1974 to 1993 and was located in Dufftown. The whisky's creator is Dr. Jim Beveridge OBE, the Master Blender for Johnnie Walker, and features two other 'ghost' closed distilleries of Carsebridge and Port Dundas. Other rare whiskies included come from the Highland and Speyside distilleries of Auchroisk, Cragganmore, Mannochmore, Royal Lochnagar and Strathmill.

The Johnnie Walker range of blends is recognisable the world over and is the biggest selling of any Scotch brand. It has become a cultural icon and grown since John Walker founded it from his grocery shop in Kilmarnock in 1820. Johnnie Walker has just celebrated its 200th anniversary as a result. The Blue Label is a relatively recent addition to the range and first appeared in 1992. The combination of old and rare whiskies has seen the Blue Label become a prized whisky and status symbol amongst consumers. It has also spawned numerous side collections of limited editions, including this annual Ghost & Rare series that launched in 2017.

"Pittyvaich may only have thrived for a short period, but the whisky has something unmistakable. Its distinct character has always intrigued us and fired our imagination to create something really special that would pay tribute to the whisky makers of this Speyside distillery."
Dr. Jim Beveridge OBE.

The Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost & Rare Pittyvaich follows previous bottlings focussing on Brora in 2017, Port Ellen in 2018 and Glenury Royal in 2019. It is released at 43.8% ABV and will be available globally via specialist whisky and luxury retailers from November. A bottle will cost £275/ $380 US.

Our tasting notes

The colour is golden yellow with a tint of amber and the nose is packed with sweet and fruity aromas. First to rise are toffee and butterscotch, then a blob of honey and hint of vanilla. Then comes the fruit - think of stewed apple and poached pear especially with a pinch of cinnamon and white pepper. A late suggestion of tinned peach and cocoa powder add further intrigue.

On the palate this whisky feels luxurious and velvety. Notes of fairground toffee apples and poached pear topped with butterscotch sauce and a vanilla pod lead the way. Underneath of more subtle notes of heather honey, milk chocolate and a hint of orange marmalade. There are also evolving notes of dried fruit - imagine plump juicy sultanas in particular with a suggestion of raisin and mango.

With time, complex spices begin to build. These add warmth, depth and great structure, and can be split into definitive categories. There are woody spices reminiscent of old oak furniture, waxy wood polish and a hint of freshly shaved oak also. Then there are baking spices such as powdered ginger, cinnamon, all-spice and a late hit of star anise. Everything is underpinned by a distinct malted cereal characteristic.

The finish is long and becomes more dry and savoury with time. The sweet and fruity elements slowly fade to reveal more of these warming, woody and baking spices. They take hold and linger for ages with delicious and mouthwatering consequences. A very late hit of crisp tart green apple and dried orange peel are also detected. Delicious.

What's the verdict?

This Ghost & Rare series has quickly gained a cult following and it is easy to see why. Each of the ones the we have sampled have been exquisite, but in their own differing ways. By focussing on one particular distillery, in this case the often un-loved and under appreciated Pittyvaich, the blenders can then selected other whiskies to compliment the aroma and flavour profiles. This fourth version is fabulous, tasty, balanced and expressive. We cannot wait to see what distillery will be featured next.

Inbox / The Week’s Whisky News (October 15, 2021)

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

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Clydeside

The Glasgow-based Clydeside distillery has released its first ever single malt bottling entitled Stobcross. The name refers to an ancient cross that was located close to the distillery site, that sits on Stobcross Road on the banks of the River Clyde. The whisky has been matured in both American oak ex-bourbon and European oak ex-sherry casks. The spirit was made using 100% Scottish barley and water drawn from Loch Katrine. The Clydeside Stobcross is bottled at 46% ABV and will initially be available from the distillery shop and website. A wider UK and global release is planned for later in the year. A bottle will cost £45/ ¢62 US.

"This marks a culmination of years of hard work. Our whisky has been patiently waiting for almost four years. This precious time, along with our distiller’s skills and craftsmanship, has created something truly special. We are incredibly proud of our very first single malt."
Andrew Morrison / Commercial Director at Clydeside Distillery.

Glenmorangie

The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has revealed a seasonal limited edition single malt - the Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter. The new whisky is inspired by the cosy quality of a thick winter jumper and was created by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie. The whisky was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks before finishing for a period of time in ex-Marsala wine casks from Sicily. Glenmorangie A Tale of Winter is bottled at 13 years of age and 46% ABV. It is also non chill-filtered and will be available globally via selected specialist whisky retailers from November. A bottle will cost £75/ $105 US.

Johnnie Walker

Johnnie Walker has announced the fourth bottling in its highly acclaimed Blue Label Ghost & Rare series. The series highlights old and rare whiskies from closed distilleries. This new release focuses on the 'ghost' Speyside distillery of Pittyvaich, which operated from 1974 to 1993 and was located in Dufftown. Its creator is Dr. Jim Beveridge, the Master Blender for Johnnie Walker, and features two other 'ghost' closed distilleries of Carsebridge and Port Dundas. Other rare whiskies included come from the Highland and Speyside distilleries of Auchroisk, Cragganmore, Mannochmore, Royal Lochnagar and Strathmill.

"Pittyvaich may only have thrived for a short period, but the whisky has something unmistakable. Its distinct character has always intrigued us and fired our imagination to create something really special that would pay tribute to the whisky makers of this Speyside distillery."
Dr. Jim Beveridge.

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