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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | April 26, 2024

Welcome to Inbox – our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from arou…

Welcome to Inbox - our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to the WFE email. We started Inbox several years ago as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/ piece of news/ PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.

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

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The Islay distillery of Kilchoman have launched their annual release of Loch Gorm. The expression, which is named after a small, dark loch near the distillery is the only regular expression matured solely in ex-sherry casks. The Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2024 Edition consists of 23 ex-Oloroso sherry butts filled with spirit distilled in 2014. The whisky is bottled at 46% ABV and will be available worldwide in specialist whisky retailers. A bottle will cost £82.

The peated Highland single malt of Cù Bòcan, which is made at the Tomatin distillery near Inverness, has announced the sixth bottling in its Creations Series - the Cù Bòcan Creation #6. The series uses unorthodox cask combinations to create unique flavour profiles. In this case these are 9-year-old ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks and 10-year-old ex-Jamaican rum casks, which have been fused together. There are just 8,400 bottles and they will be available in selected world markets. It is released at 46% ABV and will cost £60.

The Lowland distillery of Bladnoch has launched the Bladnoch 2024 Single Cask Collection, a series of six single cask single malts curated by Dr. Nick Savage, the Master Blender for the brand. It marks the final set in a five-year series. The details of the bottlings are listed below. The whiskies are available from www.bladnoch.com and in selected world markets including Australia, Germany and Taiwan.

Single Cask 2024/01 - distilled 2017/ ex-sherry butt/ 57.6% ABV/ 219 bottles/ £160
Single Cask 2024/02 - distilled 2007/ ex-bourbon barrel/ 52.6% ABV/ 170 bottles/ £160
Single Cask 2024/03 - distilled 2017/ peated/ ex-canasta cask/ 58.3% ABV/ 676 bottles/ £160
Single Cask 2024/04 - distilled 2008/ ex-bourbon barrel/ 51.2% ABV/ 237 bottles/ £160
Single Cask 2024/05 - distilled 2006/ ex-sherry butt/ 49.9% ABV/ 660 bottles/ £160
Single Cask 2024/06 - distilled 2001/ ex-Amontillado sherry hogshead/ 50.1% ABV/ 281 bottles/ £450

The award-winning Glen Scotia distillery has launched its annual limited edition for the forthcoming Campbeltown Malts Festival, which will be held in May. The Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts Festival 2024 Edition is a 9-year-old unpeated single malt that has seen initial maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. It has then been finished in rare ex-Fino sherry casks for six months.

The bottling has been created by Michael Henry, the Master Blender for Glen Scotia. The new whisky is released at the natural cask strength of 56.2% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be available in limited quantities through whisky retailers globally and at the festival in Campbeltown. A bottle will cost £65.

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Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | April 19, 2024

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

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Ardbeg

The Islay distillery of Ardbeg has announced details of its annual Fèis Ìle bottling for Ardbeg Day, which will be held on June 1 this year. Ardbeg Spectacular represents the first single malt from the distillery to feature maturation in ex-Port casks. It is a marriage of traditional ex-bourbon cask Ardbeg and spirit matured fully in ex-Port barrels, and has been created by Gillian Macdonald, the Master Blender for Ardbeg.

Ardbeg Spectacular is released at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be initially available in the UK, Ardbeg visitor centre and via the brand website www.ardbeg.com from April 23. Bottles will then be available globally from late-April. The exact number of bottles in this limited edition has not been revealed, but each will cost £110/ US$135. The release will be supported by events around the world for Ardbeg Day.

"Ardbeg Spectacular is a high-flying spirit, very befitting of Ardbeg Day. Its years in bourbon and port casks create a spectacle of flavours, the like of which Ardbeggians will never have tasted before."
Gillian Macdonald.

Lochlea

The Ayrshire distillery of Lochlea has opened up its private cask scheme to the general public. The Private Cask Programme was previously by invitation only via a waiting list and offers purchasers the opportunity to follow the individual journey of their own personal cask. They can also sample their cask's spirit, visit their cask and attend a dedicated Cask Owners Day at the distillery.

Two cask types are available - first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogsheads. All casks are kept under bond at the distillery for 10 years. After this time it can be stored for longer, bottled under the customer’s own personal label or sold back to the distillery. Lochlea’s Private Cask Programme is open for a limited period only. If interested, please contact the distillery team for more details via casks@lochleadistillery.com.

Strathearn

The Highland distillery of Strathearn has released its inaugural Scotch whisky - the Strathearn Single Malt. The distillery and brand are owned by independent bottlers Douglas Laing & Co., who took control of operations in 2019. Strathearn, which is located in Perthshire, was originally founded in 2013. The new whisky is formed of just 32 casks with a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and wirgin oak used.

Strathearn Single Malt is bottled at 50% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It has been created by Angela Brown, the Head Distiller at Strathearn. The whisky will be on sale through specialist retailers in the UK and Europe initially. Asia, Canada and the USA will follow in May. Each bottle will retail for £85/ US$105.

"This moment has been a long time coming. Our Strathearn Distillery team make a barrel of spirit per day. This may be a drop in the ocean compared to some distilleries, but for Strathearn, it is a proudly handcrafted drop that embodies the spirit of the distillery."
Cara Laing | Managing Director of Douglas Laing & Co.

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Glenmorangie Unveils 25-Year-Old

Glenmorangie has released a 25-year-old Scotch whisky single malt – Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish – but will only be available in the UK…for now. Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish was finished in Pommard casks in 2008, bottled at 51.8% [103.6 proof] and is said to offer notes of apples, cherries, ginger, lemons and plums. Only 1,000 […]

The post Glenmorangie Unveils 25-Year-Old first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Glenmorangie has released a 25-year-old Scotch whisky single malt – Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish – but will only be available in the UK…for now.

Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish was finished in Pommard casks in 2008, bottled at 51.8% [103.6 proof] and is said to offer notes of apples, cherries, ginger, lemons and plums.

Only 1,000 bottles of Glenmorangie Pommard Cask Finish are being made available exclusively at Glenmorangie’s boutique at London’s Heathrow Airport Terminal 2, for a hefty $2650 per bottle.

The post Glenmorangie Unveils 25-Year-Old first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | April 12, 2024

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

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The Highland distillery of Fettercairn has announced a refresh of its core domestic and travel retail ranges to coincide with its 200th anniversary celebrations this year. The Fettercairn domestic range will feature age statement expressions at 12-, 16- and 24 years old, while the travel retail range will offer 14-, 17- and 25 years old whiskies. Both ranges will be available from mid-April globally. The 16 years old was previously an annual limited edition.

The Northern Irish whiskey brand of Bushmills has announced a new permanent addition to its core range - the Bushmills 14 years old. The whiskey has been matured in ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period in ex-Malaga wine casks sourced from Spain. It has been created by Alex Thomas, the Master Blender for Bushmills, and will be available initially in Africa, Asia and Europe. A bottle will cost £56/ $US70.

The Irish whiskey brand of Midleton Very Rare has released the fifth and penultimate bottling in its revered Silent Distillery series - the Midleton Very Rare 49 years old Silent Distillery Chapter 5. Each whiskey in the series was produced at the old Midleton distillery, which operated between 1825 and 1975.

The latest releases was distilled in 1973 and has been maturing in a single ex-bourbon barrel. It is housed in a handblown Waterford crystal decanter and handcrafted oak cabinet. The whiskey is bottled at 52.4% ABV and will be available in selected markets globally. Each decanter will cost €55,000/ $US55,000.

The Loch Lomond distillery has unveiled the latest addition to its core range - the Loch Lomond 25 years old. The new whisky features three different cask types - first-fill and re-fill ex-bourbon, plus recharred American oak - which have been married together by Michael Henry, the Master Blender for Loch Lomond. It is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be available worldwide through specialist whisky retailers with each bottle costing £390/ $US495.

The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has added a new single malt to its core range - the Glenmorangie Triple Cask Reserve. The new whisky has married three different cask types together to take the spirit in a different direction - ex-bourbon, charred new American oak and ex-rye whiskey casks. It has been created by Gillian Macdonald, Master Blender for Glenmorangie, and is bottled at 40% ABV. The whisky is initially available in selected world markets including France, Germany, the UK and USA. A bottle will cost £33/ $US42.

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The Dalmore Reveals The Collectible And The Rare

The Dalmore has collaborated with Scottish design museum V&A Dundee and released a pair of whiskies – The Collectible and The Rare – for their Luminary Series. The Dalmore The Rare is a 49-year-old Highland single malt and it lives up to its name as only three were created for the whisky matured in ex-bourbon […]

The post The Dalmore Reveals The Collectible And The Rare first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

The Dalmore has collaborated with Scottish design museum V&A Dundee and released a pair of whiskies – The Collectible and The Rare – for their Luminary Series.

The Dalmore The Rare is a 49-year-old Highland single malt and it lives up to its name as only three were created for the whisky matured in ex-bourbon American white oak casks, finished in a blend of Port Colhieta 1963, Apostoles Sherry, select bourbon and hybrid casks before being bottled at 40.6% alcohol by volume [81.2 proof].

The Dalmore The Collectible is a 16-year-old Highland single malt, which is more readily available [20,000 bottles] and was matured in ex-bourbon casks, finished in a blend of Graham’s Tawny Port and Apostoles Sherry casks, and partially finished in peated, ex-refill bourbon casks before being bottled at 48.6% alcohol by volume [97.2 proof] and will be available for $345 per bottle.

The post The Dalmore Reveals The Collectible And The Rare first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | April 5, 2024

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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Torabhaig Produces Hill Of Peat

Isle of Skye-based Torabhaig Distillery has released a Hill of Peat – otherwise known as Cnoc Na Mòine (Gaelic for ‘hill of peat) – as the third installment in their Legacy Series. Torabhaig Cnoc Na Moine was matured in a combination of Pedro Ximenéz and Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 […]

The post Torabhaig Produces Hill Of Peat first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Isle of Skye-based Torabhaig Distillery has released a Hill of Peat – otherwise known as Cnoc Na Mòine (Gaelic for ‘hill of peat) – as the third installment in their Legacy Series.

Torabhaig Cnoc Na Moine was matured in a combination of Pedro Ximenéz and Oloroso sherry-seasoned casks, bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof] and is said to offer notes of, obviously, peat smoke, along with cedar, leather, pepper and vanilla.

Only 90,000 bottles of Torabhaig Cnoc Na Mòine are being made available for $70 per bottle worldwide.

The post Torabhaig Produces Hill Of Peat first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Lochlea Unleashes Ploughing Edition

Lochlea has released Ploughing Edition Second Crop – a peated single malt that was aged in former Islay casks. Lochlea Ploughing Edition Second Crop was bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof] and is said to contain notes of apple, summer hay and, of course, the smoky traces of peat embers. Lochlea Ploughing Edition […]

The post Lochlea Unleashes Ploughing Edition first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Lochlea has released Ploughing Edition Second Crop – a peated single malt that was aged in former Islay casks.

Lochlea Ploughing Edition Second Crop was bottled at 46% alcohol by volume [92 proof] and is said to contain notes of apple, summer hay and, of course, the smoky traces of peat embers.

Lochlea Ploughing Edition Second Crop is being made available for $66 per bottle.

The post Lochlea Unleashes Ploughing Edition first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Tobermory Reveals 26-Year-Old

Tobermory has released a 26-year=old whisky finished in Oloroso sherry casks as part of their Hebridean Series – the whisky originates from a 2008 15-year-old release that was left in the same casks to mature for another 11 years. Tobermory’s 26-year-old is said to contain notes of honey, toffee and walnuts. Only 4,560 bottles are […]

The post Tobermory Reveals 26-Year-Old first appeared on Whisky Critic – Whisky Reviews & Articles – Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Tobermory’s 26-year-old is said to contain notes of honey, toffee and walnuts.

Only 4,560 bottles are being made available for $470 per bottle via the distillery’s website.

The post Tobermory Reveals 26-Year-Old first appeared on Whisky Critic - Whisky Reviews & Articles - Style. Attitude. Whisky..

Inbox | The Week’s Whisky News | March 15, 2024

Inbox will take a break for the next two Fridays as we are away on a much needed holiday. It will return on Friday, April 5. Here is this week's whisky news ...

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Aberfeldy

The Highland distillery of Aberfeldy has announced the latest addition to it Wine Cask Collection - the Aberfeldy 21 years old Malbec Cask Finish. The Wine Cask Collection whiskies are created by Stephanie Macleod, the Malt Master for Aberfeldy. This edition has seen the brand partner with Finca Ambrosia, an organic winery located in the Uco Valley in Mendoza, Argentina.

The batch of single malt used was distilled in November 2001 and matured for over two decades in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and ex-sherry hogsheads. They were then combined and filled to French oak ex-Malbec wine casks that had previously held Finca Ambrosia’s Viña Unica expression.

The Aberfeldy 21 years old Malbec Cask Finish is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It is available from the distillery shop in the Highlands and in selected work markets. These include Australia, France, Germany, Singapore, Taiwan, the UK and USA. A bottle will cost £230/ US$280.

Gold Spot

Irish Distillers have announced the launch of a new expression in their Spot Family range of whiskeys - Gold Spot The Generations Edition 13 years old. The limited edition whiskey celebrates the Mitchell family, who have been custodians of the Spot whiskeys for generations. This expression has seen them pair up with another family - the winemaking Speri family from the Valpolicella region of northern Italy.

The Generations Edition initial maturation was in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, before being married and placed in ex-Valpolicella Classica Italian wine casks for a further 16 month finishing period. These casks have come directly from the Speri family's Secondo Marco winery.

Gold Spot The Generations Edition 13 years old is bottled at 46% ABV and is non-chill filtered. It will be available in limited quantities in selected markets including France, Ireland, the UK and USA plus travel retail. A bottle will cost €150.

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