Saltire Rare Malt to launch at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival – Scotch Whisky News
Saltire Rare Malt to launch at Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival
Falkland, Fife / Archiestown, Speyside – Thursday 2 April 2024
Independent bottler Saltire Rare Malt Ltd will present its first 3 releases celebrating the 25th edition of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. The company was originally founded by Keith Rennie and Nigel Heywood, two Scottish friends from Falkland in Fife.
Keith Rennie comments: “We wanted to honour the pedigree of Scotland’s liquid pride and started to quietly buy casks of maturing whisky over the past decade. Now, 530 years after the official birth of Scotch in 1494, coincidentally at Falkland Palace, we thought it was the right time to release the first bottlings of Saltire Rare Malt. In the Whisky Couple, we have found the perfect team to curate our stock.”
The Whisky Couple, Hans & Becky Offringa, are honoured to have been appointed curators of the entire stock, consisting of over 250 casks, and growing. Each bottle will carry a small statement about their involvement. “We’ve never before connected our name so clearly to a specific whisky company, but really felt this is the time and the opportunity to do so. The stock is of excellent quality and from a wide variety of distilleries’ adds Hans.
David McCallum has been appointed UK & Europe Brand Ambassador, and he will focus on introducing the brand to consumers and the trade. David comments “I am excited to join the project to bring a new independent bottler to the market, with Saltire Rare Malt single cask bottlings released only when ready, at a minimum of 48.8% abv or higher and at 14 years old or older.”
Saltire Rare Malt will be initially available in the UK and The Netherlands with other countries planned to follow soon after, such as Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, Japan, New Zealand and the USA amongst others.
The Saltire Rare Malt Aultmore 14 years old and Tamnavulin 15 years old bottlings will be presented during four sessions at the Dowans Hotel in Aberlour on the Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday afternoon from 3 to 5 pm, as part of “A History of Scotch”. Limited places are still available and can be booked HERE
The Saltire Rare Malt Glen Moray 17 years old bottling will be presented at the Glen Moray Distillery on Saturday evening at the Star Wars Event Return of the Jedi, limited tickets available HERE
During the Spirit of Speyside Festival, bottlings of all three Saltire Rare Malt single cask whiskies will be available to purchase at Hotel 1881 in Archiestown and The Dowans Hotel in Aberlour.
To find out more about Saltire Rare Malt, visit https://www.saltireraremalt.com/
About the Saltire Rare Malt Collection 2024 Releases:
Release No.1 – Saltire Rare Malt Glen Moray 17 years old
Region: Speyside
Distilled: 4th May 2007
Bottled: 4th May 2024
Cask: #800471
ABV: 48.8% abv
Notes: 2nd Fill American Oak
Bottles in Batch: 310
RSP: £105
On the Nose and Palate:
A bit of a surprise on the nose and palate but very tasty with a gentle goodbye.
This whisky has a pale gold colour in the glass. The nose starts with aromas of stewed apples, tinned pears and pineapple chunks. A sturdy background of malty notes supports this fruit salad, which is laced with aniseed and crystalized ginger.
On the palate, what follows is a succulent burst with more fruit (ripe cherries) and shaved hazelnut.
The finish is slightly astringent and pleasantly reminiscent of bitter lemon soda. Adding water is not recommended since it slightly flattens the delicate experience of this fine malt.
Release No.2 – Saltire Rare Malt Aultmore 14 years old
Region: Speyside
Distilled: 25th March 2010
Bottled: 26th March 2024
Cask: #21250
ABV: 48.8% abv
Notes: 2nd Fill Oloroso Ex-Agitator
Bottles in Batch: 380
RSP: £79
On the Nose and Palate:
A nice aperitif, elegant and accessible. This would be a lovely accompaniment to a summer fruit salad.
This whisky is pale gold in the glass. On the nose is an immediate hint of buttered banana bread surrounded by floral aromas of broom, honeysuckle and pansy, carried on a malty platform.
That malty character carries on in the palate with added notes of walnut and unsweetened citrus lemonade. A quiet finale, medium long and very pleasant. This dram really benefits from a dash of water to release a fresh floral note appearing next to more banana aromas.
Release No.3 – Saltire Rare Malt Tamnavulin 15 years old
Region: Speyside
Distilled: 2nd April 2009
Bottled: 3rd April 2024
Cask: #1975
ABV: 48.8% abv
Notes: 1st Fill Ex-Rhum Agricole
Bottles in Batch: 296
RSP: £95
On the Nose and Palate:
A very agreeable aperitif that may serve as a companion with asparagus with a butter cream sauce and a dusting of celery salt.
This pale gold whisky is slightly mineral in the nose at first, then followed by toasted banana bread. Then the aromas remind one of walking on a green wet lawn while tasting fresh sour cherries. Later a clear vegetal note of cooked asparagus sprinkled with lemon juice arrives, over a background of wet sawdust.
On the palate it is really fruity and vegetal, with the emphasis on the latter. After a while longer, angelica appears during a pleasant, slightly bitter finish that does not linger. Add a few drops of water and notice an increased creaminess in the mouthfeel.
About The Whisky Couple, Hans & Becky Offringa:
Hans Offringa is an international author and whisky expert who has worked in the industry for over 30 years. An inductee of the Whisky Hall of Fame, a Kentucky Colonel and a Keeper of the Quaich, Hans is a judge at the Scottish Whiskies Awards and the World Whisky Awards and serves as Director on the Advisory Board of The Council of Whiskey Masters.
Becky Lovett Offringa is a Keeper of the Quaich and co-author of numerous whisky books. Becky is a well-respected judge at the Scottish Whisky Awards and the World Whiskies Awards. She also is a Member on the Advisory Board of the Council of Whiskey Masters.
Becky & Hans, internationally known as ‘The Whisky Couple’, are trusted partners of the Saltire family and with their guidance and advice we are proud to be launching our inaugural release in May 2024.
