An experiment in innovation… The A. D. Rattray Octave Project 

The A. D. Rattray Octave project involved taking a cask of matured whisky from a single distillery, and dividing it between four different Octave casks. The 50 litre Octave casks were crafted from oak staves taken from a larger cask that had previously contained either PX Sherry, Oloroso Sherry, Rioja or Rum. The aim was to investigate the effect of the amplified wood-to-spirit interaction during a short burst of second wood maturation.

Having carefully monitored the Octaves over time, at five months they decided the wood finishes were ready to bottle. One portion of whisky from the original cask was retained to enable a point of comparison.

The experiment, as detailed above, was conducted with an Arran 2011 Bourbon Barrel, Pulteney 2007 Bourbon Hogshead and Bunnahabhain 2002 Bourbon Hogshead.

The Results

The results have been presented in sets containing 5 x 30ml samples including the original Bourbon cask and the 4 Octave finishes – PX Sherry, Oloroso Sherry, Rioja and Rum.

The 3 sets, Arran (£25), Pulteney (£30) and Bunnahabhain (£35), are available to buy exclusively from A. D. Rattray on their new online shop – shop.adrattray.com. Limited numbers of 700ml bottles of each cask finish can also be purchased.

A. D. Rattray have chosen not to comment on their results or to publish official tasting notes, as they want to know what the whisky community think.

So get your samples and join the conversation #theoctaveproject

Notes:

Shop online for UK delivery at shop.adrattray.com or contact A. D. Rattray to enquire about international shipping.

For a limited time you can book a tasting of the Bunnahabhain Octave Project in the tasting room at the A. D. Rattray Whisky Experience in Kirkoswald, Enjoy a hosted tasting of the original Bourbon Hogshead and the 4 Octave finishes for £35 p.p. – book online at adrattray.com

About A. D. Rattray

A, D. Rattray, an independent whisky company established in 1868, are renowned for selecting and maturing Scotland’s best casks of single malt whisky for their Cask Collection single cask range. Their whisky portfolio also includes the award-winning single malt brands Cask Islay and Stronachie and the premium blend, Bank Note. Based on the West Coast of Scotland, you can visit their 5 star visitor attraction and home of their brands, the A. D. Rattray Whisky Experience and Shop in Kirkoswald, Ayrshire.