Old Pulteney unveils first Distillery Exclusive expression dedicated to its coastal home

Old Pulteney, known as The Maritime Malt, has today revealed its first ever Distillery Exclusive whisky, which pays homage to its coastal home in the Scottish Highlands.

To create the limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky, Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring hand-selected his favourite casks before keeping a watchful eye over the whisky as it matured at one of the most northern distilleries in Wick, Scotland.

Offering deliciously rich notes of stone fruits, citrus and toffee, Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive intertwines these with the classic briny undertone that is synonymous with each of the brand’s expressions, taking influence from the North Sea.

Matured in French Oak, the expression is available to buy exclusively from Pulteney Distillery and via Old Pulteney’s online shop (here).

Old Pulteney, The Maritime Malt, has unveiled its first ever Distillery Exclusive expression which pays homage to its coastal home, Pulteney Distillery, sat on the northern-most shores of mainland Scotland, in Wick.

Showcasing beautifully rich notes of stone fruits, citrus and toffee, the Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive is wonderfully deep, and marries the bold flavours with the briny and sea-salt undertones that is synonymous with the brand’s expressions, after being lovingly matured for years on the banks of the North Sea.

Created as a tribute to Pulteney Distillery, which was established in 1826, the expression was first filled in American oak casks, before further maturation in French oak, pulling through deep, sweet notes with a subtle spice.

Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive has been created by Distillery Manager Malcolm Waring, who carefully hand-selected his favourite casks to create a delicious flavour profile, before keeping a watchful and expert eye over the whisky as it matured.

On the nose, the expression is rich and offers a deep sweetness of caramelised apple, warm custard and cinnamon spiced pastries. Towards the end, notes of rye bread, orange citrus, stone fruits and a delicate oak dryness comes through.

The flavour is gloriously deep and showcases notes of sweetness and spice. Toffee, nutmeg and caramelised popcorn envelop the palate and develop into rich blossom honey, roasted almonds and creamy vanilla. The finish is slightly spicy, with notes of honey lingering on the palate before giving way to a welcome tannic dryness in the form of dried fruits.

The limited-edition expression is non-chill filtered and has an ABV of 53%, which is slightly higher than that of the distillery’s core range, allowing the delicious flavours of caramelised fruit, nutmeg and honey to come to the fore.

Malcolm Waring, Distillery Manager, said: “I’m very proud to introduce the first Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive to the world. Capturing the very essence of its maritime location in every dram, the expression has been created as a homage to our home on the Caithness Coast in Wick, using my favourite French and American oak casks to create a beautiful, well-rounded flavour.

“For centuries, Pulteney Distillery has been creating some of the finest single malts with an unmistakable coastal character. Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive is no different, and offers drinkers a rich and complex flavour profile, whilst keeping to its roots with the briny undertones that Old Pulteney is known for.”

Old Pulteney Distillery Exclusive is available at Pulteney Distillery and via Old Pulteney’s website (here), and retails at £85.

For more information, please visit www.oldpulteney.com

About Old Pulteney

Old Pulteney’s story, distillery, and whisky is shaped by the sea itself. The unique combination of brisk sea air and meticulous cask selection makes its flavour unlike other single malt Scotch whiskies. The award-winning core collection, revitalised for the modern market in 2018, includes: 12 Years Old, Huddart, 15 Years Old, 18 Years Old, and 25 Years Old.

The 19th Century fishing boom, which saw thousands of fishermen and their families descending on Wick every year, led to the founding of the distillery in 1826. Today, the town is better known as the home of Old Pulteney and its distillery. Inseparable from the spirit of the harbour town it calls home and distilled and matured by the sea, Old Pulteney will always be The Maritime Malt.

In 2022, Old Pulteney launched the first in its Coastal Series, a collection of whiskies that have been matured in seaside casks. The series is made up of four expressions, which will be released annually. The first expression to be launched was Old Pulteney Pineau des Charentes.

Recent awards for Old Pulteney’s core range include Silver for both Old Pulteney 12 Years Old and Huddart at the 2022 IWSC awards, along with an Outstanding for Old Pulteney 18 Years Old. Old Pulteney 12 Years Old and Huddart also took home Silver awards at the 2022 ISC awards.

A CELEBRATION OF THE HEBRIDEAN ISLE OF RAASAY:

ISLE OF RAASAY DISTILLERY REVEALS NEW LIMITED-EDITION WHISKY, FULLY MATURED IN EX-MANZANILLA CASKS

11^th May 2023, London: The Isle of Raasay Distillery has unveiled a new limited-edition expression in celebration of winning the coveted Tourism Destination of the Year Award at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2022.

The new ‘Distillery Exclusive – Tourism Destination of the Year’ is inspired by the rugged yet beautiful windswept Isle of Raasay, with the team choosing a unique blend of sherry and ex-Manzanilla Pasada casks to achieve a salty maritime note within the whisky that encapsulates the island’s climate. Overall, this maturation process delivers a whisky which is lightly peated with notes of chamomile, almonds and salted caramel and has an ABV of 63.5%.

Co-founder and Master Distiller, Alasdair Day said: “The Isle of Raasay is a very small rugged, windswept Hebridean island that lies off the East coast of Skye. An island off an island. With all of our spirit being matured on Raasay in our warehouses there has been a lot of discussion about our maritime climate and how this may influence the flavour characteristics of our maturing whisky. It was with this thought in mind, combined with the tradition of maturing Scotch Whisky in sherry casks that we selected a small quantity of ex Manzanilla Pasada casks for our Isle of Raasay Single Malt to mature in.

“Manzanilla is a very dry sherry, similar to Fino, made in the same way but at the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda next to the sea and not inland in Jerez. This results in a salty maritime note in Manzanilla which is not present in Fino sherry. It is this note that we were looking to promote in this very special release of our Isle of Raasay Hebridean Single Malt. It combines our maturation by the sea with the maritime influence of the Manzanilla sherry.”

Only 2,500 bottles of ‘Distillery Exclusive – Tourism Destination of the Year’ will be released which will be exclusively available to their online whisky club and at the Isle of Raasay Distillery from 17^th May 2023 with a retail price of £95.

‘Distillery Exclusive – Tourism Destination of the Year’ details:

Fully matured in ex Manzanilla sherry cask.

Release Date: Slainte Club Ballot opens 8th May & closes 15^th May 2023.

ABV: 52%
Peat Level: Barley 48-52ppm | Residual in bottle estimated 8ppm
Presentation: Natural colour, non-chill filtered
Cask Types: First fill North American oak casks (Quercus alba) seasoned for 24 months with Manzanilla pasada
Spirit Types: Isle of Raasay peated
Yeast Type: Distillers’ Yeast
Water Source: Isle of Raasay Distillery 60 metre well on site – Tobar na Bà Baine
Fermentation Time: 3 and 5 day fermentations
Spirit Cut Point:75 to 65 abv
Cask Filling Strength: 63.5% abv
Distilled: 25/10/2019 – 1/11/2019
Maturation & Bottling: Isle of Raasay Distillery

Glenmorangie brings a deliciously spicy twist to its single-estate whisky

— Award-winning Highland Distillery captures the essence of its homeland in field to glass series’ third batch release —

Today, Highland Single Malt Glenmorangie shares the delectable taste and terroir of its homeland with the latest release in its Cadboll Estate series of single-estate whiskies. Crafted by Glenmorangie from field to glass, this limited-edition series brings the spirit and flavour of the Distillery’s cherished Highland home to whisky lovers around the globe. Aged for 15 years, the third batch of Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate brings a nutty and spicy twist to the series’ award-winning flavour.

Glenmorangie’s Cadboll Estate lies just a short journey from the Distillery on the scenic Easter Ross peninsula, between the Moray Firth and the Dornoch Firth. Few live here – it’s a tranquil, rural place boasting wide-open skies, endless barley fields and beautiful beaches that come alive with the cycles of the seasons. Some years ago, Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky Creation, became inspired to share the essence of the whisky’s homeland more widely in a series of single-estate expressions. And so, The Cadboll Estate series was born.

Each release in the series begins in the Distillery’s own barley fields located on the Cadboll Estate, planted and harvested to Dr Bill’s specifications. This Cadboll barley is then mashed and distilled in Glenmorangie’s towering copper stills (as tall as an adult giraffe to allow for a more elegant taste and aroma), to bring forth a uniquely delicious spirit.

Dr Bill imagined how he might bring hints of nuts and spice to that rare spirit’s softness. With these flavours in mind, he selected spirit created from two separate barley harvests and aged it in American oak bourbon casks to enhance those creamy depths. Then, picturing notes of hazelnut, toffee and clove, he finished a small portion in casks which once held Amontillado, his favourite style of sherry. After 15 years, Dr Bill reunited these whiskies in this series’ delicious third batch release; threading hints of toffee and spice around honeysuckle, peaches and cream.

Dr Bill Lumsden said: “Created at Glenmorangie from field to glass, our Cadboll Estate series captures the true essence of our Highland world for whisky lovers to experience, wherever they happen to be. Including a parcel of whisky finished in casks seasoned with Amontillado, my favourite sherry, the third Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate release adds wondrous sherried hints to our barley’s unique flavour. Soft and rich, with notes of deeply sweet spice, toffee, almonds and clove, this whisky celebrates the spirit, flavour and terroir of our homeland in a deliciously different way.”

The new Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate release will be exclusively available in the UK from 27^th April via Glenmorangie.com and at the Distillery Visitor Centre for an RRP of £75. It will be available more widely in the UK and in local markets from 4^th May onwards.

https://www.glenmorangie.com/

Follow Glenmorangie on:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Glenmorangie

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/glenmorangie

Tasting Notes: 

Glenmorangie Cadboll Estate third batch release is chill filtered and bottled at 43% ABV

Colour: Deep ochre.

Aroma: Wonderfully aromatic and fragrant, with touches of honey, hazelnuts, mandarin oranges and soft, sweet toffee. This is then followed by some fragrant, aromatic top notes, like sweet, ripening barley, followed by some baked peaches. A splash of water releases some flinty minerality, along with honeysuckle and jasmine flowers.

Taste: A gently spicy mouthfeel leads into a burst of sweet and spicy flavours – heather honey, gingerbread, hazelnut praline, fudge, toffee and a touch of clove. The Amontillado cask-derived nuttiness is always present, but always gently integrated with other, sweeter flavours.

Finish: The lingering aftertaste has touches of almond marzipan, coconut and finally a suggestion of baking fruit loaves.

RRP: £75

Release date: Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate third batch release will be available from specialist whisky shops from 4^th May. It will also be available from the Distillery Visitor Centre and online at Glenmorangie.com from 27^th April. 

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for more than 175 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in stills as tall as an adult giraffe to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this crackerjack crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

Glenmorangie celebrates the joy of delicious single malt in every part of its universe, from its boutique hotel Glenmorangie House to its colourful brand campaign, shot by famed photographer Miles Aldridge. With its tagline “It’s Kind of Delicious and Wonderful”, Glenmorangie invites whisky lovers old and new to see themselves in Glenmorangie’s world.

About The Cadboll Estate series:

This unique series of field-to-glass whiskies was created to share the spirit and flavour of Glenmorangie’s ruggedly beautiful, yet remote homeland with whisky lovers old and new. It began with the first release of Glenmorangie The Cadboll Estate in 2020, a deep and creamy single malt distilled in 2004 and aged in first-fill American white oak bourbon casks. The release was named Best Single Malt 15 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition (IWC) in 2021 and won a double gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), and gold at the International Spirits Challenge (ISC) that year. The silky richness of the second batch, distilled in 2005, wonderfully reflected the subtle changes each year brings to the Highlands. It was awarded gold medals at the IWC, SFWSC, ISC and Scottish Whisky Awards. The nutty, spicy and creamy notes of the third batch release are a deliciously sherried take on the series’ style. What is more, Dr Bill is already dreaming up further whiskies for the single-estate series. So whisky fans can look forward to enjoying further delicious tastes of Glenmorangie’s home, even if they are yet to explore the Highlands in person.

About Cadboll barley:

Found only in the fields of Glenmorangie’s 440-acre Cadboll Estate, Glenmorangie’s own barley is grown and harvested just as Dr Bill wishes – even down to the barley variety and the fields in which it is planted. When the barley is harvested, he arranges for it to be dried and malted exactly as he chooses, to bring a little extra creaminess to Glenmorangie’s wonderfully delicate spirit. Only enough barley can be harvested from the estate each year for one or two weeks of production at the Distillery. So as you can imagine, Cadboll barley is exceptionally precious.

About Dr Bill Lumsden:

Dr Bill Lumsden’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And throughout his 25 years with Glenmorangie, the Distillery’s Creative Director has challenged himself and his team to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that the spirit and flavour of Glenmorangie’s homeland (the Cadboll Estate series), the magic of a cake moment (Glenmorangie A Tale of Cake), a cup of coffee (Glenmorangie Signet), a long balmy day in Madeira (Glenmorangie Bacalta) and more. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he is a new entry in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Glen Scotia unveils limited-edition ‘Campbeltown Malts Festival 2023’ release with its first-ever on-pack virtual experience with whisky expert, Becky Paskin 

Multi-award-winning distillery, Glen Scotia has unveiled its 2023 Festival release – a limited-edition bottling to mark the Campbeltown Malts Festival (23-24^th May 2023), the yearly event hosted in the distillery’s hometown to celebrate the region’s rich history.

In keeping with its tradition of bold innovative styles and flavours for this annual global release, this year’s 11-Year-Old lightly peated single malt has been finished for 12 months in white port casks. It is brimming with bright spiced stone fruit flavours, fragrant prune and fig notes, and a sandalwood spice, all intertwined with a distinctly-Campbeltown soft smoke and sea salt.

In a first for Glen Scotia, the packaging of the latest release will be embossed with a bespoke QR code giving those unable to make the trip to the ‘Victorian Whisky Capital’ a chance to transport themselves into the heart of the distillery for a unique new digital experience, the Glen Scotia Whisky Experiment.

Led by award-winning spirits writer, TV presenter, and OurWhisky Founder, Becky Paskin, the virtual video experiment, shot in the dunnage warehouse and around the town, takes viewers on a sensory exploration, intentionally manipulating sight, colour, and sound, as Becky guides audiences to pour a dram and consider how its flavour is influenced by visuals and music in the experience.

She is joined by Glen Scotia master distiller and distillery manager, Iain McAlister, as the pair take a walk through the distinctive Campbeltown landscape. The region, which is characterised by its climate, nature, and location to the sea, is a deeply sensorial spot, defined by the elements, which also play an important role in its whisky-making.

The project follows Becky and Iain’s Whisky Experiment in-person at last year’s Malts Festival, as Glen Scotia continues to seek new ways to bring Campbeltown to audiences around the world.

Made by the experts behind Scotland’s ‘Distillery of the Year 2021’, this 2023 limited-edition release is another remarkable bottling that stays true to the classic Campbeltown character, while offering something intriguing and bold in its unique flavour profile. Available to purchase online and in specialist retailers around the world, the 70cl bottle (54.7% ABV) retails at £65.

Iain McAlister, Glen Scotia master distiller and distillery manager, said: “As our fanbase continues to grow around the world, we wanted to find a way to give those who might not be able to join us at the Malts Festival this year a rich experience of our home. The Whisky Experiment is just that, and provides a fascinating approach to whisky tasting, as Becky encourages us to reconsider what’s in our glass again and again, as the environment transforms in front of us. I love that it can be done time and time again with any Glen Scotia dram, wherever you are in the world.

“This year’s Festival Release is another superb, limited-edition that showcases the scope of what Glen Scotia can offer; the white port cask finish provides something interesting and different for us, while still maintaining that wonderful fruity, robust, and subtly saline Campbeltown signature profile.” 

Becky Paskin added: “We had such a brilliant time at last year’s Festival bringing to life the sights and sounds of Campbeltown through the medium of whisky, and we wanted to share this wonderful, sensorial experience with everyone.

“The idea behind the Glen Scotia Whisky Experiment is guided by the way our sense of taste is dictated by the environment we’re in; so, what we taste in our glass will be affected by our setting, and Campbeltown is a fantastic place to recreate.

“This is a chance to rip up the rule book on traditional whisky tasting notes, have an open mind, and find new possibilities, which is the most exciting part – drams can be completely re-imagined.”

The Campbeltown Malts Festival is a celebration of the region once known as the ‘Victorian Whisky Capital of the World’ due to its illustrious past and the role whisky-making has played in the town for over 200 years.  It celebrates the exceptional whisky-production capabilities of Scotland’s smallest whisky-making region through a series of events and tastings that explore Glen Scotia’s award-winning portfolio.

For further information on this year’s event, visit: www.glenscotia.com/pages/whisky-festival

Tasting notes:

• Nose: warming spiced stone fruit, stewed white peach and cloves with a fresh lemongrass and a slight mineral element
• Palette: Molasses, caramel sweetness with prune and fig notes, a waxed wood and sandalwood spice
• Finish: Fills the mouth with a long fragrant finish

About Glen Scotia

Distiller Glen Scotia has been producing single malt whisky in Campbeltown since 1832 and is one of three surviving distilleries in Campbeltown.

Producing peated and non-peated whiskies, the distillery still maintains much of its original design, including the fermenters, the stillroom, and the dunnage warehouse. To this day, the distillery team follow in the footsteps of their founders, using traditional methods, carefully creating the subtly maritime Campbeltown style the brand has become world-famous for.

Recognition of Glen Scotia’s style and craftsmanship continues to be acknowledged globally.

• In 2021, Glen Scotia’s 25-Year-Old Single Malt whisky was awarded ‘Best In Show Whisky’ at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Over 3,800 entries across thirty-one categories were judged with Glen Scotia being awarded the overall winner across all countries and styles. Only seven months later, Glen Scotia was also named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2021.
• In 2022, Glen Scotia’s Victoriana won Best In Class in the Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch – No Age Statement category at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• In 2023, Glen Scotia won ‘Best Single Cask Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards 2023 for a single cask bottling distilled in 2009 and aged for 13 years exclusively in a first-fill bourbon barrel.

Twitter: @GlenScotiaMalts

Instagram: @glenscotiamalts

Facebook: @GlenScotiaWhisky

 Becky Paskin

Becky Paskin is an award-winning whisky journalist, presenter and consultant, and founder of OurWhisky and The OurWhisky Foundation. Formerly editor of leading online magazine Scotchwhisky.com and global trade title The Spirits Business, her whisky writing appears in a variety of publications from Club Oenologique and Waitrose to Whisky Magazine and the Daily Beast.

She is a regular drinks presenter for television and radio, including ITV’s Love Your Weekend, and regularly presents educational seminars at global drinks festivals including Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, Imbibe and The Whisky Show in London, and Australia’s The Bloody Big Drinks Summit, among many others.

Becky is one of the world’s leading advocates for breaking down cultural misconceptions about whisky. In 2022 she launched OurWhisky, the UK’s first whisky subscription club to be founded by a woman. A bright, modern subscription club with an ethos to celebrate whisky’s rich diversity of liquid and people, OurWhisky is proud to stand apart from other prevailingly male-dominated clubs by attracting a majority female membership.

In 2020 she was named Icons of Whisky Communicator of the Year, IWSC Spirits Communicator of the Year and listed as About Time Magazine’s Top 10 Women to Watch in Drinks. Becky is currently listed as the 21st most influential person in the global drinks industry by Drinks International.

KILLOWEN DISTILLERY
WINS TWO AWARDS AT THE
SAN FRANCISCO SPIRIT AWARDS

We at Killowen have been somewhat sceptical of Spirit Awards in the past but having seen other spirits we regard highly winning awards we thought we would give it a go!

Having looked at the many, many Spirit Awards that are on offer globally we decided to jump right in with the longest running and largest of its kind – The San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Founded in 2000 this Spirits Competition has become one of the most prestigious and influential awards in the world. So with a good dose of ‘Go Big or Go Home’ we entered our Pangur Irish Poitín and Signature Blend Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Rum & Raisin.

With the assistance of our USA Importer we got out bottles submitted, crossed our fingers, toes and anything else we could and waited. Then just at the end of last week we got the joyous news that not only did we win but we received two awards.

Up against a growing category of Irish Poitín producers and Single Malt Irish Whiskey producers we where over the moon to win – Double Gold for our Pangur Irish Poitín and Silver for our Rum & Raisin Single Malt Irish Whiskey.

The timing on this also couldn’t be better, as this Thursday 4th May at 6pm we are having an official launch of Pangur Irish Poitin at Trademarket Belfast. So if your around why not join us to find out more about the native spirit of Ireland and try this award winning poitín for yourself – neat, in a long drink or even a cocktail whatever takes your fancy!

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

Killowen Distillery Ltd
29 Kilfeaghan Road
Rostrevor
Newry, County Down BT34 3AW
United Kingdom

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY CONTINUES TO PUSH THE BOUNDARIES OF WHISKEY EXPLORATION WITH LATEST EXPRESSION IN OLD CHARTER OAK SERIES, SPANISH OAK

Latest product in evolving whiskey collection introduces oak long used to make the finest sherries to the world of premium bourbon

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (April 18, 2023) – Buffalo Trace Distillery continues its exploration into oak tree varietals with the latest release in its Old Charter Oak collection, Spanish Oak Bourbon. Harvested from the forests of northern Spain, the trees used in this year’s experiment were made into staves that were seasoned outdoors before becoming the barrels that aged this unique whiskey. Spanish Oak Bourbon joins the four previous releases in the Old Charter Oak series, including Chinkapin Oak, Mongolian Oak, French Oak, and Canadian Oak.

Aged at Buffalo Trace Distillery, this innovative whiskey sits in stark contrast to its counterparts aged in traditional American Oak barrels. While American Oak gives a softer, sweeter taste with notes of vanilla and caramel, European Oak, including the Spanish Oak varietal, is drier, spicier and has stronger wood input. Long used for aging the world’s finest sherries, Spanish Oak imbues tasting notes of deep oak and dense caramel, followed by rich vanilla and an abundance of dark stone fruit, finishing with notes of toasted nuts and baking spice.

“The whiskey extracts from the charred oak barrel exciting elements like eugenol, vanillin and whiskey lactone,” said Buffalo Trace Distillery Master Distiller, Harlen Wheatley. “American Oak has higher proportions of vanillin and whiskey lactone, resulting in bourbon with a softer, sweeter taste and notes of vanilla and caramel. Our Spanish Oak, on the other hand, has more eugenol, meaning drier, spicier notes and flavors like clove are imparted onto the liquid. We specifically wanted to test Spanish Oak as part of this collection because of its connection to sherry, which is known to be a nuttier, fruitier spirit. We were curious how those flavors would impact the taste of whiskey, and we are very pleased with the result.”

The Old Charter Oak collection honors and celebrates the role of oak in making great whiskey by exploring the various possible taste profiles of whiskey resulting from barrels created from trees grown in different countries, climates, and soil. The oak trees used each year vary by country of origin, species, or U.S. state with some barrels made from century-old trees that grew between 100 to 300 years.

“A common misconception about the distilling process is that bourbon must be aged in new American Oak barrels,” Wheatley continued. “Though most bourbons mature in American White Oak barrels, federal regulations do not specify what type of oak the barrel must be, only that it must be a new, charred oak container. At Buffalo Trace Distillery, we are deeply committed to honoring the traditions of our category but also embracing change and pushing the limits of innovation to see where American whiskey can go in the future. Our Old Charter Oak collection is a superb example of trying new things and offering consumers and fans more ways to enjoy our award-winning portfolio of whiskeys.”

Packaging for Spanish Oak will remain consistent with the other releases, with an upscale look consisting of a glass bottle with a cork finish. Each bottle has an oak medallion on the front depicting the Charter Oak tree. Bottles are packaged in 750ml and available at a suggested retail pricing of $69.99. Spanish Oak will be available in select markets in the United States beginning Spring 2023. For more information, please visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

About Buffalo Trace Distillery

Buffalo Trace Distillery is an American family-owned company based in Frankfort, Kentucky. The Distillery’s rich tradition dates back to 1775 and includes such legends as E.H. Taylor, Jr., George T. Stagg, Albert B. Blanton, Orville Schupp, and Elmer T. Lee.  Buffalo Trace Distillery is a fully operational Distillery producing bourbon, rye and vodka on site and is a National Historic Landmark as well as is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The Distillery has won 40 distillery titles since 2000 from such notable publications as Whisky Magazine, Whisky Advocate Magazine and Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Its George T. Stagg was named World Whiskey of the Year for 2022 and its Thomas H. Handy Sazerac Rye was named 2nd Finest Whiskey in the World for 2022.  Buffalo Trace Distillery has also garnered more than 1,000 awards for its wide range of premium whiskies. To learn more about Buffalo Trace Distillery visit www.buffalotracedistillery.com.

CHIVAS DROPS LIMITED EDITION CHIVAS 18, IN COLLABORATION WITH K-POP ICON LISA

Macaloney’s Island Distillery Scores ‘World’s Best’ Hat-Trick at World Whiskies Awards

Macaloney’s cements standing in elite group of global distilleries, claiming a third World’s Best gold medal in 2023’s World Whiskies Awards 

SAANICH, BC (April 20, 2023) – When Graeme Macaloney PhD, President and Whisky Maker at Macaloney’s Island Distillery, was invited to London, UK to attend the World Whiskies Awards in person, he thought he might go home with three awards. Instead, he brought home four, including World’s Best Pot Still award for one of their flagship whiskies, Kildara Signature Expression. This success demonstrates the reslience of Macaloney Distillers, who recently settled a lawsuit with the Scotch Whisky Association in April 2022.

In addition to the prestigious World’s Best award, Macaloney also brought home:

·     Best Canadian Single Malt, gold medal for its Siol Dugall Signature Expression

·     Best Canadian Single Cask Malt, gold medal for The Peat Project: Single Cask Portuguese Red wine Barrique with Washington Peat

·     Best Canadian Pot Still, gold medal for its Kildara Signature Expression

“Winning World’s Best Single Pot Still for our Kildara, along with three gold medals for Best Canadian Single Malt, Best Canadian Single Cask Single Malt, and Best Canadian Pot Still was breathtaking” said Macaloney. “With our prior World’s Best New-Make & Young Spirit awards in 2019 and 2020 for our peated spirits, we are the first Canadian craft distillery in history to take an unprecedented three World Best gold medals in blind tastings at the prestigious World Whiskies Awards in the UK!”

With their recent wins, Macaloney’s has now graduated to join a rare handful of global whisky brands such as Suntory, Red Breast, J.P Wiser, and Johnny Walker. Moreover, they are the only craft distillery in Canada to have won three or more World’s Best gold medals.

“None of this would be possible if it weren’t for the grassroots crowdfunding support we continue to receive from whisky enthusiasts across the country, the mentorship I received from the late, great Dr. Jim Swan, and the incredibly hard work of all of our staff,” commented Macaloney.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery’s medal haul of 4 gold medals joins two other Victoria and two other Canadian winners from the 2023 World Whiskies Awards, including:

·     Best Canadian Small Batch Single Malt – Devine Distillery’s Glen Saanich in Victoria, BC

·     Best Canadian New Make & Young Spirit – Anhoka’s Heavily Peated Single Malt in Parkland County, Alberta

·     Best Canadian Rye – Lot 40’s Dark Oak in Windsor, Ontario

·     Best Hotel Bar – Clive’s Classic Lounge in Victoria, BC

To learn more about Macaloney’s Island Distillery or purchase their award-winning whiskies, visit www.macaloneydistillers.com.

About Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery: Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery is a destination craft distillery & brewery funded by Canadian single malt whisky & beer enthusiasts from coast-to-coast via an on-going crowdfunding campaign. The Visitor Centre gift store is normally open 7 days per week for kilt-clad guided tours & tutored tastings.

Macaloney’s Island Distillery & Twa Dogs Brewery

761 Enterprise Crescent, Saanich, Greater Victoria, BC, V8Z 6P7

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RYE RE-IMAGINED: INNOVATION EXCELLENCE OPENS NEW CHAPTER IN SCOTCH WHISKY HISTORY 

InchDairnie Distillery releases its first ever product, a Scottish rye whisky 

The ingenious, highly engineered InchDairnie Distillery located at the heart of the Kingdom of Fife has released its much anticipated first whisky.  Named RyeLaw, the distillery has used its sophisticated technology to extract maximum flavour from Scottish-grown rye and barley.  The elegantly designed bottles of this 2017 vintage are available from today, RRP £110 (70cl/46.3% ABV), at select retailers including Selfridges, Harvey Nichols and Fortnum & Mason.

The result of years of meticulous planning by distillery founder Ian Palmer is set to delight discerning drinkers the world over as they savour this new, luxury whisky.  A single-minded approach to using innovative materials, methods and maturation practices has resulted in a spicy rye flavour that is unlike any other Scotch whisky.  These include:

• 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley ground extra finely for maximum flavour extraction
• Cereals mashed using a Meura mash filter, one of only two used in Scotland
• Fermented using a rye-specific yeast, which results in lower yields, but higher flavour
• Double distilled in pot stills – not continuous distillation – the first with rare, double condensers and the second a bespoke Lomond Hill still, designed by Ian Palmer alongside stillmaker, Frilli (it is the only precision distilled rye Scotch whisky made in this way)
• Matured in charred new oak casks, created from trees that can be traced back to forests in the Ozark Mountains, USA

Commenting on the release of Ryelaw, industry veteran of 45+ years and InchDairnie Distillery Managing Director Ian Palmer, said: “We’ve 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 that we are putting it into bottles.  And what a whisky it is…  While we are rooted in Scotch whisky tradition, we have explored what is possible when agriculture meets industry and innovative technologies combine with methodology, to create a superb rye whisky that is sure to excite palates.”

“The rye spiciness with vanilla, sweet biscuit cereal and dried fruit notes seem much more defined than rye whiskeys from America we’ve compared it to.  There’s a richer, more luxurious mouthfeel and great balance, which are certainly helped by the favourable maturation conditions we have in Fife compared to Kentucky.  The use of malted rye in the mash means we have a softer, more sippable style of rye whisky.  We look forward to hearing if our American cousins agree.”  Added Scott Sneddon, Distillery Manager.

Presented in an elegantly tall bottle, with a ripple effect on one side representing the Company’s “3Ms” philosophy – innovation in materials, methods, maturation – looks like drops of water landing simultaneously, each creating its own ripple effect.  The bottle’s neck is inspired by the special filter of the hammer mill.  With distillation of this inaugural RyeLaw release taking place in just a single week in the whole year, only 200 casks of the ‘year one vintage’ have been bottled and made available worldwide.  Subsequent vintages are already maturing in different types of cask to those from year one’s Ozark Mountains.  In a field of its own, RyeLaw is free from colourings and is non-chill filtered.

With its first distillation on Christmas Day in 2015, InchDairnie Distillery has been quietly building its stocks of whisky, producing different styles, driven by the seasons.  Knowledgeable whisky aficionados have been eagerly awaiting the first release of the distillery’s spirit since news of the engineer-driven, alternative approach being taken at the energy-efficient production facility started becoming public.

Official Tasting Notes:  

Colour: Golden

Aroma: Distinguished rye spiciness mingling with mellow oak above a soft layer of vanilla

Flavour: Cascading pepper from the rye caressingly wrapped in mouth-coating, oily viscosity and sweet biscuity, cereal and dried fruit notes

Twitter: @InchDairnieDist

Instagram: @inchdairniedistillery

Website: www.inchdairniedistillery.com

#RyeReImagined #RyeLaw #InchDairnieDistillery

Notes:

• Product available at Selfridges, The Whisky Shop, The Whisky Exchange, Luvian’s, Speciality Drinks, Harvey Nichols, Hedonism, Good Spirits Co, Fortnum & Masons amongst others.
• RyeLaw is produced by the InchDairnie Distillery Ltd, and the only product currently available from the Company
• The Company is led by Founder and Managing Director, Ian Palmer
• Distribution worldwide is conducted by MacDuff International Ltd and their network of affiliate partners in each market.

Bunnahabhain Distillery unveils trio of new expressions to mark Fèis Ìle 2023

• Bunnahabhain Distillery is celebrating Fèis Ìle with three new limited release expressions: Canasta Cask Matured, 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish and 17 Year Old Triple Cask Moine

• The distillery has also created a virtual reality experience, transporting whisky lovers to the Northernmost tip of Islay from the comfort of their own homes 

•    Bunnahabhain Day at Fèis Ìle will be celebrated across the world, through a series of online and in-person events at the distillery on 2nd June 2023

To mark Fèis Ìle 2023, Islay’s renowned whisky and music festival, Bunnahabhain Distillery has unveiled three new expressions: Canasta Cask Matured, 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish and 17-year-old Triple Cask Moine.

Fèis Ìle is one of the biggest events in the Single Malt Whisky lovers’ calendar, with thousands of people travelling to Islay to visit the nine distilleries that each get their own dedicated ‘day’ – Bunnahabhain’s being on Friday 2^nd June.

For the first time ever, Islay’s most remote distillery is also launching a fully immersive virtual reality experience for those who can’t make it in person. This virtual reality experience allows users to fully immerse themselves in the world of Bunnahabhain, explore the distillery in 360 degrees, and enjoy tastings with the distillery team, including Master Distiller Brendan McCarron, from the comfort of their own homes.

Two of the new expressions, the Canasta Cask Matured and the 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish, will be available globally with a special experimental peated expression, the 17-year-old Triple Cask Moine exclusively sold at the distillery and at bunnahabhain.com.

The Canasta Cask Matured is a distinctive expression, inspired by the success of the Bunnahabhain 1980 Canasta Cask Finish limited release. Canasta casks are rarely used in whisky making and were once home to a skilful blend of Palamino and Pedro Ximenez grapes before being used for whisky making. This spicy and sweet combination compliments the Bunnahabhain unpeated spirit exceptionally well, adding layers of complexity and richness. No added colour and non-chilled filtered, the expression has been created to enjoy as nature intended, with an ABV of 51.2%.

The 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish is a celebration of the influences experienced at Bunnahabhain’s unique coastal home at the Northern most part of Islay. Manzanilla is famed for its coastal, nutty and salty characteristics, which pair beautifully with Bunnahabhain’s unpeated sherried spirit resulting in a warming and welcoming dram, bottled at cask strength with an ABV of 52.3%.

The 17-year-old Triple Cask Moine expression is exclusively available at the distillery. This experimental expression was inspired by Julieann Fernandez, Bunnahabhain’s Master Blender, and her love for rum and raisin ice-cream. A contrast to Bunnahabhain’s house style, the 17-year-old has an ABV of 52.6% and is a marriage of three skilfully blended peated single malts that offers notes of the finest artisan rum and raisin ice-cream, with a wonderfully smoky finish.

Brendan McCarron, Master Distiller at Bunnahabhain, said: “We’re so excited to welcome whisky fans from across the globe to celebrate the world of Bunnahabhain at Fèis Ìle once again. We look forward to the festival every year as it is a great way to spend time with whisky lovers, bring them into our world and share some fantastic drams in such a beautiful setting.

“Our Canasta and Manzanilla expressions showcase the very best of our distillery home and our signature unpeated, sherried house style. Fèis Ìle also gives us a fantastic opportunity to experiment with the limited peated spirit we have, and our 17-year-old triple cask is a uniquely wonderful and smoky expression to add to the celebration. We’re very much looking forward to raising a dram with fellow whisky lovers later this year.”

To join the virtual Bunnahabhain experience, tasting kits and access to the virtual guide are available from www.bunnahabhain.com.

Notes 

About Bunnahabhain:

Established in 1881 and situated on Islay’s most northerly point, Bunnahabhain is the island’s most remote distillery, overlooking a notorious passage of ocean known by seafarers as the sound of Islay. It has long established links to the sea, previously only accessible by boat – with ships loaded up daily before transporting their important whisky cargo back to the mainland for sale.

The word ‘Bunnahabhain’ is Gaelic for ‘mouth of the river’ referring to the Margadale River, its source of pure spring water which is distilled in the island’s tallest stills, creating the renowned malts. It’s the use of pure spring water that is piped to the distillery which gives it its unique light colouring setting it apart from other darker liquids on the Islay landscape. The distillery goes against the grain – quite literally – with a portfolio made up of broadly non-peated expressions, however, its peated Toiteach A Dhà expression recently won in the Scotch Islay: No Age Statement category at this year’s World Whiskies Awards. Bunnahabhain took home a further four titles in the 2020 awards ranging from silver to gold certificates – showcasing the calibre of its range

Tasting notes:

Bunnahabhain Canasta

Colour: Polished Mahogany

Nose: Classic sherried nose, sweet and caramelised fruits, honey roasted nuts, waves of cinnamon and clove with a hint of rancio.

Palate: Maple syrup leads with creamy vanilla, dried figs, poached pears and a sprinkle of cocoa. A gentle twist of orange appears in the background.

Finish: Long and sweet with notes of brown sugar, red apples and vanilla custard.

Bunnahabhain 1998 Manzanilla Cask Finish

Colour: Chestnut

Nose: Notes of freshly baked pastry with sweet almonds, rose petals, grapefruit and dried spices are balanced with a touch of mahogany and incense.

Palate: Coastal influence of seaweed and fresh sea air are met with raisins and dates and intertwined with creamy fudge, waxed red apple and a warm sweet spice reminiscent of star anise

Finish: Spicy and aromatic, with caramelised walnuts; the star anise fades to reveal lemon peel and pears with a lingering note of sea salt.

Bunnahabhain 17 Year Old Triple Cask Moine

Colour: Golden

Nose: Perfumed smoke with violet flowers, barbequed pineapple, salted raisins and fresh vanilla pod

Palate: Rippling notes of smoke with double cream, raisins, crispy burnt sugar, ripe bananas and a twist of tropical fruits.

Finish: Rich finish with notes of smoky panna cotta.