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Kingsbarns releases distillery-exclusive Single Cask

Following Kingsbarns Single Cask No 360, which sold out within a few days, the Lowlands distillery has announced the release of a second single cask whisky. Kingsbarns Single Cask No 358 will be sold exclusively in the Kingsbarns distillery shop in Fife. Kingsbarns Single Cask No 358 spent well over three years in an American Oak Bourbon Barrel, before being bottled at 60.8% abv, without chill filtration or additional colouring. Only 257 bottles of the Lowlands single malt whisky are available. Distillery tasting notes Nose: Caramel, soft toffee, well rounded balance of fruit and vanilla. Pistachio ice… Read More

Benromach Cask Strength vintages to replace 100° proof

Family owned Benromach Distillery has announced a new addition to its Classic Range: Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1. Bottled at cask strength (57.9% ABV), Benromach Cask Strength will replace Benromach 100° Proof in the Classic Range. The batch was laid down in 2008 in First-Fill Sherry and Bourbon casks, before being bottled in 2019 at natural colour and without chill filtration. Just 5,500 bottles will be available to purchase in most countries around the world (except for the US and China) from 24th April 2019, with a recommended retail price (RRP) of €69.95 (£59.95). According to… Read More

First casks filled at Lagg Distillery

A few years ago, Isle of Arran Distillers Ltd announced that they would build a second distillery on the Isle of Arran. Work on the new Lagg Distillery commenced in February 2017 and the distillery has now distilled its first spirit. Cask Number 1, a Sherry Butt reserved exclusively for members of the Lagg Cask Society, was filled on Wednesday the 10th of April. James MacTaggart, Master Distiller at Lagg Distillery, said: “It’s incredibly exciting to be taking the very first steps in producing what will eventually be a magnificent Lagg Single Malt Scoth Whisky and something truly unique to… Read More

Walsh Whiskey releases 2nd cask finished Writers’ Tears Copper Pot

Walsh Whiskey has released a limited edition of its Writers’ Tears Copper Pot whiskey. Following the Deau XO Cognac cask finished Copper Pot, this blend of Single Pot Still and Single Malt whiskeys was finished in 5 Marsala wine hogshead casks from the Florio winery in Sicily. A hogshead cask is approximately 20% larger than the standard whiskey cask size. With evaporation accounting for the Angel’s Share, just 2,430 bottles of Writers’ Tears Marsala Cask Finish were yielded after 12 months finishing in the hogshead casks. This is not only the second cask finished version of Copper Pot, but… Read More

Glenlivet rebrands Master Distiller’s Reserve travel range

The Glenlivet is rebranding their Master Distiller’s Reserve range, which is sold exclusively in travel retail, as Triple Cask Matured. The old Master Distiller’s Reserve is now simply named Distiller’s Reserve, while Solera Vatted will be replaced by White Oak Reserve and Small Batch will be renamed as Rare Cask. All of the Triple Cask Matured whiskies are influenced by three cask types, ex-Sherry, American oak and European oak, but in varying proportions. Glenlivet Triple Cask Matured Distiller’s Reserve (40% abv, RRP €45 / $53 for a 1 litre bottle) is said to be “a harmonious balance of fruity… Read More

High Coast introduces new Swedish single malts in Europe

Formerly known as Box Distillery but rebranded in 2018, High Coast Distillery is named after its location in Adalen on the High Coast of north-eastern Sweden. In fact, it’s one of the world’s most northerly distilleries, located at a latitude of 63°N. The distillery is situated on the banks of the Ångermanälven River in a building that once housed the power plant for a wooden box factory, where the distillery’s initial name ‘Box’ originated. High Coast has announced the release of five new single malts, that will be sold throughout Europe. Fields, Morris & Verdin (FMV) will handle the distribution… Read More

Ardnahoe Distillery opens its doors

The ninth Islay whisky distillery has officially opened its doors for visitors. Ardnahoe Distillery was established by Hunter Laing & Co in 2018 and is situated just in between Caol Ila and Bunnahabhain Distillery, on the northeast coast of the island, near Port Askaig. Ardnahoe – Scottish Gaelic for “Height of the Hollow” – uses water from Loch Ardnahoe to distill a peaty spirit that will be rested in mostly ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Ardnahoe filled their first cask on November 9th, 2018. Since a spirit has to be aged for at least three years before it may be… Read More

Berry Bros. & Rudd introduces The Perspective Series

Berry Bros. & Rudd announced its collaboration with Scottish photographer Lindsay Robertson to launch the first in a series of limited edition, aged blends named The Perspective Series. Crafted by Doug McIvor and decorated with images of majestic Scottish landscapes, taken by award winning photographer Lindsay Robertson. The images have been carefully selected for each label to portray a visual metaphor of the flavour of the whisky. Doug McIvor’s mastery at blending small batches of Scotch, merges with the skill of capturing the Scottish scenery through the eye of the lens, to create a bottle of whisky which reflects artistry… Read More

Big Peat Feis Ile 2019 announced

Douglas Laing announced Big Peat’s Limited Edition for Feis Ile 2019, Islay’s Annual Festival of Malt and Music. The packaging for the commemorative bottling features the faces of 400 of Big Peat’s ‘pals’ from all over the world, after fans of the brand were invited to submit their selfies via an online competition. The spirit within is a unique batch of the cult Islay Whisky, carrying a marriage of Single Malts distilled at Ardbeg, Bowmore, Caol Ila and even the long-closed Port Ellen distillery, amongst others. 2019 marks 10 years since the launch of Big Peat,… Read More

Glengoyne launches 7th Cask Strength single malt

Glengoyne Distillery has announced the launch of Cask Strength Batch No. 007. It’s the first in their Cask Strength collection to feature a small proportion of bourbon barrels in the cask recipe, besides the usual first-fill American and European oak Oloroso sherry casks. John Glass, Malt Master at Glengoyne Distillery, explains: “The bourbon parcel we used in the distillation of Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch No. 007 brought in a sweetness and a burst of vanilla, which adds a roundness and depth to this sherry-dominant whisky. The bourbon plays a light, but important, part in the overall cask recipe.” According to… Read More