Simon Wittenberg takes a look at some of the latest news and launches making the headlines in the world of whisky.
Bushmills Hill Street Edition
The 36-Year-Old Bushmills Hill Street Edition single malt Irish whiskey (48% ABV) is the oldest and rarest expression ever to be released in Europe by The Old Bushmills Distillery in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
This exquisite liquid has been exclusively matured in sherry wood and was created from a single hogshead cask housing the last available stock of Bushmills Single Malt distilled in 1986.
On the nose, delicate aromas of warm honey and ripe red berries are interspersed with subtle spiciness and gentle antique wood undertones.
Only 208 bottles, priced at £5,000 each, are available from The Friend at Hand, Belfast’s famous whiskey shop and museum.
For further details, visit www.bushmills.com.
Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch
Bladnoch, Scotland’s southernmost distillery, has unveiled Chapter 1 of Loch Maberry: Stories of Bladnoch. This is the inaugural release of the brand’s new limited edition series commemorating individuals who have a deep affinity with its exceptional whiskies.
Chapter 1 retails for £ 150 and is bottled at a cask strength ABV of 56.7%. It boasts a natural bronze oak hue.
The expression pays tribute to Mr Arnold (above), a lifelong admirer of Bladnoch, whose passion and enthusiasm demonstrate the commitment of the distillery’s highly skilled team.
For more information, visit www.bladnoch.com.
Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon
Never Say Die Small Batch Bourbon is limited to just 2,750 bottles per run. It has been designed as an ‘every occasion’ Bourbon and is an approachable and balanced blend of Never Say Die’s six-year-old barrels. It delivers mellowed spice and citrus that melt into vanilla, leather, and caramel.
This expression, now available at Selfridges London and Manchester and Selfridges.com for an RRP of £66.99, is inspired by a racehorse sporting the same name. After a traumatic birth, it overcame adversity with a shot of Bourbon and triumphed at the Epsom Derby three years later.
For more information, please visit neversaydiebourbon.com.
The Dalmore Luminary Series
The Dalmore has announced the second chapter of The Dalmore Luminary Series, curated in partnership with V&A Dundee – Scotland’s design museum.
The 2024 Edition of the series has been created by Melodie Leung, Director at Zaha Hadid Architects, Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker at The Dalmore, and Master Distiller Richard Paterson OBE.
The two limited editions released are The Dalmore Luminary—The Rare—2024 Edition, a 49-year-old Highland Single Malt whisky that will be offered at auction, and The Dalmore Luminary—The Collectible—2024 Edition (above), a 16-year-old Highland Single Malt whisky that will be available for purchase at leading retailers worldwide at an RRP of £275.
For further details, visit www.thedalmore.com.
The English Distillery Sherry Cask
The Norfolk-based English Distillery has added its first sherry-matured single malt release to its core line-up.
Bottled by hand at its Norfolk distillery at 46% ABV, The English Sherry Cask is an unpeated single malt whisky which has been matured from start to finish in the finest PX sherry casks.
Non-chill filtered and natural in colour, whisky connoisseurs will enjoy notes of rich dark fruits, with a nose of raw honey and vanilla, leading to a burst of sweet toffee, cherries and digestives on the palate. This no age statement whisky is available at an RRP of £60.
For more information, visit www.englishwhisky.co.uk.
The Hearach, batches 9, 10, 11 and 12
The Isle of Harris Distillery has unveiled four new batches of The Hearach single malt Scotch whisky following the arrival of the inaugural release last September. The new batches of The Hearach, 9, 10, 11 and 12, carrying an RRP of £65, remain true to this whisky’s lightly peated, complex, and elegant flavour profile, with subtle variations for each.
There will be around 12,000 bottles of each batch available to purchase, and the whisky is presented in a stunning glass bottle and bespoke packaging, with the introduction of a new white stopper seal bearing the unique batch numbers.
For further details, visit www.harrisdistillery.com.
The Macallan Horizon
Continuing the celebration of its 200th anniversary, The Macallan has collaborated with Bentley Motors to create an exclusive, limited edition single malt Scotch whisky named ‘The Macallan Horizon’.
Presented in a unique bespoke glass vessel designed to be displayed horizontally and in a twisting wooden masterpiece finished with Bentley’s Crown Cut Walnut veneer, this latest expression has been crafted from six first-fill sherry-seasoned oak casks and offers rich and indulgent dried fruit and spice flavour notes.
The Macallan Horizon is available to purchase at an RRP of £40,000 (for 70cl) from The Macallan Estate Boutique, domestic and travel retail boutiques, as well as from retailers such as Harrods.
For more information, visit www.themacallan.com.
The Vault by Chivas Brothers
The maker of world-class Scotch whiskies, including Chivas Regal, Ballantine’s, Royal Salute and The Glenlivet, has unveiled The Vault By Chivas Brothers.
The Vault showcases the breadth and depth of Chivas Brothers’ coveted and rarest stocks and houses fourteen casks, none of which have been available for purchase before. They have been hand-picked by Chivas Brothers Blending Expert Sandy Hyslop and Cask Expert Kevin Balmforth.
The Vault is located at Chivas Brothers’ Strathisla Distillery in Scotland, and guests can make a booking to enjoy a personalised flavour experience, which will allow visitors to identify their perfect cask match to be exclusively bottled for purchase.
To book a personalised experience, which starts at a cost of £1,200 per guest, visit www.chivasbrothersvault.com.
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