Simon Wittenberg takes a look at some of the latest news and launches making the headlines in the world of whisky.
Ardbeg The Abyss
The Moët Hennessy-owned Ardbeg distillery on Islay has unveiled The Abyss, a 34-year-old limited edition single malt. A few heavily toasted French oak casks used for the highly-prized Ardbeg Corryvreckan released in 2008 were put to one side, and left to age to create a new extraordinary whisky, which goes by the name of ‘Ardbeg The Abyss’.
Offering notes of toasted marshmallows, aromatic tea leaves, and roasted chestnut, bottles are presented in a capsule inspired by traditional diving and space suits.
To bring The Abyss’s mysterious depths to life, acclaimed American comic-book artist Tradd Moore has reimagined the legend of the Corryvreckan whirlpool in a fantastical graphic novel.
Set on ‘Planet Ardbeg’ is available in print exclusively with The Abyss’s 400 individually numbered examples, which are available for sale via Ardbeg.com, at the Distillery Visitor Centre on Islay, and through the Moët Hennessy Private Client channel, priced at £21,250 ($27,500) each.
For further details, visit www.ardbeg.com.
Benromach Contrasts Virgin Oak
The Benromach Distillery has expanded its Contrast range with the addition of a 10-year-old limited-edition single malt whisky matured for 10 years in the finest Virgin American Oak casks. The Contrasts line-up is comprised of whiskies with a twist on the delicately smoky profile of the brand’s core range.
Benromach Contrasts Virgin Oak is an expression that delivers dried banana aromas, and lemon and fudge on the nose. This is followed by Seville orange zest, butterscotch and smooth smoke on the palate, and finishes with hints of long-lasting citrus.
Bottled at an ABV of 46%, this whisky is available now with an RRP of £60.
For more information, visit www.benromach.com.
Bladnoch The Wave I: Time & Maturation
Scotland’s southernmost whisky distillery, Bladnoch, has launched ‘The Wave’, the second chapter within the Master Distiller’s Collection. ‘The Wave’ is a five-part limited-edition series which demonstrates the marrying process of whisky casks, with each annual release revealing one of the five whisky-making pillars used by master distiller Dr Nick Savage.
The first expression in the series is named Wave I: Time & Maturation, and saw whisky from ex-bourbon casks and remaining liquid from the Waterfall 05 2024 Edition of the first Master Distiller’s Collection being brought together to mature in an Amontillado Sherry tun.
Bottled at 53.8% ABV, non-chill filtered, and natural in colour, Bladnoch Wave I: Time & Maturation opens with floral pine needles, fresh cut oak on the nose, notes of sweet oak and toasted coconut on the palate, before a sweet, warm, and refreshing finish.
The edition is limited to 1,817 bottles – a nod to the year Bladnoch was founded.
Bladnoch Wave I: Time & Maturation carries an RRP of £150 and is available exclusively in the UK and Australia from bladnoch.com. The Bladnoch Wave Weekend is scheduled to take place in June 2025.
To find out more, visit https://bladnoch.com.
Fettercairn ‘200th Anniversary Collection’
The Highland distillery Fettercairn has unveiled the ‘200th Anniversary Collection’ to mark their bicentenary. The stunning set is made up of six bottles of Single Malt, ranging from a highly sought-after 60 Year Old to a 3 Year Old – the rarest in the collection, with the full collection enjoying a combined age of 200 years.
In between, whisky aficionados will get to enjoy a 49 Year Old, harking back to 1973, a 35 Year Old representing 1988 – the year that marked the retirement of Douglas Cooper, Fettercairn’s longest-serving distillery manager, a 28 Year Old, and a 25 Year Old. The bottles are presented in a stunning, tailor-made, hand-crafted Scottish Oak display cabinet, making this a true collector’s item.
Only 10 sets will be available at selected global locations from September 2024 at a price of £100,000.
See more at: www.fettercairnwhisky.com.
Glen Moray Rioja Cask Matured and Peated Rioja Cask Finish
Glen Moray has added two new limited edition and non-chill filtered single malts to its famed Warehouse 1 Collection going by the names of Glen Moray Rioja Cask Matured 2015 and Glen Moray Peated Rioja Cask Finish 2012.
Glen Moray Rioja Cask Matured (59.8% ABV), costing £86.75 per bottle, is an eight-year-old whisky granting aromas of cherries, plums, and green grapes layered with scents of caramel and herbs.
Aged 11 years and carrying an RRP of £104.50, Glen Moray Peated Rioja Cask Finish (58.8% ABV) is soft and gently smoky, uniting sweet notes of plums and cherries with hints of far-off bonfires to bring a new dimension to Glen Moray spirit.
For further information, see www.glenmoray.com.
Laggan Bay Distillery on Islay
The family-owned Ian Macleod Distillers, in partnership with The Islay Boys, is set to unveil Laggan Bay in 2025, and will become the 12th whisky distillery on Islay – the Hebridean island famed for its peaty whiskies.
As part of the company’s commitment to sustainability, the Laggan Bay Distillery will feature wetlands to manage its liquid waste and provide a haven for local wildlife. The company is also working with the Islay Energy Trust and Scottish Power to explore renewable energy options, and has committed to green flame energy to reduce its carbon emissions.
For further details, see www.ianmacleod.com.
The Dalmore Luminary No.2 ‘The Rare’
The Dalmore Luminary No.2 ‘The Rare’ has sold in a recent Sotheby’s auction for an eye-watering sum of £93,750 (around $117,000). This is the second release in The Luminary Series – a unique three-part partnership between the renowned distillery, and the V&A Dundee in Scotland.
The 49 Year Old Highland Single Malt was matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon casks and finished in an assemblage, encompassing a rare Port Colheita Pipe 1963, an exceptionally rare 30 Year Old Apostoles Sherry cask, and select bourbon barrels. The whisky was further finished in a unique 1951 / Virgin oak hybrid cask, air dried at The Dalmore.
Only three Luminary No.2 ‘The Rare’ bottles have been made, with two uniquely housed in a striking glass sculpture, which tips the scales at 80 kg. It depicts the layers of age and the interactions of flavour found in the whisky-making process and the whisky itself.
The Dalmore has donated all proceeds from the sale to their long-term partner, V&A Dundee, Scotland’s design museum.
For further details, visit www.thedalmore.com.
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