Simon Wittenberg takes a look at some of the latest releases and launches making the headlines in the world of whisky.

anCnoc Sherry Cask Finish, Peated Edition, and Peatheart Batch 3

The anCnoc line-up, produced at the Knockdhu Distillery in Scotland, has been expanded courtesy of two new expressions, which we have been fortunate enough to sample alongside the 12 Years Old.

The non-aged and dark amber-coloured Sherry Cask Finish, Peated Edition, treats whisky drinkers to soft, sweet, fruity flavours and the delicious vanilla and warm spice of a sherry finish – but with the added richness of subtle, lingering campfire smoke. This whisky has been bottled at 43% ABV and carries an RRP of £40.

The latest addition to anCnoc’s award-winning limited edition Peatheart series is Batch 3, which follows on from Peatheart Batch 1 in 2017 and Batch 2 in 2020, meaning it’s the end of a three-year wait for anCnoc fans.

Batch 3, which sports a pale gold hue, has a slightly more pronounced fragrant grassiness, with enhanced notes of green apple and citrus cutting through the oily smokiness.

This whisky has been bottled at 46% ABV and is priced at £55, with 1,535 cases available.

For more information, visit www.ancnoc.com.

Benromach limited edition Contrasts Air Dried Oak and Contrasts Kiln Dried Oak

Benromach Distillery, which is located on the outskirts of the ancient market town of Forres in Speyside, has added two new limited-edition whiskies to its popular Contrasts portfolio.

The line-up has been designed to surprise and delight drinkers with variations on the signature smoky Benromach style by maturing spirit in different and interesting ways.

Distilled in 2012 and bottled earlier this year, the new arrivals, which both have an ABV of 46% and a retail price of £59.99, go by the name of Benromach Contrasts Air Dried Oak and Benromach Contrasts Kiln Dried Oak.

The Contrasts Air expression has been derived from oak barrels which were air-dried for three years before toasting, providing the whisky with sweet vanilla fudge notes, followed by fresh peppermint and oak.

Contrasts Kiln Dried Oak whisky has been matured in oak casks that were air dried for two years, then put in a kiln to accelerate the drying process. This increased the interaction of spirit and wood, gifting the whisky a sweeter, more malted biscuit nose with lemon barley sugar and mixed tropical fruit flavours.

For more information, visit: www.benromach.com.

Limited edition Merrimack + Stranahan’s Blue Peak Canoe

Stranahan’s Whiskey from Denver, Colorado, the number-one-selling and most-awarded American single malt, and the Sanborn Canoe Co. in Winona, Minnesota (USA), have come together to launch the bespoke Merrimack + Stranahan’s Blue Peak Canoe, thanks to a shared appreciation for quality, innovation, and the great outdoors.

From the staves to the lids and even the metal hoops, the limited edition and custom-built 4.5-metre-long Tennessean Tandem / Solo canoe repurpose the oak barrels used to age Stranahan’s Rocky Mountain Single Malt Whiskey.

The bespoke 46 lb Merrimack + Stranahan’s Blue Peak Canoe is available for a made-to-order purchase on sanborncanoe.com at a cost of $5,845 (around £4,500). Given the time it takes to hand-craft each canoe, there is an expected six to eight-week lead period. Limited edition Stranahan’s Paddles are priced at $270 (about £210) each.

For more information, visit www.sanborncanoe.com.

Smokehead limited edition Twisted Stout Islay Single Malt

New from the award-winning Smokehead premium Islay single malt whisky brand belonging to Ian Macleod Distillers (they also own Glengoyne and Tamdhu) is the Twisted Stout expression (43% ABV), following in the footsteps of Rum Cask Rebel, Sherry Cask Blast and Tequila Terminado in this original collection of innovative single malts.

Available globally as a limited edition at an RRP of £56, Twisted Stout has been finished in stout casks, delivering an unexpected and unusual taste with silky-sweet smoothness with aromas of chocolate and treacle toffee on the nose.

The finish can be likened to wood smoke and spices, malty toasted biscuits and zingy citrus.

For more information, visit www.smokehead.com.

Speyburn Distillery opens its doors to visitors for tours

The Speyburn Distillery has announced that, after more than a century, 126 years to be precise, of making award-winning single malt whiskies behind closed doors, Speyburn Distillery in Rothes, Scotland, has opened permanently to visitors, and booking is now open via Speyburn’s website for the Distillery’s three daily tours.

They last nearly two hours and run every week from Tuesday through to Saturday at 10.30 am, 12.30 pm, and 2.30 pm. Adult tickets are priced at £20, and children aged between 12 and 17 can attend for a reduced rate of £10.

The milestone decision to unlock the Distillery gates follows the success of several special one-off events during the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival earlier this year, during which the Distillery team were delighted when tickets sold out within 12 hours.

For more information, visit www.speyburn.com/visit-us/tours.

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