BENRIACH LAUNCHES ITS LATEST BATCH OF SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS

The multi-award winning, Elgin based BenRiach Distillery Company, has today announced the launch of its latest batch of single cask bottlings.

BenRiach Single Casks Batch 16, is comprised of 24 casks: 16 unpeated and 8 peated, aged from between 7 to 33 years of age.

BenRiach launches its latest batch of single cask bottlings

This latest batch of single casks, have been matured in a range of different casks, including Tokaji wine, Oloroso sherry, Pedro Ximénez, port, claret, madeira, sauternes, virgin oak, South African red wine, Jamaican rum, rioja, Sicilian marsala and bourbon.

Hand selected by Master Blender Rachel Barrie, the BenRiach Single Casks Batch 16, is said to offer a rich insight into the eclectic cask collection residing in the warehouses of this north Speyside distillery.

Commenting on the launch, Rachel Barrie, said: “There is no better insight into our intriguing palette of flavour than BenRiach Cask Bottling Batch 16. Featuring 24 different casks, this release provides a rare opportunity to explore the many facets of BenRiach maturation in one batch, something us whisky makers are lucky to do every day. Batch 16 offers the sweet side of Sicilian Marsala wood, smoked plum of the Rioja cask and a dark manuka honey palate of the 30-year-old Tokaji; there is a journey and a story behind each cask bottling to be enjoyed by whisky explorers.”

BenRiach Single Casks Batch 16 bottlings, will be available later this month from specialist retailers. RRP’s (tbc). As with previous Batch releases, there will be different bottle allocations to UK/Europe and the rest of the world.

Posted by Steve Rush

WEMYSS ANNOUNCES THE LAUNCH OF TWO NEW HIGHLAND BLENDED MALT SCOTCH WHISKIES

The Edinburgh based boutique spirits company Wemyss Malts, has today announced the launch of two new Highland blended malt Scotch whiskies, as part of its Family Collection range.

Wemyss Malts Blooming Gorse (46% ABV) which is limited to 6,900 bottles, is a combination of two Highland single malts matured in a total of fifteen first fill ex-bourbon barrels and first fill ex-bourbon hogsheads.

Wemyss announces the launch of two new Highland blended malt Scotch whiskies

Wemyss Malts Flaming Feast (46% ABV) which is limited to 6,000 bottles, is a combination of fifteen casks from two smoky single malt distilleries from the east Highlands and west coast, matured in first fill bourbon barrels and de-charred and re-charred American oak casks.

Both malt whiskies have been crafted from the family’s private collection of maturing whisky casks which were sourced by Isabella Wemyss and filled under her supervision. Years later, the mature whisky casks were selected by famed whisky writer Charlie Maclean and the Wemyss Malts team only when the spirit and casks had reached absolute balance and harmony, ready for crafting into these latest blended malt whiskies.

Each Wemyss Family Collection release focuses on a specific influence that impacts Scotch malt whisky, be it regional, spirit style or cask effect. For these two releases The Wemyss Malts blenders decided to focus on the Highland region for these twin releases.

Commenting on the news Steve Shand, Wemyss Brand Manager, said: “The brief we set for these blended malts was to really illustrate the diversity of Highland malt whisky and show that there really is no one Highland regional style. Casks selected for the Family Collection are always very well balanced with active oak therefore the recipes were purposely kept simple. We selected casks from only a few single malt varieties for each blend to find complementing flavours that establish depth and complexity once combined and left to marry.”

Wemyss Malts Blooming Gorse and Flaming Feast, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for the respective RRP’s of £46.00 and £48.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

THE MACALLAN LAUNCHES ITS FIRST BOUTIQUE STORE

The Macallan, has announced the launch of its first boutique store at Dubai International Airport.

The Macallan Boutique, is part of a multi-million-pound investment that will see the Speyside based whisky brand open a number of stores in select key cities and airports across the globe.


The Macallan Launches its first Boutique store

The first store in Dubai, at the world’s busiest airport, has been opened in partnership with award winning fine wine and spirit retailer, Le Clos.

The Macallan Boutiques, are said to bring the heritage and prestige of the brand to life. The Boutique concept draws heavily from The Macallan Estate, using architecture, aesthetics and materials and immersive features, that are distinct to their new £140m state of the art distillery, which opened in 2018.

Commenting on the news, Suzy Smith, Managing Director for Edrington Global Travel Retail, said: “It has been a year since we opened the doors of our new distillery and visitor experience, which was one of the most exciting moments in our history as a brand. The next chapter in our story is the launch of our Boutique programme, which will bring whisky-lovers across the world even closer to our home on Speyside. Each store will be a gateway to the world of The Macallan, from the stunning cinematography of the Easter Elchies estate to the exceptional whisky available to taste."

She went onto say: “As we continue to roll out these Boutiques globally, we hope more people are able to catch a glimpse into the home of the world’s most valuable single malt. Partnering with Le Clos to open the first new outlet will allow us to deliver a true luxury shopping experience for travellers in our product offering and through exceptional service.”

The Macallan Boutique in Dubai will offer a carefully curated range of rare and exclusive whiskies, some of which will be exclusive to the Boutique stores. Highlights will include rare bottlings from their Masters of Photography, Golden Age of Travel and Exceptional Single Cask ranges.

Posted by Steve Rush