GLENALLACHIE LAUNCHES NEW CASK STRENGTH AND SINGLE CASK BOTTLINGS

The GlenAllachie Distillery, has announced the launch of the third batch of its cask strength series, along with five new UK exclusive single cask bottlings.

The news comes as the Speyside based distillery, celebrates two years since it was acquired by a group headed by Billy Walker.

GlenAllachie launches new cask strength and single cask bottlings

GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 3 (58.2% ABV) was matured in first and second-fill Bourbon, PX puncheon, Oloroso hogshead and virgin oak casks. RRP £58.99.

Limited to 3,500 cases, GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Cask Strength Batch 3, is said to offer what Billy Walker describes as a ‘big experience’ of dark chocolate, heather honey, sweet spices and orange peel.

The new UK exclusive single casks are comprised of: a 10 Year Old Marsala hogshead (57.4% ABV) £85.00, a 12 Year Old Madeira hogshead (60.8% ABV) £95.00, a 13 Year Old PX Hogshead (60.1% ABV) £100.00, a 15 Year Old Oloroso puncheon (56.7% ABV) £110.00 and an 18 Year Old PX Hogshead (55.1% ABV) £135.00.

Each single cask release is said to demonstrate the exceptional casks to be found in GlenAllachie’s warehouses and Billy Walker’s meticulous approach to wood management, which sees him use his experience and expertise to steer the unique interaction of wood, spirit and subsequent flavour development.

The GlenAllachie was recently named Scottish Whisky Distillery of the Year, at the inaugural Scottish Whisky Awards in Edinburgh.

Posted by Steve Rush

MIDLETON LAUNCHES ITS 2019 VERY RARE BOTTLING

Irish Distillers, has today announced the launch of its 2019 Midleton Very Rare release, along with details of a new members programme that will allow whiskey enthusiasts to buy rare vintage bottlings.

Midleton Very Rare 2019 (40% ABV) is comprised of single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys, which have been matured exclusively in lightly-charred ex-bourbon American oak barrels for between 13 and 34 years.

Midleton Very Rare 2019

Midleton Very Rare 2019, is the 36th edition in the renowned and highly collectable range, which has been blended from whiskeys laid down at Midleton Distillery, Co Cork, over the past four decades. This latest release marks the oldest collection of casks used to create a Midleton Very Rare bottling.

To mark the release of Midleton Very Rare 2019, Irish Distillers has launched the ‘1825 Room’, an online members site which pays homage to Midleton Distillery’s influence on Irish distilling since its foundation in 1825.

Offering exclusive content and features about Midleton Very Rare, the site will also include an exclusive online store which will have five rare vintages for sale. To celebrate the launch of the 1825 Room, members will also have the opportunity to purchase a bottle of the very first 1984 vintage at the price of £40 Irish punts, which  equates to €50.80.

Commenting on the launch, Brian Nation, Master Distiller at Midleton, said: “Each year, for over forty years, we have been setting aside very small amounts of the finest single pot still and single grain distillates so that the Midleton Very Rare legacy can continue. I am delighted that our 2019 vintage is once again a whiskey of exceptional quality that fits beautifully into the family,” explains Brian. “This vintage features an extraordinary blend of whiskeys from the rarest casks in our collection, with the youngest whiskey in our 2019 vintage having been aged for 13 years, and the oldest dating back to 1985.”

Midleton Very Rare 2019, will be available later this month from specialist retailers for a RRP of €180.00. For more details on the new ‘1825 Room’ members club, visit: midletonveryrare.com

Posted by Steve Rush

BRUICHLADDICH LAUNCHES ITS 10TH SERIES OF OCTOMORE BOTTLINGS

The Bruichladdich Distillery, has announced the launch of the tenth series of its heavily peated, Octomore Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

This latest batch of releases from the ‘cult classic’ series which first launched in 2002, is comprised of four releases, which have been aged from between 3 to 8 years.

Bruichladdich launches its 10th series of Octomore bottlings

Octomore 10.1 (59.8% ABV) 107 ppm - has been matured for 5 years ex-American oak casks, and is said to be stripped back and the benchmark of the new 10th series.

Octomore 10.2 (56.9% ABV) 96.9 ppm - has been matured for 8 years in first fill ex-American oak casks and third fill French oak casks, which previously held Sauternes dessert wine.

Octamore 10.3 (61.3% ABV) 114 ppm - which is described as a 'single field, single vintage, single malt', was distilled in 2013 using local Islay barley, and matured for 6 years in ex-American oak casks.

Octomore 10.4 (63.5% ABV) 88 ppm - which was distilled in 2016 using the 2015 barley harvest and matured in high toasted Limousin oak casks, is the youngest ever release in the series.

Now in its tenth series, Octomore is said to explore the realms of ‘softer smoke’. Dismissing the numbers, the makers ask even the most knowledgeable to forget everything they think they know and experience the liquid for themselves.

Octomore 10.1, Octomore 10.2 (GTR Exclusive) and Octomore 10.3, will be available later this month from specialist retailers. Octomore 10.4 will be available from January. RRP’s (tbc).

Posted by Steve Rush