LAGAVULIN LAUNCHES ITS 2020 JAZZ FESTIVAL BOTTLING

Diageo, has today announced the launch of its annual limited-edition Lagavulin Jazz Festival bottling.

Lagavulin Jazz 2020 (52.6% ABV) is a 22 Year Old single malt Islay Scotch whisky, which has been matured in refill American and European oak casks, some of which were wine seasoned.

Lagavulin Jazz 2020

The Lagavulin Jazz Festival bottling has been much adored since its launch in 2011 and the annual release of the exclusive bottling for the festival has become a key moment in the whisky calendar. 

This year the Islay Jazz festival has moved to an online format and will be held on Lagavulin and Friends of the Classic Malts Facebook pages on the 3rd October from 7pm BST and hosted in partnership with Jazz Scotland.

The immersive event will take guests on a journey through a selection of Lagavulin expressions including the 2020 Jazz edition. Featuring musical performances, the event will be hosted by the new Lagavulin Distillery Manager Pierrick Guillaume, who will be joined by Ewan Gunn, Diageo’s Global Whisky Master.

Commenting on the news, Pierrick Guillaume, Distillery Manager at Lagavulin, said: “The Islay Jazz Festival has become a pilgrimage for many whisky and jazz lovers around the globe and we hope our friends will join us for the online event to celebrate 22 years of the festival. This will be my first festival having taken over as distillery manager of Lagavulin and although we are unable to host the event in Islay, we wanted to continue to honour the occasion by creating a remarkable bottling. This year’s 22 year old bottle is a glorious and unique Lagavulin from an interesting mix of casks that have given an extra twist of rich, smooth and sweet fruitiness to the palate and finish.”

Limited to just 2,004 bottles, Lagavulin Jazz 2020, will be available exclusively at the Islay distillery from 3rd October, for a RRP of £405.00.

Posted by Steve Rush

DOUGLAS LAING LAUNCHES ITS ANNUAL BIG PEAT CHRISTMAS BOTTLING

Scotch whisky specialist Douglas Laing & Co, has announced the launch of its 10th Big Peat Christmas bottling.

Big Peat Christmas 2020 (53.1% ABV) is a cask strength Islay blended malt Scotch whisky, bottled un-chill filtered and at natural colour.

Big Peat Christmas 2020

The Glasgow-based family business, first released its Big Peat Christmas bottling in 2011. Since then, the iconic Ileach fisherman has enjoyed exponential growth the world over, with a number of market-exclusive bottlings, aged limited releases, innovative cask finishes.

This 10th annual festive bottling, depicts Big Peat sporting a Santa Claus hat reflected in a bauble nestled deep within the Christmas tree.

Commenting on the news, Fred Laing, Chairman of Douglas Laing & Co, said: “Established, indeed “born”, in 2009, my boy Big Peat is a unique marriage of 100% Single Malts from our preferred Islay distilleries. Accordingly, “he” has many loyal fans of the phenol around the world. In the cask strength Christmas Limited Edition we certainly get to see his more robust and intense side. This year, using our regularly selected Single Cask Single Malts but always in different percentages, expect an amplification of peat-smoke, dried seaweed and coal dust with an underlying sweetness to his feisty spirit. Big Peat’s Christmas bottling has become synonymous with the festive season and I always look forward to enjoying a dram with him over the holidays.”

Big Peat Christmas 2020, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £52.99.

Posted by Steve Rush

KILCHOMAN LAUNCHES ITS LATEST 100% ISLAY BOTTLING

The Kilchoman Distillery, has today announced the launch of the 10th edition of its 100% Islay single malt Scotch whisky.

Kilchoman 100% Islay 2020 Edition (50% ABV) was produced using Optic and Publican barley varieties, which were grown at the Kilchoman distillery farm in 2007, 2009 and 2010.

Kilchoman 100% Islay 2020 Edition

This latest release was peated using local Islay peat, and matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Sherry butts, each of which was personally selected by Distillery Founder, Anthony Wills.

Kilchoman 100% Islay, is the only whisky in Scotland to be produced entirely on one farm, from barley to bottle. 

Commenting on the launch, Anthony Willis, said: “Our 100% Islay whiskies are special, they both reflect the traditions of Scotch whisky production and examine the increasing interest in the detail of how single malt is made. With our 100% Islay range we control every element of the whisky-making process ourselves, from barley variety through to individual casks selected for bottling.  It means we are able to adapt our methods and inputs to maximise the character of the whisky in the glass.”

He went onto say: “The Optic and Publican varieties used for the 10th Edition, paired with a light peat smoking, long fermentation and high spirit cut creates a bright, floral nose of citrus sweetness that gives way to prunes, cinnamon and cooked apples & pears on the palate. The finish brings waves of mildly spiced peat smoke, lasting sweetness and rich sherry notes”

Kilchoman 100% Islay 2020 Edition, will be available later this month from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £71.94.

Posted by Steve Rush