TORABHAIG LAUNCHES ITS LATEST LEGACY SERIES RELEASE

The Isle of Skye based Torabhaig Distillery, has today announced the launch of the third chapter in its limited-edition Legacy Series.

Torabhaig Cnoc Na Mòine (46% ABV) is a peated single malt Scotch whisky, which has been matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon, American oak Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks.

Torabhaig Cnoc Na Moine

Each release in the Torabhaig Legacy Series, is said to capture a stage on the journey from inception and youth through to coming of age and full maturity – leading up to the launch of its first 10 Year Old bottling in 2028.

Meaning “hill of peat” in Gaelic, Cnoc Na Mòine is an elegantly peated single malt shaped by the Isle of Skye and evocative of the atmospheric mists and rugged beauty of the Hebridean island. It’s also the distillery’s first release that includes single malt matured in Sherry casks.

Torabhaig Cnoc Na Mòine, is said to deliver notes of orange peel, drying embers, subdued peat smoke, vanilla and freshly sawn oak on the nose. Followed by notes of peat smoke, pepper, balsamic acidity, gentle spice, cedar and leather on the palate.

Commenting on the launch, Neil MacLeod Mathieson, Torabhaig Whisky Maker, said: “There is an intriguing complexity to peated whisky, an endless depth to explore. There are many faces and moods to peat, so a balance has to be found between strength and refinement, between elegance and robustness. Each expression in the Legacy Series captures our progress towards this vision and is a liquid snapshot of our whisky journey here on the Isle of Skye.”

Neil went onto say: “This is the first expression where sherry casks have played a part in our journey as well. The way new flavours are revealed through time with different casks is such an exciting thing for a younger distillery to discover and highlights the magic of whisky-making that can’t quite be explained, although it can be bottled.”

Limited to 90,000 bottles, Torabhaig Cnoc Na Mòine is now available from specialist retailers, for a RRP of £58.00.

 

Posted by Steve Rush

PORT ELLEN DISTILLERY OFFICIALLY REOPENS ITS DOORS

Diageo, has today announced the reopening of its Islay based Port Ellen Distillery, which has undergone a multi-million-pound redevelopment, following its closure in 1983.

As the finale in Diageo’s £185 million investment in Scotch Whisky distilleries and experiences, Port Ellen has been specially designed from the ground up to push the boundaries of Scotch whisky.

Port Ellen Distillery officially reopens its doors

The iconic Islay distillery has undergone a radical transformation which draws on its pioneering heritage to lead a trailblazing future. Established on Islay’s south coast in 1825, Port Ellen produced a distinctively smoky Scotch Whisky used primarily in blends, but ceased operating in 1983 alongside many other distilleries at the time.

During closure, the whisky found incredible global acclaim and was eagerly sought out by collectors for its quality, character, and increasing rarity. In 2017 Diageo announced the intention to bring about Port Ellen distillery’s return and today marks that final step.

The re-envisioned distillery features ultra-modern design with an unobstructed line of sight through the transparent glass stillhouse to the stunning coastline of Islay, across the bay to Carraig Fhada lighthouse.

At the centre of this redevelopment are two new pairs of copper pot stills that will produce the first Port Ellen in over forty years. The Phoenix stills, recreated as an exact replica of the original stills from 1983, will run alongside a smaller set of Experimental stills, to allow for innovation to flourish from inception.

The underlying mission at Port Ellen is to chart an Atlas of Smoke and explore this flavour profile utilising a range of experimental elements at the distillery, uniquely designed to support this investigation. A distillery that holds a pioneering past, Port Ellen was the first to export whisky to North America as early as 1848, and led the introduction of a bonded warehouse system still used today.

Commenting on the news, Ali McDonald, Master Distiller at Port Ellen, said: “It is an honour to take up this new position at the helm of an iconic distillery and build on Port Ellen’s pioneering past. Port Ellen holds a very special place in the hearts of passionate whisky aficionados, and to see spirit flow off these stills once again is an incredible moment for the Islay community and wider whisky world. We are deeply committed to pushing the boundaries of Scotch through experimentation – I’m excited to see what we can now create.”

Port Ellen Distillery will welcome the whisky community, connoisseurs, collectors and invited guests to experience a world leading immersion into experimentation in Scotch. A range of experiences will be available to book from June.

Posted by Steve Rush