Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. Inbox features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday. Here is this week’s whisky news…
Dalmore
The Highland distillery of Dalmore has launched a new four-part series of single malts and announced the inaugural bottlings. The Dalmore Cask Curation Series will highlight the brands long-standing working relationships around the world and kicks off with The Sherry Edition. A new edition will appear annually in 2024, 2025 and finish in 2026. The 2023 trio of whiskies sees a partnership with sherry bodega Gonzalez Byass.
The trio of whiskies have been created by whisky makers Gregg Glass and Richard Paterson OBE alongside Antonio and Silvia Flores from Gonzalez Byass. The first is bottled at 26 years old and has been finished in a rare Gonzalez Byass 2002 cask. The whisky was distilled in 1996 and is bottled at 48.2% ABV.
This is joined by a 28 years old finished in a very rare 30 years old Matusalem sherry cask. It was distilled in 1994 and is bottled at 55.3% ABV. The final whisky is a 43 years old finished in a very rare 30 year old Apostoles sherry cask. It was distilled in 1979 and is released at 46.8% ABV. All three began life in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and are released non chill-filtered and of natural colour.
The set is presented in three decanters, which are housed in a bespoke travel case crafted in Florence, Italy. There are just 150 sets with bottles not available individually. The Dalmore Cask Curation Series Sherry Edition will be available in selected specialist and luxury retailers worldwide. Each set will cost £30,000/ $US37,500/ €35,500.
Lochlea
The Ayrshire farm distillery of Lochlea has revealed its latest seasonal bottling – Lochlea Fallow Edition (Second Crop). The new whisky has been matured exclusively in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. This is in the ratio of 45% and 55% respectively. The Fallow Edition pays homage to the period of the year where farmland naturally rejuvenates itself after crops have been harvested.
The whisky has been created by John Campbell, the Director of Production at Lochlea. The Lochlea Fallow Edition (Second Crop) is bottled at 46% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. It will be available via specialist retailers in selected world markets from October 26. A bottle will cost £52.
“Fallow season within our farming calendar is a vital time of year for us to regenerate the land ready for our barley to grow well in the spring and summer. This release is important to us, as it gives a chance to tell the story of the farm and explain some of our sustainable practices.”
Neil McGeoch / Co-founder of Lochlea.
White Peak
The English distillery of White Peak has announced their latest limited edition single malt – the Wire Works Virgin Oak. The bottling is planned to become a core product in time. The whisky is in the distillery’s signature lightly peated style and saw initial maturation in first-fill ex-bourbon barrels. This was then finished for several months in virgin American oak barrels with differing toasting and charring levels. There are just 2,769 bottles.
Wire Works Virgin Oak is released at 50.5% ABV and is available from today (October 20) at the distillery shop, White Peak website and selected UK specialist retailers. A bottle will cost £67.
“In our latest release, we are giving whisky enthusiasts the opportunity to savour the unique flavours of our lightly-peated spirit and explore the journey our whisky has taken in new wood. Matured in virgin oak casks from the renowned Kelvin Cooperage and with a selection of char levels, this vatting introduces a delightful range of flavours.”
Claire Vaughan / Co-founder of White Peak.
