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…
Ardbeg
The Islay distillery of Ardbeg has announced details of its annual Fèis Ìle bottling for Ardbeg Day, which will be held on June 1 this year. Ardbeg Spectacular represents the first single malt from the distillery to feature maturation in ex-Port casks. It is a marriage of traditional ex-bourbon cask Ardbeg and spirit matured fully in ex-Port barrels, and has been created by Gillian Macdonald, the Master Blender for Ardbeg.
Ardbeg Spectacular is released at 46% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be initially available in the UK, Ardbeg visitor centre and via the brand website www.ardbeg.com from April 23. Bottles will then be available globally from late-April. The exact number of bottles in this limited edition has not been revealed, but each will cost £110/ US$135. The release will be supported by events around the world for Ardbeg Day.
“Ardbeg Spectacular is a high-flying spirit, very befitting of Ardbeg Day. Its years in bourbon and port casks create a spectacle of flavours, the like of which Ardbeggians will never have tasted before.”
Gillian Macdonald
Lochlea
The Ayrshire distillery of Lochlea has opened up its private cask scheme to the general public. The Private Cask Programme was previously by invitation only via a waiting list and offers purchasers the opportunity to follow the individual journey of their own personal cask. They can also sample their cask’s spirit, visit their cask and attend a dedicated Cask Owners Day at the distillery.
Two cask types are available – first-fill ex-bourbon barrels and first-fill ex-Oloroso sherry hogsheads. All casks are kept under bond at the distillery for 10 years. After this time it can be stored for longer, bottled under the customer’s own personal label or sold back to the distillery. Lochlea’s Private Cask Programme is open for a limited period only. If interested, please contact the distillery team for more details via [email protected].
Strathearn
The Highland distillery of Strathearn has released its inaugural Scotch whisky – the Strathearn Single Malt. The distillery and brand are owned by independent bottlers Douglas Laing & Co., who took control of operations in 2019. Strathearn, which is located in Perthshire, was originally founded in 2013. The new whisky is formed of just 32 casks with a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry and wirgin oak used.
Strathearn Single Malt is bottled at 50% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It has been created by Angela Brown, the Head Distiller at Strathearn. The whisky will be on sale through specialist retailers in the UK and Europe initially. Asia, Canada and the USA will follow in May. Each bottle will retail for £85/ US$105.
“This moment has been a long time coming. Our Strathearn Distillery team make a barrel of spirit per day. This may be a drop in the ocean compared to some distilleries, but for Strathearn, it is a proudly handcrafted drop that embodies the spirit of the distillery.”
Cara Laing | Managing Director of Douglas Laing & Co.
