Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round-up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way into 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.
Heaven Hill
The Kentucky bourbon brand of Heaven Hill has released a rare 13 Years Old limited edition. This uses only casks matured at its fabled Deatsville campus. This is home to nine heritage rickhouses holding 167,000 barrels. The site has been part of the Heaven Hill estate since the 1980s. The company are changing working practices at the site over the next two years. Therefore, this bottling is the last opportunity to taste a bourbon matured solely at Deatsville.
The Heaven Hill Deatsville 13 Years Old bourbon is made using a mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley. The liquid was drawn from just 17 barrels for this bottling. They were aged on the third floor of Rickhouse AA. It is bottled at 54.5% ABV (109 Proof) and is limited in number. It will be on sale from early March in specialist liquor stores across the US. A bottle will cost $US200.
Johnnie Walker
The world’s best selling Scotch whisky brand of Johnnie Walker has launched a new permanent expression that is designed to bridge the gap between Scotch and bourbon. The Johnnie Walker Black Cask uses whiskies that are at the heart of the barnd’s famous Black Label such as Cameronbridge single grain, plus Glen Elgin and Roseisle single malts. All have been matured in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels.
With Black Cask, we’ve brought together two remarkable whisky traditions, starting with some of the most expressive whiskies that make up Black Label and maturing them exclusively in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels. This unlocks new depth, sweetness, and warmth. The result is a beautifully layered whisky that feels excitingly new yet remains unmistakably Johnnie Walker.
Dr. Emma Walker | Master Blender for Johnnie Walker.
The Johnnie Walker Black Cask will be exclusive to the USA and will initially appear in the states of California, Florida, New York, New Jersey and Texas from early March. The launch will be accompanied by immersive sampling and tasting experiences, plus US-wide digital and marketing campaigns. The whisky is released at 43% ABV and each bottle will retail for $US35.
Starward
The Australian distillery of Starward has announced details of a new limited edition that will be exclusive to the UK markets in March. The Starward x Lagavulin bottling sees the Australian single malt part-matured in casks sourced from the Lagavulin distillery on Islay. The whisky begins its maturation in ex-red wine barrels before transferring to the ex-Lagavulin casks for a finishing period.
“My earliest inspiration for Starward was to create a deliciously distinctive whisky, and while we certainly hit that brief with our red wine barrel matured whisky, what whisky better epitomises distinctively delicious than Lagavulin? Sourcing these barrels to create this exciting expression gives us a magical moment to celebrate the very best of Australian curiosity and Scottish tradition.”
David Vitale | Founder of Starward.
The Starward x Lagavulin is bottled at 48% ABV and is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. It will be available from the beginning of March in selected specialist whisky retailers until sold out. Each bottle will cost £125.
