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…
Talisker
The Talisker distillery on the Hebridean island of Skye has released a new limited edition version of its 30 years old single malt. This 2024 release has already won Double Gold at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition this year, which matches the achievement of previous bottlings.
There are just 2,610 bottles available and it is released at the natural cask strength of 49.5% ABV. The Talisker 30 years old 2024 Edition is available via www.malts.com and selected whisky and luxury retailers worldwide. A bottle will cost £1,300.
“This new release of Talisker 30 years old holds all the classic characteristics of Talisker, yet elevated to new heights. Soaring with sweet smoke with pointy notes of pepper, this latest release is an elegant and complex expression of Talisker.”
Ewan Gunn | Senior Ambassador for Diageo Malts.
Glenmorangie
The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has announced a very limited trio of rare single malts that will be sold as a set – the Glenmorangie Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection. The three whiskies are the brainchild of Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, and are designed to celebrate his position as one of Scotch whisky’s cask finishing pioneers and his passion for wine. The trilogy charts his travels to some of Europe’s finest wine regions with each whisky being at least 25 years old and featuring lengthy finishing periods. All are bottled at natural cask strength.
The Margaux Wine Cask Finish (52.5% ABV) is bottled at 29 years of age. It was distilled in 1995 and filled to ex-bourbon casks. This was transferred to ex-red wine casks from Margaux, one of the most highly regarded appellations in Bordeaux, and have remained there for the last 20 years.
The Corton-Charlemagne Wine Cask Finish (52.1% ABV) has followed a similar path. It is bottled at 28 years old and was also distilled in 1995 and filled to ex-bourbon casks. In 2005, the whisky was transferred to ex-white Burgundy barrels from the renowned Corton-Charlemagne appellation.
The Barbaresco Wine Cask Finish (51.3% ABV) is bottled at 27 years of age and was distilled and filled to ex-bourbon casks in 1996. In 2005, the whisky was transferred to ex-red wine barrels from Barbaresco in the renowned region of Piedmont in northern Italy. The trio is presented in a handmade oak casket that features a sliding door to access the bottles and marquetry artwork that is inspired by the landscapes of each wine region.
The Glenmorangie Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection is restricted to just 600 sets and will be primarily available via the Moët Hennessy Private Client channel. It will also be available in limited quantities at the distillery visitor centre in Tain, the Glenmorangie Boutique in London Heathrow Terminal 2 and through selected specialist whisky and luxury retailers from October. A set will cost £7,740/ €9,000.
“My passion for single malt whisky is perhaps only matched by my passion for fine wine. And my travels through the world’s finest vineyards have inspired many experiments with finishing whisky in wine casks. Of all my experiments, the whiskies in our Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection are among my most prized and delicious.”
Dr. Bill Lumsden | Director of Whisky Creation
