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 …
Bushmills
The Northern Irish distillery of Bushmills have released a very special and rare single malt – Bushmills 46 Years Old ‘Secrets of the River Bush’. The new whiskey is the oldest ever to be released by the brand. The rare liquid has been nurtured by two generations of distillery staff. It celebrates the River Bush, which flows through the town of Bushmills and supplies water for the distillery. It has been created by Alex Thomas, the Master Blender at Bushmills.
The whiskey has been maturing in ex-Oloroso sherry casks from Jerez, Spain for almost five decades and is released at the natural strength of 46.3% ABV. There are just 300 bottles available via selected specialist and luxury retailers in selected global markets. The bottle is accompanied by a handmade bespoke walnut presentation casket. Each will cost £9,750/ US$12,500.
Glen Grant
The Speyside distillery of Glen Grant has unveiled the first release from its Splendours Collection. This is a new series of single malts comprising some of the rarest whiskies maturing in the distillery’s warehouses. The Glen Grant 65 Years Old was distilled in 1958 and has been maturing in a single French oak butt ever since. It is presented in a bespoke bottle and wooden holder designed by John Galvin and Glasstorm. There are just 151 bottles and they will be available in specialist whisky and luxury retailers globally. A bottle will cost £50,000/ US$64,500.
The true scarcity of this spirit is testament to the unwavering approach to whisky making and visionary innovation which has defined The Glen Grant. Although distilled back in 1958, the methods remain almost entirely the same today and reflects the legacy of our forefathers.
Greig Stables, Master Distiller at Glen Grant
Glenmorangie
The north Highland distillery of Glenmorangie has announced a reimagining of its popular Lasanta bottling. The new version maintains the refined combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry cask maturation, but with an increased age statement. The Glenmorangie Lasanta 15 Years Old joins other the cire range which has seen similar age increases across the board. Last year The Original added two years to become 12 Years Old, while the ex-Port cask finished Quinta Ruban changed from 12- to 14 Years Old and the ex-Sauternes cask Nectar D’or moving from 14- to 16 Years Old.
The reimagined whisky has been created by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the Director of Whisky Creation at Glenmorangie, and Gillian Macdonald, the Master Blender. The Glenmorangie Lasanta is bottled at 43% ABV. It will be available in the UK from April and then rolled out to all current Glenmorangie global markets in the coming months. A bottle will cost £54.
Glenmorangie Lasanta is a whisky that elicits the radiant wonder of sunset and has been a favourite of Glenmorangie fans for some time. Now aged for 15 years in an enhanced selection of bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks, we’ve introduced even more complex and elegant notes to this whisky, all working together in delicious balance.
Dr. Bill Lumsden.
