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 single malt brand of Bushmills has announced the latest addition to its awrd-winning and prestigious Causeway Collection – the Bushmills 23 years old Madeira Cask. The whiskey will be exclusive to the global travel retail market, starting with a one month period of exclusivity at London Heathrow until the end of June.
The new whiskey has been matured in first-fill ex-Madeira fortified wine barrels, sourced from the Portuguese island of Madeira in the Atlantic, for the full term of 23 years. This is highly unusual in the whisky world as such casks are often only used for finishing. The casks were filled in June 2000. The Bushmills 23 years old Madeira Cask is bottled at the natural cask strength of 53.8% ABV and will cost $US507/ €440/ £390.
“I chose this single malt aged exclusively in ex-Madeira casks for its distinct profile, bursting with summer fruits, sweet peach and roasted nuts. Having spent 23 years maturing in these casks, I am confident this one will be hugely popular… its luscious sweetness is basically summer in a glass!”
Alex Thomas | Master Blender at Bushmills.
Laphroaig
The Islay distillery of Laphroaig has announced the second bottling in its experimental Elements Series that explores different production and distillation techniques. Laphroaig Elements 2.0 takes spirit with a extended fermentation time (115 hours compared to the regular 55-hour time). This has created extra fruity flavours in the whisky that sit alongside Laphroaig’s traditional peat smoke.
The Elements 2.0 has been matured in ex-bourbon barrels and is bottled at the natural cask strength of 59.6% ABV. It is both non-chill filtered and of natural colour. The new whisky is available in selected specialist retailers in the UK and from the distillery shop on Islay. A bottle will cost £170.
“Our Laphroaig Elements Series is all about blending years of traditional whisky making with new, progressive techniques. Laphroaig Elements 2.0 is an unexpected fruitier whisky with the same peaty character people know and love – made possible by over double the typical fermentation period.”
Barry MacAffer | Distillery Manager at Laphroaig
