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 the rebirth of a classic – the Ardbeg 17 years old. The returning whisky will be limited edition and exclusive to Ardbeg Committee members. The original Ardbeg 17 years old was released in 1997 shortly after the distillery reopened, but was retired in 2004. Now 20 years later, a complete replica is back.
The whisky has been created by Gillian Macdonald, Ardbeg’s Master Blender, and matured in ex-bourbon barrels. It is bottled at 40% ABV, just as the original was. Ardbeg 17 years old 2024 Edition will be available to Ardbeg Committee members only via www.ardbeg.com, the distillery visitor centre shop and in Ardbeg Embassies worldwide. A bottle will cost £160.
The Dalmore
The north Highland distillery of Dalmore has released three whiskies into a new collection – The Dalmore The Distillery Select Series. New expressions will be added annually. The 2024 Edition features rare samples of casks laid down in specific cask types and includes the 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish, 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes and the 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish. All are bottled at cask strength and are both non-chill filtered and of natural colour.
The Dalmore 2009 Vintage Sherry Cask Finish is bottled at 15 years old and features a finish in ex-sherry casks from Gonzalez Byass in Spain. It is released at 52.8% ABV and there are just 2,736 bottles. Each will cost £300. The Dalmore 2007 Vintage Amarone & Port Cask Finishes features a duo of cask finishes – ex-Amarone red wine from Italy and ex-Port wine from Portugal. There are just 918 bottles at 45.8% ABV. Each bottle will cost £1,000.The Dalmore 2000 Vintage Calvados Cask Finish is bottled at 24 years old and 50.3% ABV. Initial maturation was in American white oak ex-bourbon casks before a finishing period in ex-Calvados barrels sourced from the House of Drouin in France. There are just 383 bottles and each will cost £5,000.
All will be available in Dalmore Boutiques around the globe, plus in specialist and luxury retailers. For more information, please visit www.thedalmore.com.
Ferg & Harris
The luxury single cask single malt bottler of Ferg & Harris have launched five new whiskies into their 2024 collection. Each features a special cask finish and is bottled at the natural cask strength. They will be available to purchase from www.fergandharris.co.uk and selected independent whisky retailers. The list of the five bottlings and details are listed below:
- Tormore 11 years old / Speyside/ 63.3% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in virgin oak/ 205 bottles/ £90
- Longmorn 12 years old / Speyside/ 58.8% ABV/ ex-bourbon, finished in ex-white Port/ 288 bottles/ £125
- Bunnahabhain 14 years old / Islay/ 54.7% ABV/ ex-Oloroso sherry, finished in ex-Sauternes/ 281 bottles/ £140
- Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 64.2% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in virgin oak/ 284 bottles/ £130
- Craigellachie 15 years old / Speyside/ 63.1% ABV/ ex-Amontillado sherry, finished in ex-white Port/ 279 bottles/ £130.
Rampur
The Indian single malt brand of Rampur has announced the latest additions to its limited edition Jugalbandi series. The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 and #6 have been distilled at the Rampur distillery in the Himalayan foothills and created by Anup Barik, the brand’s Master Blender. Jugalbandi translates as ‘entwined twins’ and refers to a traditional Indian musician and their instrument playing in harmony.
The Rampur Jugalbandi #5 (pictured, above left) has been initially matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finishing period in ex-Tokaji wine casks from Hungary. It is bottled at 55.6% ABV. The Rampur Jugalbandi #6 (pictured, above right) has seen full maturation in ex-Madeira wine barrels. It is bottled at 55.8% ABV. Both will retail at £400 per bottle and be available in selected world markets including Europe, Singapore, the UK, the USA and global travel retail.
Tamdhu
The Speyside distillery of Tamdhu has announced a new rare whisky collection and the first bottling in that collection. The Tamdhu Dedication Collection kicks off with the release of Tamdhu 43 years old. The whisky is a combination of three ex-Oloroso sherry casks that were distilled and filled in 1978 and 1979.
It is presented in a hand-blown crystal decanter, which is individually numbered, and housed within a hand-built octagonal wooden casket. Tamdhu 43 years old is bottled at 50.8% ABV and there are just 100 bottles available. It will be on sale from late-September via specialist and luxury retailers. A bottle will cost £13,500.
At Tamdhu, our whisky is the ultimate artistic expression. So to launch this landmark collection we did not want to get side-tracked by gimmicks. Or look away from our whisky. Because it is there, in the spirit itself, where you see our craft, passion and dedication.
Sandy McIntyre | Distillery Manager at Tamdhu.
