New scotch whisky releases this week include Laphroaig’s 2024 Càirdeas, a 12 year old from Daftmill, and a sherry cask expression from Bonnington.
Laphroaig Càirdeas 2024 Cask Favourites
Islay distillery, Laphroaig, has unveiled the 2024 edition of its beloved Càirdeas series.
Càirdeas, Gaelic for friendship, is an annual limited release by Laphroaig offered exclusively to ‘Friends of Laphroaig’.
‘Friends of Laphroaig’ is a free Laphroaig fan club, in which you can earn points to spend on Laphroaig whisky and merchandise, as well as claiming your own square foot of Islay. The club was founded in 1994, making 2024 its 30th anniversary.
In celebration, the new Laphroaig Càirdeas 2024 Cask Favourites pays homage to the last three decades of friendship, as well as previous Càirdeas releases, including the 2019 Triple Wood and the 2021 PX Cask.
Whisky from these beloved casks has been expertly blended by Master Blender Calum Fraser and bottled at 10 years old. According to the press release: “Developed in ex-Bourbon barrels, this single malt combines the distinctive peaty flavor of Laphroaig with notes of freshly ground ginger, charred citrus fruits, and a whisper of bonfire notes embers through on the finish. The celebratory malt is bottled at a fixed strength for a memorable experience to share with friends.”
The official tasting notes for the new Laphroaig Càirdeas are:
- Bold, pale gold in color.
- Packed with quintessential smoky peat and charred citrus fruit aromas.
- With notes of caramelized sugar and cinnamon dominate the nose.
- Followed by delicate notes of hazelnut and honey sweetness.
- A tannic oak paired with earthy peat and subtle sea-salt bring the whisky to a finish.
The Laphroaig Càirdeas 2024 Cask Favourites is now available for preorder via ReserveBar. The whisky will be available in the US at the end of June 2024 for an RRP of $109.99.
Daftmill 2010 Cask Strength
Lowland distillery, Daftmill, has unveiled a new 12 year old cask strength expression, distilled in 2010. Daftmill, located in Fife, is a leading figure in the so-called ‘Lowland Revival’ which has seen numerous distilleries being built in the Lowlands after a period of significant downturn for the region.
The independent farm distillery has a very small output, meaning that its releases are highly anticipated. This new release, for example, is vatted from just 15 first-fill ex-bourbon casks. Only 2,400 bottles are available.
Daftmill operates on a seasonal schedule, with just 100 casks filled per year.
The Datmill 2010 Cask Strength was distilled between January and July 2010 and matured for 12 years before being bottled at 58.7% ABV. It will be the first Daftmill Cask Strength expression to be available in the USA.
The official tasting notes for the new release are:
“Nose: Lashings of vanilla essence and spiced custard, evolving over time into honeyed beeswax, sweet lemon candy, apricot jam, and hints of fresh cake dough
Palate: Spicy oak balanced with fruitier distillate notes, giving way to caramelized brown sugar, toffee and hints of mashed banana and marzipan
Finish: Dominant notes of wood spice with waves of warming cinnamon and dried ginger”
The new expression will be distributed in the US with the help of Hotaling & Co. CEO Dan Leese said: “Daftmill is renowned for its dedication to authenticity and craft as a true Scottish farm-to-bottle single malt. We pride ourselves on bringing exceptional spirits from around the world to American consumers, and this new cask strength expression from Daftmill will be sure to appeal to every whisky collector.”
Bonnington Sherry Cask
Halewood Artisanal Spirits has unveiled a sherry cask expression from Bonnington Distillery in Edinburgh.
The NAS Lowland single malt was matured exclusively in Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks. Tasting notes are as follows:
“Nose: Sweet sugar, pick and mix, fresh oak and green wood
Taste: Fresh, subtle red fruit, lightly dusted sugar on berries
Finish: Lots of wood and tannins, some salty notes.”
The Bonnington Sherry Cask comes on the heels of the successful Bonnington Inaugural Release, which hit the market in 2023.
Speaking about the new release, Distillery Manager Jamie Lockhart, said: “I am delighted to follow up our inaugural launch with this very nice sherry cask release. The liquid itself is something that we’re really proud of – aged in Pedro Ximénez Casks and cut at 47% it’s bold, rich and full of flavour”.
Bonnington Distillery was built in 2018, and is named for the foundations of Bonnington House which were uncovered when work began. This has served as inspiration for the brand going forward. Master Blender JIll Boyd commented: “Our plan with Bonnington releases is to keep them small batch. We have exciting ideas for 2024 with further limited bottlings planned.”
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The Bonnington Sherry Cask will roll out to specialist retailers, including Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange, in the next couple of weeks. The new release has an RRP of £50-£55.
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