New releases from the world of scotch whisky include two Curious Casks expressions from The Balvenie, a tequila-finished blend from Rock Island, and a Lowland single malt from Kingsbarns.
The Balvenie A Collection of Curious Casks
The Balvenie has expanded its global Stories Range with two new single cask expressions: The Balvenie 14 Year Old American Bourbon Barrel and The Balvenie 18 Year Old French Pineau Cask Finish.
Curated by The Balvenie’s Malt Master, Kelsey McKechnie and samples coordinator George Paterson, the expressions “bring to life the unique environment of The Balvenie’s warehouses,” according to a brand press release.
The 14 Year Old is a Balvenie single malt that was aged in American Bourbon barrels. Bottled at 47.8% ABV, whisky has aromas of: “rich toffee and smouldering oak, revealing crisp citrus scents and ever flowing honey musk. On the palate, candied orange peel is grounded in woody,
earthy flavors from beautifully roasted malt and deep vanilla oakiness, resulting in a
long and lingering finish.” The 14 Year Old from A Collection of Curious Casks will have an RRP of $114.99.
The 18 Year Old underwent a very different maturation process. Firstly, the whisky was aged for 10 years in ex-bourbon and European oak casks. Then, the whisky underwent an additional 8 years of maturation in French Pineau Casks. “The result is a single malt whisky with warm amber aromas of toasted oak and delicate spice, complemented by smooth butterscotch and hints of ripe berries. On the palate, intriguing layers of spice and rich sweetness meld with creamy vanilla and honey, revealing gentle oaky tannins that linger long after the first sip.” The 18 Year Old has an RRP of $399.99.
Speaking about the new additions to the already successful Stories Range, McKechnie said: “This collection perfectly exemplifies the rare and limited Balvenie casks making their debut. It is an honor to collaborate daily with talented craftspeople like George, who dedicates his time and craft to shepherding our casks to distinction and bringing our liquid to life. I am delighted to share this opportunity with him, showcasing his expertise and sharing his knowledge of our warehouses with the world.”
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The Balvenie A Collection of Curious Casks expressions are available globally, in limited quantities.
Rock Island Tequila Edition
Scotch independent bottler, Douglas Laing, has unveiled a blended malt scotch whisky finished in tequila casks as part of its Rock Island range.
Continuing its exploration into cask finishes, Rock Island combined single malts from Arran, Islay, Jura, and Orkney to finish in high-quality and hand-selected tequila casks. The resulting tasting notes feature “crème brûlée, brown sugar and toasted oak, with an element of peat, complimented by the citrus and freshness brought by the Tequila Cask finishing.”
The bottle design is as striking as the tasting notes, with the hand-drawn design reflecting Mexican culture and heritage, as well as Rock Island’s branding.
Bottled at 48% ABV, the Rock Island Tequila Edition has an RRP of £65 (~$83), and will be available globally.
Chloe Wood, Rock Island’s Brand Manager, said: “Rock Island is a brand we’re extremely proud of here at Douglas Laing. It allows four of some of the most iconic Whisky-producing Islands around the world, to be brought together to create a truly unique Blended Malt Scotch Whisky. As ever, cask-exploration remains an important element of our business at Douglas Laing and this Tequila Cask Edition of Rock Island is no exception. Bringing elements of Scotland and Mexico together provides such an interesting release of Rock Island that we are looking forward to sharing with Rock Island and Douglas Laing fans around the world!”
Kingsbarns Coaltown Ex-Peated
Lowland distillery, Kingsbarns, has unveiled a new expression matured in ex-peated casks. These casks were carefully blended by Production Director, Isabella Wemyss to produce a soft, smoky spirit.
On the nose, the drinker is greeted by notes of “grilled banana, sweet smoke and hints of heather,” then, on the palate “rose water, buttercream, touch of leather and delicate charred citrus zest.”
The expression is named after the nearby mining village, Coaltown, near Wemyss Castle, the Wemyss family’s ancestral home.
Speaking about the new expression, Isabella Wemyss said: “Every new launch is the result of a tremendous effort by our skilled team all local to the distillery.
“It’s unusual to see a whisky that has been exclusively matured in ex-peated casks. This unique approach allows us to offer a distinctive blend that stands apart from whiskies simply finished in ex-peated casks.
“By using ex-peated casks, rather than peat drying the barley, we are able to bring through the smoky notes traditionally associated with peated whisky whilst minimising our carbon footprint.”
William Wemyss, founder of Wemyss Family Spirits, said: “We are proud to present Kingsbarns Coaltown, a whisky that embodies our innovative spirit while staying true to our Lowland heritage. This release highlights our team’s exceptional craftsmanship and our unwavering commitment to quality.”
Kingsbarns Coaltown is now available to purchase on the Kingsbarns website for an RRP of £46 (~$59).
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