Whisky PR Corner–Friday August 8th , 2014

Is this coincidence or a new trend? two of this week’s new releases were matured in a PORT cask…

GLENDRONACH LAUNCHES 18 YEARS OLD TAWNY PORT FINISH

GOLDEN syrup, red fruit compote and red grapefruit – a mouth-watering description of the new GlenDronach 18 year-old Tawny Port expression launched this wek (4th August 2014).

Bottled at 46% abv, it is the award-winning Aberdeenshire distillery’s latest addition to its wood finishes range and replaces the 15 years old Tawny Port finish expression.

The GlenDronach Tawny Port finish is first matured in European oak casks and thereafter finishes its maturation in a small batch of Tawny Port casks. This gives the whisky its own unique flavours and aromas – in particular a distinctive rich red fruit taste.

The tasting notes show the whisky and the two different woods combining brilliantly to produce a phenomenal Highland malt.

GD-18-port

Appearance:

Bright amber with a tawny heart.

Nose:

Elegant notes of golden syrup drenched over red fruit compote with a contrasting red grapefruit balance. Touches of cinnamon and nutmeg add to a rounded, warm depth.

Palate:

Vivid, tart cranberries and crisp barley marry harmoniously with stewed plums and roasted apples. Cedar wood and sweet cigar box spices add a delicate warmth and unique complexity to the long warm finish.

Finish:

A beautifully structured balance of contrasting rich fruit characters and intriguing warm oak spices.

Sales Director Alistair Walker said: “We launched our wood finishes range four years ago and the response worldwide has been excellent.

“We’ve carefully selected whisky that has been gently maturing in lighter casks so that aficionados experience the full impact of the Tawny port cask.

“The very pleasing result contributes extra depth and concentrated stewed fruit flavours. It’s another outstanding whisky that we’re delighted to add to our portfolio.”

My tasting notes, to follow soon.

GLEN GARIOCH LAUNCHES FIRST CHAPTER IN FOUR-PART STORY

GG_Renaisance-Detail-3H

Loyal followers of Glen Garioch will be expecting big things when the artisan distillery launches the first chapter of a four-part story focussing on the resurgence of its fine single malt whisky.

The hearty Highland character of Glen Garioch has been captured in an exciting quadrilogy, charting the journey of the malt’s current house style as it matures over four years. The result is an anthology of four exclusive editions – 15, 16, 17 and 18 year olds – entitled the Glen Garioch Renaissance Collection, of which each will be released annually.

The inaugural release – a Glen Garioch 15-year-old – is due to hit shelves in September 2014.

Roused from its two-year slumber in 1997, Glen Garioch produced an uncharacteristically unpeated spirit that was quite different to its original. The new Glen Garioch house style revealed a rich and full-bodied character, infused with fruit, butterscotch and spice, marking a new chapter in the unfolding story of Scotland’s most easterly distillery.

Laden with lovely spicy notes after maturing in quality bourbon and sherry casks for 15 years, the opening edition of The Renaissance Collection builds on the house character with rich toffee and chocolate ginger notes, balanced with sweet, honey apricot and orange.

The three following editions will be released annually, creating a compilation that maps out the fascinating progress of Glen Garioch’s spirit in the cask – undoubtedly a must-have for Glen Garioch enthusiasts.

Rachel Barrie, Master Blender at Morrison Bowmore, said, “The scene is set at the ‘granary of Aberdeenshire’ for a wonderful story that charts the development of Glen Garioch’s house character each year since the distillery re-opened in 1997.

“This exciting compilation of four single malt whiskies will demonstrate how the Glen Garioch house style develops each year with the release of a 15, 16, 17 and 18 year old, all created from whisky distilled since 1997 and starting with the rich sweet and baked fruit character of the 15 year old”.

The Renaissance 15-year-old Glen Garioch has been non-chill filtered and bottled at 51.9% ABV and is available from all good whisky and liquor stores retailing at around £80 and only 12,000 bottles available globally.

Tasting Notes:

Honey gold in colour, the Renaissance 15-year-old has layers of rich Highland toffee and creamy butterscotch and notes of gingery, citrus spice on the nose. The warmth of baked apricots and cinnamon-spiced orange hits the palate, interlaced with smooth, caramel and barley sugar leaving a lovely ginger marmalade finish.

KILCHOMAN DISTILLERY RELEASES PORT MATURED SINGLE MALT

Port Cask 2014

Kilchoman, Islay’s newest distillery will this month release its first ever port cask matured whisky,

just 1000 cases (6) of the special edition release will be bottled.

Kilchoman’s Port Cask Matured release, the first of its kind from the distillery, is fully matured in ex

Ruby Port casks allowing for the full influence of the port casks to be imparted into the whisky.

Anthony Wills, managing director of Kilchoman, said: “We experimented with a number of different

cask types to see which ones worked for a full maturation term and the ruby port casks are

exceptional at just 3 years old. The palate has a wonderful balance of port influence but maintains

much of Kilchoman’s signature characteristics”

The Port Cask Matured release is non chill-filtered and is natural colour. It is bottled at 55% ABV and

will be available in the UK from the end of August in all good wine and spirits retailers, priced at RRP

£65 – £69 per 70cl bottle.

Founded in 2005, Kilchoman is one of the smallest distilleries in Scotland and the first distillery to

be built on Islay for 125 years. A working farm distillery, it is one of only a handful of distilleries still

practising floor malting. Kilchoman also grows a portion of its barley at the distillery and complete all

parts of the production process, from barley to bottling on the island.

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