News 359
A CELEBRATION OF THE HEBRIDEAN ISLE OF RAASAY:
ISLE OF RAASAY DISTILLERY REVEALS NEW LIMITED-EDITION WHISKY, FULLY MATURED IN EX-MANZANILLA CASKS
11th May 2023, London: The Isle of Raasay Distillery has unveiled a new limited-edition expression in celebration of winning the coveted Tourism Destination of the Year Award at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2022.
The new ‘Distillery Exclusive – Tourism Destination of the Year’ is inspired by the rugged yet beautiful windswept Isle of Raasay, with the team choosing a unique blend of sherry and ex-Manzanilla Pasada casks to achieve a salty maritime note within the whisky that encapsulates the island’s climate. Overall, this maturation process delivers a whisky which is lightly peated with notes of chamomile, almonds and salted caramel and has an ABV of 63.5%.
Co-founder and Master Distiller, Alasdair Day said: “The Isle of Raasay is a very small rugged, windswept Hebridean island that lies off the East coast of Skye. An island off an island. With all of our spirit being matured on Raasay in our warehouses there has been a lot of discussion about our maritime climate and how this may influence the flavour characteristics of our maturing whisky. It was with this thought in mind, combined with the tradition of maturing Scotch Whisky in sherry casks that we selected a small quantity of ex Manzanilla Pasada casks for our Isle of Raasay Single Malt to mature in.
“Manzanilla is a very dry sherry, similar to Fino, made in the same way but at the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda next to the sea and not inland in Jerez. This results in a salty maritime note in Manzanilla which is not present in Fino sherry. It is this note that we were looking to promote in this very special release of our Isle of Raasay Hebridean Single Malt. It combines our maturation by the sea with the maritime influence of the Manzanilla sherry.”
Only 2,500 bottles of ‘Distillery Exclusive – Tourism Destination of the Year’ will be released which will be exclusively available to their online whisky club and at the Isle of Raasay Distillery from 17th May 2023 with a retail price of £95.
THE MACALLAN’S LATEST ADDITION TO FOLIO SERIES: THE STORY OF THE BOFFINS BAFFLED
The Macallan has revealed the next instalment in the iconic series that celebrates the classic advertising campaigns of the brand – Folio 7.
The seventh release from The Macallan Archival Series highlights a campaign from 1984, telling the quirky story of a curious party of scientists who were invited to the Distillery to taste The Macallan single malt whisky for the first time.
The animations created for the campaign depict the scientists visiting The Macallan Distillery and enjoying a signature dram while discerning why whisky ages best in sherry seasoned casks. They are seen to be sniffing and sipping the amber-gold nectar in awe of their new discovery, before they depart in a flurry to investigate further the magic they have tasted.
First released in 2015, The Archival Series was created to commemorate The Macallan’s legendary print, press and film advertising campaigns of the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s. By gathering the stories, anecdotes, drawings and photographs that featured as part of the campaigns, the series of individual releases showcases how The Macallan grew from a remote farmstead on the River Spey to become a world-renowned whisky recognised for its incomparable craftsmanship and creativity.
Art Director, David Holmes and Copy Writer, Nick Salaman were tasked to bring the brand’s essence to life in the 1984 advert. On hearing the account of scientists visiting The Macallan Estate, David and Nick, together with illustrator Mary Hogan (Nee Roberts), created an advert with exquisite verve, The Boffins Baffled, now re-imagined once more in Folio 7.
Euan Kennedy, Lead Whisky Maker, The Macallan, said: “Crafted to pay tribute to the magic and curiosity of The Boffins Baffled advert of the 1980s, Folio 7 is a captivating single malt whisky which truly reflects the iconic status of the artwork it celebrates.
“Offering a fruity nose of apple and pear, raisins, milk chocolate and orange peel then give way to vanilla and baked fruits on the palate, leaving a long, creamy finish with warm spices. With its interesting flavours, Folio 7 offers a unique way to experience The Macallan and one of its most unforgettable advertising campaigns from decades past.”
The Macallan Folio 7 features an ABV of 43% and is priced at £350. It is accompanied by a special booklet commemorating the brand’s vintage advertising, presented in a beautiful book-shaped tin. Folio 7 will be available for sale from April 2023 when a ballot opens through The Macallan Online Boutique, as well as from The Macallan Estate Boutique and selected global travel retail Boutiques.
For further information visit www.themacallan.com
Latest News From GlenWyvis Distillery
GlenWyvis Distillery Releases Two New Bond Offers
GlenWyvis Distillery, a social enterprise which is 100% community owned and based in Dingwall in Ross-shire, Scotland, has released two new bond offers which will deliver a fixed annual interest rate of up to 6.25%.
The bond offers from GlenWyvis Distillery have been released to allow investors to capitalise on the Social Investment Tax Relief (SITR) which was extended by HMRC until 5th April 2023. These bonds will therefore be eligible for 30% tax relief (SITR), allowing holders who are UK taxpayers to offset a percentage of the purchase from their tax liability.
The bonds, Series B and Series C, will enable the GlenWyvis Distillery to raise £1.5 million which will be used to execute its long-term vision. Critical to the vision is the ability to increase spirit production and, in turn, increase the stockpile of maturing spirit to enable GlenWyvis Distillery to compete in an international market and satisfy demand for premium single malt Highland whisky bottled at 10 years old or more. GlenWyvis Distillery also aims to open a visitor centre and bottling plant.
The details of the bond offers are as follows:
Series B
This offer will attract a fixed annual interest rate of 5.5% over five to seven years.
Offered as unsecured loan notes in multiples of £1,000, interest will be paid every six months, and notes will be eligible for redemption in three tranches on the fifth, sixth and seventh anniversary of issue (2028-2030).
Series C
This offer will attract a fixed annual interest rate of 6.25% over eight to ten years.
Offered as unsecured loan notes in multiples of £1,000, interest will be paid every six months, and notes will be eligible for redemption in three tranches on the eighth, nineth and tenth anniversary of issue (2031-2033).
Speaking about the bond offers, David Graham, Chairman of GlenWyvis Distillery Community Benefit Society, said: “More than 3,000 like-minded people invested in GlenWyvis to create the first ever 100% community-owned distillery in 2016 and we are one of the largest registered community benefit societies in the United Kingdom.
“We have a clear vision and these bond offers will provide the capital required to execute the business plan to realise our ambition. Our previous bond offer in 2021 was extremely popular and I am confident that Series B and C offer a competitive investment opportunity, particularly if taken out before April 5th when the SITR comes to an end.”
The bond offers are only open to shareholders. However, interested potential investors are encouraged to consider becoming a member which can be done via an online application for a minimum shareholding of £250.
More details about the bond offer and becoming a member of GlenWyvis Distillery Community Benefit Society can be found at https://www.glenwyvis.com/investment/
In 2021, GlenWyvis Distillery launched Dingwall’s first whisky in almost a century with its inaugural three-year-old GlenWyvis Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Its second release followed in 2022. The Distillery has also won industry awards for its GoodWill Gin.
This year, GlenWyvis Distillery Community Benefit Society launched the GoodWill Fund to benefit good causes in the local community. Funded by 5% of all online sales of GlenWyvis whisky and gin, £10,000 was made available for communities and organisations in Ross-shire to apply for. A further two rounds of funding will be launched throughout 2023, making a total of £30,000 available this year, with further funding rounds being launched each year.
Limited Expressions from Loch Lomond Whiskies
Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Limited Single Grain Scotch Whiskies
Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled two limited Single Grain releases which exemplify the distiller’s innovative range of whisky-making techniques.
Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice and Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask Finish are brought together by Master Blender, Michael Henry.
Using only 100% malted barley with an additional long fermentation time then distilled in Loch Lomond’s bespoke all copper, Continuous ‘Coffey’ Still, it creates a spirit with layers of deep and elegant floral fruit notes, showcasing Loch Lomond’s capability in flavour creation through distillation.
Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask Finish is the first in a series of annual limited releases. Limited to just 3,000 bottles, the special edition is one of the rarest Single Grain whiskies to be released by Loch Lomond Whiskies.
Loch Lomond is one of only four distilleries in Scotland to have an on-site cooperage. This ensures that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard, so every cask is perfect for maturing Loch Lomond Whiskies’ characterful spirits.
Michael has worked closely with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ dedicated team of coopers to craft this release, carefully selecting higher age-statement whiskies to be matured in first and second fill American Oak Bourbon barrels. This special Single Grain is then finished for six months in the finest hand-crafted, rare Mizunara Japanese Oak casks, to elevate the natural flavours found within. The result is a whisky of wonderful character, enhanced with rich, fragrant spice derived from the Mizunara Oak casks.
Complementing this, Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice marries a careful selection of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ aged single grains with more vibrant liquids, resulting in a whisky with layers of elegant fruit and floral character. This exquisite Single Grain is matured in a selection of both first fill and second fill American Oak Bourbon barrels.
Both Single Grain whiskies are non-chill filtered and natural in colour, just as nature intended.
Each bespoke black grain bottle is embossed with the Loch Lomond Whiskies logo in striking silver and carries Michael’s signature as a personal guarantee of quality.
Loch Lomond Whiskies Master Blender, Michael Henry said:
“We’re proud to introduce the latest additions to our Single Grain portfolio. Crafted using our innovative Coffey still, these are two very special whiskies with distinct and diverse flavours.
“Each expression has been crafted to showcase the floral fruit notes through distilling and influence finishing has on our grain whisky through cask selection.”
Loch Lomond Whiskies is truly unique in its craftsmanship, using innovative techniques to explore flavour in a distinctive way. As the only distillery in Scotland to use its bespoke design of continuous Coffey Still, Loch Lomond Distillery has a whisky-making capability like no other.
This continuous still provides Loch Lomond Whiskies with greater control over the distillation process by allowing spirit to be taken off at different plates and at specific strengths, shaping the flavour profile and character of the whisky at the point of distillation.
Loch Lomond Distillery can trace its distilling heritage back to 1814. Its current malt and grain distilleries, in Alexandria, Dunbartonshire, close to the banks of Loch Lomond, were commissioned in 1964 with first distillation in 1966.
Product specific detail
Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice
The nose of Loch Lomond Single Grain Distiller’s Choice carries deep floral and fruit notes of rose, violet, peach, pear and blackcurrant with vanilla and coconut, some honey and
chocolate. The silk like mouthfeel glides over the tongue, bringing tart fruits of blackberry and green apple with golden barley before a long finish of vanilla fudge sweetness and
gently warming cinnamon spice.
It is bottled at 48.8% ABV and has a RRSP of £50.
Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask
Loch Lomond Single Grain Cooper’s Collection Mizunara Cask combines rose, honeysuckle,
blackcurrant and toasted oak on the nose. On the palate there is sweet spice character with apple, sandalwood, honey and cinnamon, with a dry, warming oak spice finish.
It is bottled at 50% ABV and has a RRSP of £60.
Both releases are available globally.
For further information visit www.lochlomondwhiskies.com
Highland Park Release Cask Strength No.3
Highland Park Adds New Whisky to Award-winning Cask Strength Series
— Cask Strength Release No.3 celebrates the harmonious balance of traditional whisky-making and modern flavour exploration —
Orkney-based single malt distillery, Highland Park, has added a new whisky to its award-winning Cask Strength series, designed to challenge whisky drinking norms. The range strikes a harmonious balance between the traditional whisky-making craft, while encouraging flavour exploration to suit individual palates.
Launching as a permanent addition to the Highland Park range and created using the traditional ‘straight from the cask’ method, Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 is whisky in its purest form. No water is added after maturation which delivers a robust and intense flavour with a greater depth of finish.
Cask Strength Release No.3 uses whisky made with a higher proportion of Orkney peated malt resulting in a smokier style compared to the other single malts in the series. It has been matured predominantly in first-fill sherry seasoned American and European oak casks and a small quantity of refill casks. The result is an extraordinary combination of contrasting yet perfectly balanced flavours of charred oak, tropical fruits, aniseed, heather honey, vanilla cream, aromatic violet, sponge cake and peat smoke.
Highland Park, Master Whisky Maker, Gordon Motion champions this style of whisky as an opportunity for flavour discovery. Gordon explains:
“With Cask Strength, you are at a great place to start exploring the taste that best suits your palate by adding water, ice or your preferred serve. It’s your whisky and should be enjoyed your way.
“For me, a Cask Strength whisky really celebrates that balance between old and new and I look forward to seeing how consumers enjoy the new whisky.”
The Highland Park Cask Strength series, a prestige offering within the portfolio, has been created by bringing together dozens of single casks. The whisky is at full strength, straight from the cask, and has only been gently filtered before bottling.
The releases within the Cask Strength range share the same underlying character but with each batch featuring different flavours coming to the fore based on the cask make-up. The ABV will also vary from batch to batch.
Release No.1 was matured predominantly in sherry seasoned American oak casks of different ages, delivering a harmonious contrast of flavours of toffee, heather, honey, and peat smoke. Release No. 2 was matured predominantly in sherry seasoned European and American oak casks and a small quantity of ex-bourbon casks, producing tastes of pear and almond cake, toasted oak, liquorice, cracked black pepper, aromatic peat.
Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.3 will become available globally from 1st September across specialist whisky retailers, including The Whisky Exchange, Master of Malt, and The Whisky Shop, and from the Highland Park online shop, distillery, and Albert Street store in Orkney. The UK RRP is £65.
To find out more visit: www.highlandparkwhisky.com
