WHAT’S NEW

THERE IS ALWAYS A FLURRY OF NEW BRANDS AND EXPRESSIONS AT THIS TIME OF YEAR. HERE WE ROUND UP FOUR OF THE LATEST.

01 The Glenrothes Launches The 42

The Glenrothes has launched The 42, a limited release single malt whisky that has been inspired by the colour and character of the distillery’s Highland home.

Available from the 15th March in the UK, from The Whisky Shop, with an RRP of £6,750, The 42 is the first of its age to be released by The Glenrothes. The spirit is a union of hand-selected casks of The Glenrothes Single Malt that have matured for more than four decades on The Glenrothes Estate. Just 1,134 bottles of The 42 will be available worldwide.

Master Whisky Maker Laura Rampling selected the spirit from just four casks. She says, “This 42 year old whisky epitomises the character of The Glenrothes distillery. These four casks have taken our spirit on a journey of maturation over more than four decades, refining the original delicate and fruity character of our new make spirit without overpowering it.”

03 Nobel Rebel Makes Its Debut

Loch Lomond Group has launched Noble Rebel; an innovative and bold new blended malt Scotch whisky brand.

Available in three distinct expressions –Orchard Outburst, Smoke Symphony and Hazelnut Harmony – the flavours of Noble Rebel are brought to life through a series of vivid illustrations that detail the intricate stories, layers and tasting notes of each expression.

Matured in ex-bourbon casks, Orchard Outburst balances crisp, ripe orchard fruits with surprising flavours of crashing salty ocean waves, Smoke Symphony weaves threads of peat and smoke with hits of chilli while Hazelnut Harmony mingles nuts with a hint of sweet honeycomb, with subtle pear undertones meeting imprints of warm oak. Each expertly blended, no-agestatement blended malt whisky is non-chill filtered, natural in colour and bottled at 46% ABV.

All three Noble Rebel expressions are sealed with an emblem containing a droplet to represent the distillation process, a barrel to symbolise the maturation process, and a nosing glass in tribute to Loch Lomond Group’s blending prowess. Noble Rebel blended malt whisky is available now on the Noble Rebel website, RRSP £40 per 70cl bottle and at The Whisky Exchange.

02 Latest Vintage From Port Charlotte

Port Charlotte has launched Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014, the latest vintage in its island provenance series. Conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay, this single malt uses barley exclusively grown on the island from eight separate farms.

“Our Port Charlotte Islay Barley expressions encapsulate everything an Islay whisky can and should be, and the latest 2014 vintage is no different,” says Head Distiller, Adam Hannett. “However, growing on Islay is no mean feat. Our location on Scotland’s rugged west coast and unpredictable weather, coupled with grazing wild geese and deer, means a successful harvest is never a given. But it’s a risk worth taking. “

From just one farmer in 2004, Bruichladdich Distillery now works with a total of 20 farming partners on Islay - with over 50% of the distillery’s barley grown on the remote Hebridean island. These farming partnerships not only help to develop new soil-improving practices and encourage crop diversification but support the integral agricultural community.

Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2014 is priced at £75.00 and available to purchase now via bruichladdich.com or at selected specialist whisky retailers.

04 Bushmills 30 Yo Port Cask Final Causeway Release

Bushmills® Irish Whiskey has today revealed the tenth and final release from its current Causeway Collection – a rare 33 Year Old Port Cask. This is the oldest expression ever released from The Old Bushmills Distillery - the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery. Only 690 bottles of the cask finished, cask strength (53.3% ABV), non chill-filtered Irish single malt will be available. but if you want to add it to your collection you will have to visit duty free!

Filled on the 19th April 1989, this rare bottling has spent an incredible 33 years patiently maturing in fortified wine casks from northern Portugal. Alex Thomas, Bushmills Master Blender, has expertly watched over this malt as it’s been imbued with luscious dark fruit flavours, like blackcurrants and blackberries.