Looking to add to your collection of Scotch Whiskies? Here are some of our favourite new releases for 2019.
It seems that the innovation that’s at the core of the Scotch industry never runs out of inspiration, with distillers and blenders experimenting with raw products, maturation processes and cask woods to create countless unique iterations of the timeless Scotch tradition.
Whether you’re an avid whisky collector, a connoisseur or just a lad looking for something special to pop on the home bar, these new expressions capture the essence of the whisky-making art, from drams inspired by the landscape to those dedicated to the people that make these drops so special.
120 years in the Making
Whisky house Glen Moray has celebrated the 120th anniversary of its iconic Elgin distillery with a limited-edition blend. With just five Master Distillers in the company’s 120-year history, Glen Moray’s tradition of quality and consistency is alive and well and the Glen Moray Mastery, created by current Master Distiller Graham Coull, captures that tradition to perfection. A blend of five Glen Moray whiskies sourced from ex-bourbon and fortified sherry, madeira and port wine casks, this exclusive dram, which is bottled at 52.3%ABV, features vintages from 1978, 1988, 1994, 1999, and 2001. Two of the vintages contained in Mastery are of Coull’s creation, but the others come from Glen Moray forefathers Robert Brown and Edwin Dodson. Only 1,000 bottles of the anniversary blend have been produced, each presented in an individually numbered decanter. US$1,000.
Portwood Finish
If you’re looking for a Glen Moray dram that’s a little more wallet-friendly, the distillery also recently released the “multi-layered” Glen Moray Aged 21 Years Portwood Finish whisky, which combines the spicy sweetness of American oak bourbon casks with hints of tannin and sweetness from port casks. A perfect sipping whisky, bottled at 46.3%ABV, expect touches of vanilla and caramel as well as the warmth of gingerbread, followed by chocolate and touches of chilli. US$151
A Private Affair
Independent whisky bottler Gordon & MacPhail has released a 38-year-old single malt Scotch from the now-closed Coleburn Distillery as part of the company’s coveted Private Collection. The distillery was founded in 1897 in Longmorn, and the Gordon & MacPhail 1981 from Coleburn Distillery was aged in a refill Sherry hogshead that was originally chosen by Gordon & MacPhail to be filled in March 1981, only five years before the distillery closed its doors. Bottled at 55.9%ABV to ensure the complex, signature flavour profile of the Coleburn Distillery stands out, whisky lovers will find Sherry-soaked fruit, dark chocolate, anise, and touches of toffee and smoke on the long yet elegant finish. The release is limited to 101 bottles. US$1,700.
Farewell Dram
All good things must come to an end, even the most exquisitely crafted things. Johnnie Walker has announced that its latest release of The John Walker will be the last ever in this masterclass in whisky-making. For over a decade, The John Walker has been crafted with some of the finest and most valuable casks of whisky from the Johnnie Walker reserves. These whiskies are hand-selected from just nine distilleries that were in existence during the lifetime of Johnnie Walker founder John Walker (1805 – 1857). The whiskies are then matured with a special triple maturation technique, which includes a final marrying in a bespoke cask made from 100-year-old oak staves. Only 330 bottles of The John Walker Last Cast have been released worldwide, each presented in a handblown Baccarat crystal decanter, with a bespoke design by Hand Engraver of Glass to Her Majesty the Queen, Philip Lawson Johnston, making each bottle completely unique. US$3,091
Private Edition Addition
The latest creation by whisky guru Dr Bill Lumsden, the Glenmorangie Allta Private Edition No. 10 celebrates the 10th anniversary of Glenmorangie’s Private Edition series. To create this spectacular dram, the good Doctor collected natural yeast from barley grown on the distillery’s own property and used it to ferment a mash that adds new levels of terroir to a classic whisky base. Bottled at 51.2%ABV, expect plenty of vanilla and citrus thanks to the non-chill filtration. US$163
Half-Century Bliss
Matured in oak casks for over 50 years, the Invergordon 1966 53-Year-Old Xtra Old Particular is a sensational single grain whisky from producers Douglas Laing & Co with a heavenly balance of oaky spiciness and bourbon-derived flavours. Look out for vanilla, caramel and dark fruits on the nose, followed by an intense spiciness and touches of cloves and cinnamon on the palate. This collectable whisky finishes with dry oak and earth accents. US$722
Islay Meets Barley
In the latest addition to Bruichladdich’s Barley Exploration series, the distillery has released three new vintages, including the Bruichladdich The Organic 2010. The Organic 2010 is made from, you guessed it, organic barley, with the spirit then matured in ex-bourbon American oak casks for a minimum of eight years. Sans chill-filtration or colouring, the whisky is bottled at 50%ABV and promises a warm, soothing palate and a lingering finish with touches of summer fruits and almonds. US$91
Maclean Inspiration
With dried berries and the signature Oban citrus peel on the nose, followed by wood spice and burnt oranges on the palate, Oban has released the limited-edition Oban Old Teddy, a single malt that marks three generations of the Maclean family at the distillery. Bottled at 51.7%ABV and limited to 3,960 bottles, the whisky is inspired by the stories and experience of the Maclean family, which has served at the distillery for three generations. The Oban Old Teddy whisky is matured in ex-bodega Sherry casks and re-fill casks. US$182
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