Inbox - May 9, 2014

Welcome to this week's Inbox.  For those that have recently discovered us, Inbox is our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our email inbox. It was created as we cannot write full articles or do justice to every piece received. It features items from around the world of whisky and is published by us each Friday.

Within Inbox we aim to write a few lines detailing each press release/piece of news/PR event that we have received and provide links, where possible, for you to find out further information.  Here is the news that has caught our attention from this week ...

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Aberlour - Art exhibition comes to Speyside

The popular single malt brand of Aberlour have opened the world's first outdoor whisky art gallery at the distillery in Speyside.  A photographic exhibition featuring work by David Maitland, a former European Wildlife Photographer of the Year in 2008, was opened last weekend to coincide with the Spirit of Speyside Festival.  The exhibition features a series of super-macro images that chart the elements and processes of whisky making at Aberlour.  The outdoor gallery is situated in the riverside walk area next to the distillery.  Entry is free of charge to visitors.

David Maitland said: “I am so pleased that the public can enjoy these images in the natural surrounding from which they were inspired, right in the heart of Scotland’s single malt region. The whisky journey is one that relies on nature, from the spring water used in the distillation process, to the casks in which the whisky is aged. These images bring all of these elements to life.” 

Kilchoman - New batch arrives
The independent distillery of Kilchoman, which is the smallest on the famous whisky island of Islay, has announced the release of the fourth edition of its award-winning 100% Islay single malt.  The limited edition batch is made from 40 first-fill ex-bourbon casks of four and five years of age.  The bottling is so named as every part of the production and maturation takes place at the distillery on Islay, including growing the barley used and bottling.

The 100% Islay is produced in the lightly peated style, compared to higher peat levels in Kilchoman's other releases.  The fourth edition is bottled at 50% ABV and will be available worldwide through specialist whisky retailers and from www.kilchomandistillery.com from next Monday (May 12).  The recommended retail price is £64.99.

Anthony Wills, the Managing Director of Kilchoman, said: "The 100% Islay range is something we are very proud of and we hope that people will enjoy the latest offering. It is very exciting to be able to offer a product which is created entirely on Islay. The 4th edition represents a significant development in the maturity of our 100% Islay range."

Teeling Whiskey Co - Two old bottlings
The independent Irish bottlers The Teeling Whiskey Company have announced two new additions to its prestigious Vintage Reserve Collection series.  The 26 years old Gold Reserve and the 30 years old Platinum Reserve are two of the oldest Irish whiskeys ever released.  Both are single malts which have undergone double distillation.

The 26 years old (pictured, left) was distilled in 1987 and was initially matured in ex-bourbon casks, before being transferred to ex-white Burgundy wine casks for a 'marrying period'.  There are just 1,000 bottles available, which will cost £400/€475 each.

The 30 years old (pictured, right) was distilled in 1983 and has been matured in a single ex-bourbon cask.  There are just 250 bottles as a result, which will retail for £1,500/€1,500 each.  Both whiskeys will initially on be available in Ireland through Dublin Airport and the Celtic Whiskey Store, before being rolled out to selected international markets.

Jack Teeling, founder of the TWC, commented, “These offerings are central to our goal to play the lead role in bringing an independent voice back to the Irish whiskey category and will help drive diversity by introducing interesting and unique small batch bottlings. The 30 years old gives people the ability to taste and collect part of Irish whiskey history at a time of a new 'golden era' for the category.”