Inbox - The Week's Whisky News (October 2, 2015)

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 what has caught our attention this week ...

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Chivas Regal - The Ultimate dram?
Pernod Ricard, owners of the popular Chivas Regal blended Scotch brand, have announced a new global travel retail exclusive series of whiskies and the first whisky in the series.  The Ultimate Cask Collection will be a set that 'reinterprets the classic Chivas 18 years old expression' with each whisky having a different cask finish.  The first release is the First Fill American Oak Finish and further bottlings are planned over the next two years.  It is bottled at 48% ABV and is non chill-filtered.  The price is £85, €115 or $125US for a one litre bottle.

Colin Scott, the Master Blender of Chivas Regal, commented: “For the first edition of the Ultimate Cask Collection we wanted to create a unique blend that accentuates the most iconic notes of Chivas Regal 18 year old, through a special finish in hand-selected First Fill American Oak casks. Designed for the sophisticated palate, the whisky provides a truly balanced taste and a velvet smooth finish.” 

Douglas Laing - Xmas is coming!
The independent bottling company of Douglas Laing, owners of the Big Peat blended malt brand, have released details of the annual Christmas Edition.  The brand is made exclusively from Islay malts and is known for its punchy, smoky character.  The Big Peat Christmas Editions have established a cult following since it was first released in 2011 and the bottling is a cask strength version of the regular Big Peat.  The 2015 Edition is bottled at 53.8% ABV and is presented in new packaging.  There will be 18,000 bottles available.  No details of price were given in the press release.

The Glenlivet - Gives peat a chance
The leading single malt brand of The Glenlivet has released the third and final bottling in its core Nàdurra range.  This is a series of cask strength whiskies designed to show the 'roots of The Glenlivet'.  The latest is the Peated Whisky Cask Finish and this joins the First Fill Selection and Oloroso expressions that were released last year.  It sees The Glenlivet single malt finished in casks that have previously held heavily peated Scotch whisky.  There will be two versions - one at 61.5% ABV that will be available in selected markets and one at 48% ABV for travel retail.  The price will be £59/$89US.

Alan Winchester, Master Distiller at The Glenlivet, comments: “Nàdurra captures the original passion behind George Smith’s distillery, which inspires us to create new flavour journeys for consumers so his spirit remains alive today. The Glenlivet Nàdurra Peated Whisky Cask Finish demonstrates this beautifully and I hope that whisky enthusiasts now and in the future enjoy this rare taste that echoes of the past.” 

Laphroaig - Saves best until last
The best selling Islay single malt brand of Laphroaig has announced one of its oldest ever expressions to round off a series of releases to celebrate the distillery's 200th anniversary year.  The Laphroaig 32 years old has been matured exclusively in first fill ex-Oloroso sherry casks and is limited to just 6,000 bottles.  It has been bottled at the natural cask strength of 46.6% ABV.  These will be available globally and a bottle will cost £750.  The whisky was launched at a lavish event at The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair, London last night.  We were in attendance and a full review with tasting notes will follow shortly.