Friday, May 5, 2023

Inbox / The Week's Whisky News (May 5, 2023)



Welcome to Inbox, our weekly round up of whisky news and PR material that has found its way in to our WFE email. 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 round-up of the news from this week. 
 
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Diageo
Scotland's largest whisky producer has announced the details of the Fèis Ìle bottlings from their two Islay distilleries - Caol Ila and Lagavulin. The festival exclusive bottlings will be available at each distillery until sold out. The Caol Ila Fèis Ìle 2023 Edition (pictured, left) is released at 13 years old and has been matured in ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry seasoned casks. These casks were selected by Sam Hale, the Distillery Manager at Caol Ila, and his warehouse team. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 60.4% ABV and will cost £185. 
 

The Lagavulin Fèis Ìle 2023 Edition (pictured, right) is bottled at 14 years of age and has been matured in American oak and European oak barrels before a finishing period in ex-Armagnac casks from France. This is the first ever expression of Lagavulin with such a finish. The casks were hand selected by Jordan Paisley, the Distillery Manager of Lagavulin. It is bottled at the natural cask strength of 58.4% ABV and will retail for £220 each. Both whiskies will be on sale from the distillery on their respective open day - Lagavulin on May 27 and Caol Ila on May 29.




 

Douglas Laing & Co.

The independent bottler and blender of Douglas Laing & Co. has announced a new limited edition expression of The Gauldrons, their blended malt featuring only Campbeltown whiskies. The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Edition is limited to just 5,580 bottles and features single malts that have only been matured in ex-sherry casks. It is bottled at 50% ABV and is both non chill-filtered and of natural colour. The Gauldrons Sherry Cask Edition will be available globally in selected specialist retailers and will cost £65/ €74 a bottle.
 
"The Gauldrons brand celebrates Campbeltown’s illustrious history as a whisky making region and this expression of The Gauldrons cements Douglas Laing’s commitment to showcasing the very best of Campbeltown."
Emma Reid / Brand Manager of The Gauldrons.



Royal Lochnagar
The Highland distillery of Royal Lochnagar has contributed specially selected casks for a commemorative bottling released by Balmoral Castle & Estate. The Balmoral Coronation Edition is a Royal Lochanagar 18 years old single malt and there are just 1,000 bottles. Only five casks were selected and these include European oak ex-sherry butts and American oak ex-bourbon hogsheads. The distillery is just one mile from Balmoral Castle and has been visited by King Charles III on several occasions. It is bottled at 48% ABV and will be available exclusively from the Balmoral gift shop in Royal Deeside and via www.balmoralcastle.com. Each bottle will cost £360.

 

Talisker
The Talisker distillery on the isle of Skye has announced a new limited edition - Talisker Wilder Seas. The new whisky is a collaboration between the brand and Parley For The Oceans, an ocean conservation organisation. It is a pioneering bottling for Talisker - it is the first to be released in a 100% recycled glass bottle and with ceramic decoration to reduce labelling. It is also the first Talisker to feature a finish in French oak ex-XO Cognac casks. Talisker will donate £3 of every bottle sale to Parley to support their work for ocean protection and preservation. Talisker x Parley : Wilder Seas is bottled at 48.6% ABV and will be available globally and via www.malts.com. A bottle will cost £75.

 

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