New Booze News: Whiskies from Kilbeggan, Auchentoshan, and Collectible Scotch
By Stephanie MorenoBefore our official reviews arrive, we wanted to give you a sneak preview of the new products hitting shelves soon. A single grain whiskey from Kilbeggan is hitting the shelves along with a bartender created single malt from Auchentoshan. A couple of single malts—perfect for our collectors—wrap up the booze news for the week of July 3, 2017!
IRISH WHISKEY
Kilbeggan Single Grain
Released in late June 2017, this single grain whiskey will be made available in the US first before an expected wider release is announced. It is made from 94% corn and 6% malted barley. The initial maturation is done in ex-bourbon barrels, with further finishing in a marriage of ex-bourbon and various fortified wine barrels. Bottled at 43% ABV.
“The passion and dedication that the citizens of Kilbeggan put into keeping this distillery alive is truly inspirational,” says John Cashman, Beam Suntory Global Brand Ambassador, Irish Whiskey. “Kilbeggan Single Grain is born out of this resilience and we are proud to offer a whiskey to be enjoyed by all–whether that’s as a traditional neat dram or in a modern craft cocktail. The folks at Kilbeggan Distilling Co. are happy to share it with you any way you like.”
A BARTENDER-CREATED SINGLE MALT
Auchentoshan The Bartenders’ Malt
A single malt made, “by bartenders, for bartenders”; it was created by The New Malt Order–a collective of 12 bartenders from around the world, who were selected in 2016 from a bitters competition which used Auchentoshan new make whisky. This group, with assistance from former Auchentoshan master blender, Rachel Barrie, was responsible for the packaging design, branding and, of course, the cask selection. Whiskies from the 1970s to the 2010s were used. The cask types varied from ex-peated whisky barrels to those formerly used for rum maturation.
The single malt will be available worldwide at select retailers and bars beginning in July 2017. Suggested retail price £45 ($55).
Auchentoshan The Bartenders’ Malt
COLLECTIBLE SINGLE MALT WHISKIES
Bunnahabhain Eich Bhana Lìr 46 Year
Released in July 2017, this 46 year-old Islay single malt marks the oldest release to date from Bunnahabhain. Eich Bhana Lìr — “great waves of the god Lir” — was distilled in 1969. The whisky was aged in the distillery’s Warehouse #4 in second-fill oloroso sherry butts for its entire maturation. Only 198 bottles were produced and were filled at 41.8% ABV. Suggested retail price £5000.
Bunnahabhain Eich Bhana Lìr 46 Year
Glen Moray Mastery
Created by current master distiller, Graham Coull, this single malt is a blend of five vintages as young as 1978. They represent three whiskies from Glen Moray’s previous master distillers, along with two of Coull’s. This multi-vintage whisky marks the 120th anniversary of Glen Moray. The whiskies were aged in former fortified wine casks; either port, sherry, or Madeira. The whisky is non chill-filtered and bottled at 52.3% ABV. 1000 decanters are available for sale at a suggested retail price of $1000.
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