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Archives for May 13, 2022

Elixir Names Their New Islay Distillery PORTINTRUAN!

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Elixir Distillers has confirmed that their new Islay distillery will be called PORTINTRUAN!

Just over six months after breaking ground, and after much speculation from whisky enthusiasts around the world, Elixir Distillers has confirmed that their new Islay distillery will be called PORTINTRUAN!

Located just outside the town of Port Ellen on Islay’s south coast on the way to Laphroaig, Lagavulin and Ardbeg distilleries, Portintruan is pronounced Port-nah-truan. It takes its name from the historic farm estate where the distillery is located and means ‘place of the stream’.

Elixir Distillers has always taken a flavourled approach and this will be the Portintruan philosophy as well. We will be utilising a number of old-style
production techniques which we believe will accentuate the depth and character of the spirit.

A key part of the process will be using malt predominantly from our own floor maltings on-site, and we will be using direct-fired wash stills for the distillation. We plan to work with different phenol levels across the range, which will all have their own specific flavour profiles.
– Sukhinder Singh: Co-owner

Portintruan will be where the past meets the future, combining these old-style production techniques with modern technology to improve process and quality, and of course sustainability. Being sustainable is one of the most important factors in Portintruan’s plans.

Working within what is currently possible on Islay, we want to be as green and as responsible as we can. We are talking to the Islay Energy Trust, our fellow distillers on the island and suppliers to ensure we take all opportunities to be greener.

We are using the latest technology to implement a heat loop for our water usage to ensure the maximum amount is recycled and reused with the heat recovered for other processes. We’re also using a bio diesel for our direct-fired stills which is the cleanest fuel we can currently source, and we’re building the distillery so that it can use hydrogen power once that is available.
– Georgie Crawford: Distillery Manager

Portintruan will be adding an experimental distillery within the site – so it will be two distilleries in one. This will enable the team to produce not only different Scotch whisky styles but also rum. Plans for the distillery site also include 14 houses for Islay families working at the distillery, a visitor’s centre, a bar and restaurant, a tasting room bothy overlooking the sea, and a multi-purpose educational facility which will serve as a base for an apprentice programme to train the next generation of distillers.

The distillery name is being announced in time for the 2022 Fèis Ìle, the annual festival of whisky and music on Islay which will be held in person for the first time since 2019. The festival runs from Friday 27th May to Saturday 4th June and is set to welcome around 10,000 whisky-loving visitors to the island.

The Elixir Distillers team will be setting up two cabins on the distillery site to welcome Islay whisky enthusiasts wishing to see Portintruan in the earliest stages of its development.

Visitors will be able to peruse the distillery plans, look out over the site of the distillery and chat with members of the Elixir Distillers team over a dram or two of one of their Islay whiskies. Elixir Distillers will also be running a number of tastings and events across Islay during the festival. Full details can be found on the festival website

Work on the site is well underway, with ground works complete and foundations about to commence, followed by the steel work. Portintruan is anticipating starting distilling from early 2024.

The Dalmore Distillery Announces New Investment Programme!

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The Dalmore Distillery

Founded in 1839,The Dalmore has gone on to become an exceptional Single Malt Scotch Whisky, admired for its depth and finesse. Despite experiencing phenomenal demand for its whisky, the distillery has retained a uniquely intimate scale, nestled beside North Scotland’s great waterway – The Cromarty Firth.

The capital investment programme proposes a new whisky making facility and visitor experience, whilst retaining the distinctive character of the distillery. A beautiful Pagoda, sat elegantly atop The Old Dalmore Kiln, will mark the heart of the reimagined distillery. Existing estate will be repurposed, breathing new life into historic realms, to create an iconic distillery, home to an exceptional Single Malt.

The vision is to honour the whisky making artistry that takes place at The Dalmore. The distillery is unique; known for its idiosyncratic symphony of stills, and curation of exquisite casks, it has been the birthplace of an unrivalled catalogue of rare and aged releases. The programme will retain the character of the estate, taking great care with the unique nature of the distillery and that of its famed new make spirit. The reimagined distillery will allow The Dalmore’s whisky making artistry to shine.

The investment will ensure a sustainable future for The Dalmore and its exceptional whisky making. In 2021 the parent group – Whyte and Mackay Ltd – published The Green Print; their sustainability strategy, which set the objective to become Net Zero by 2040. This investment will create a new whisky making and production facility, built to exacting sustainability standards, and transitioning the site to a green energy solution.

The announcement is made as The Dalmore continues to enjoy unrivalled demand, becoming the No.1 fastest growing Single Malt. In 2021 The Dalmore achieved a record-breaking performance at auction at Sotheby’s Hong Kong, whilst industry authority Rare Whisky 101 recognised the brand as one of the world’s most investible Single Malts.

Threesixty Architecture have been appointed architects, Blyth and Blyth Consulting Engineers lead designers and whisky industry authority Forsyths are consulting on the process and the whisky making aspect of the development. Formal Planning Application has been submitted.

Whyte & Mackay Announces Industry First!

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Whyte and Mackay Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass (third from left) is joined by colleagues and members of the Scotch Whisky Association – including CEO Mark Kent (fifth from left) – at the filling of Scottish Oak barrels at the Tamnavulin distillery, Speyside.

Esteemed whisky making house Whyte and Mackay has announced a landmark achievement, with every distillery in its collection now incorporated into the company’s industry-leading Scottish Oak Programme – an industry first!

The initiative, founded by pioneering Master Whisky Maker Gregg Glass, led the industry to explore the potential for responsibly sourced, locally grown Scottish Oak to mature Scotch Whisky. The industry has historically favoured Oak sourced from outside Scotland.

Tamnavulin, in Speyside, joined the programme this week as Mark Kent, CEO of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), joined the whisky makers to personally fill these special Scottish Oak casks.

The distillery follows island distillery Jura, and Fettercairn, located in ‘the Garden of Scotland’ – Aberdeenshire, where the initiative was born. Each distillery now has whisky experiments laid down to explore and evaluate the impact locally grown Oak has on each distinct distillery style and to identify the flavour characteristics that Scottish Oak lends to Scotch Whisky.

In doing so, the distilleries are paving the way for the wider use of responsibly sourced Scottish oak for future generations of whisky makers.

Led by Gregg Glass, Whyte and Mackay’s move towards Scottish oak maturation is an exploration into the unique flavour that the oak species possesses, as well as future-proofing both the sourcing and seasoning of cask options for the wider whisky industry, striving towards a more sustainable future.

The filling of these special casks is really a celebration of the partnerships Whyte and Mackay has nurtured over time, which will ultimately benefit the whole industry.
– Ludo Ducrocq: Head of Whisky Experience at Whyte and Mackay

Glass has been exploring the use of native oak species for many years through Whyte and Mackay’s experimental arm, Whisky Works, which has previously celebrated the release of The King of Trees, a 10 year old blended malt finished in Scottish oak casks.

Since his appointment in 2016, Glass has developed long lasting partnerships with landowners and cooperages that share Whyte and Mackay’s vision for the future. Rooted in exemplary forestry management and considerate cooping practices, Whyte and Mackay believes that focusing on responsible sourcing and meaningful partnerships will drive positive change in the industry, leading to better whisky for everyone.

The Scottish Oak Programme seeks to inspire change within the Scotch whisky industry. We want to champion the potential that home-grown oak offers the spirits industry, and the incredible diversity of flavour it offers the whisky maker.
– Gregg Glass: Master Whisky Maker

The Picture above shows From left to right:

Joe Ricketts, Blender and Whisky maker

Kieran Healey-Ryder, Head of Whisky Discovery

Gregg Glass, Master Whisky Maker

Gavin Shearer, Distillery Team

Mark Kent, CEO Scotch whisky Association

Lindesay Low, Deputy Director – Legal Affairs, Scotch Whisky Association,

Shane Healy, Distilling Director Whyte and Mackay

Sam Douglas, Brewer Tamnavulin

Leon Webb, Distillery Manager Tamnavulin

Kirsty Hodge, Blender and Whisky Maker

Sampling The Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition – An Inviting Whisky Where Everyone’s Welcome!

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Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition!

Speyside’s Tamnavulin Distillery has launched its latest creation, Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition, following on from the success and popularity of the Red Wine Cask Editions!

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition showcases the distinctive orchard fruit character of the Speyside distillery, which complements the flavours enhanced by the white wine finish. In line with Tamnavulin’s tradition of double matured whiskies, this expression began its life in American White Oak barrels, before undergoing its second maturation in Sauvignon Blanc white wine casks.

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition Goes Really Well With Elderflower & Soda!

The resulting whisky is rich, fresh and fruity with a soft, dry finish. It is defined on the nose by signature orchard green apple notes which combine with banana, ripe honeydew melon and white peach together with fresh citrus, jasmine and vanilla coconut cream. Flavours of lemon, grapefruit and baked apple tart together with a hint of cinnamon spice, ginger and lime biscuits please the palate.

The influence of the white wine cask offers a bright and fruity accompaniment to the sweet, mellow and smooth character of Tamnavulin and taps into consumers’ love of white wine. A finish rarely seen in the retail space, this whisky has an accessible fruity profile as well as offering drinkers greater choice and diversity of flavour without breaking the bank.

The Speyside single malt brand was brought back to life in 2016 to offer a compelling single malt proposition to price conscious consumers looking for a credible, quality alternative to blends and a solution to those looking to begin exploring the malt category. Since then, it has fast developed a reputation as a premium, trusted brand which is demanding consumer and trade attention alike.

This success is testament to the quality of Tamnavulin’s single malts and demand for such whiskies at a competitive price, which is fuelling repeat purchase and encouraging blended whisky shoppers to trade up.

Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition is now widely available in the UK with the US and select European markets following in the coming months, at an RSP of £32.

So, what did I think?

Tamnavulin has kindly sent me a sample to try. Thanks Tamnavulin / @tamnavulinwh!

So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …

Tasting Notes – Tamnavulin White Wine Cask Edition (40%)

Nose: Crisp, green apples with creamy cane sugar, banana and tropical fruit hints.

Palate: Apples, cane sugar, light caramel and lightly floral creaminess with dryness slowly coming through.

Finish: The dryness continues but there’s a nice tropical sweetness making a welcome appearance together with a hint of spice.

Overall: Light is the key with this dram which would be most welcome as a Summer tipple. A light, delicate whisky that’s inviting – but not pushy!

Tamnavulin is available to buy from these Merchants:-

About Tamnavulin

On the Southern edge of Speyside, in the foothills of the Cairngorm Mountains, lies Tamnavulin Distillery. Built in 1966, the Distillery takes its name from the Gaelic for ‘mill on the hill’, the distillery was named after the historic woollen mill which still sits next to the distillery. After closing in 1995, the distillery underwent a major refurbishment before it was re-opened in 2007. The first whisky from the newly opened distillery was launched in 2016, much to the anticipation of whisky fans.

Tucked away on the edge of the River Livet, set on the bank of the Allt’ a Choire, Tamnavulin draws water from underground springs in the Easterton hills formed by snowmelt from the surrounding mountains. This water is naturally filtered through ancient limestone rock before reaching the distillery, resulting in some of the purest spring water to be found in Scotland.

The small group of skilled, time-served craftsmen began creating Tamnavulin’s signature Speyside malt whisky over fifty years ago using the finest ingredients combined with age-old distilling expertise and sophisticated techniques.

Since its launch in 2016, Tamnavulin has driven a successful path which has seen it become the fastest growing single malt globally in 2020 (IWSR ‘000’s 8.4L cases) and the no.4 brand by volume in the UK (Nielsen Scantrack/Kantar date to 9th of October 2021).

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