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Rum in an old tea chest
Cask No: 72.100
Spicy & Sweet Qty left: 6
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ABV: 59.2% Qty left: Only 2!
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Lightly Peated Distillery: Glen Moray Qty left: Only 2!
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ABV: 59.8% Qty left: Only 2!
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ABV: 59.07% Qty left: Only 4!
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Fettercairn Scottish Oak 18 Year Old!
Fettercairn distillery has entered a new age with its launch of their 18 Years Old single malt and their first ever whisky finished in locally sourced Scottish Oak!
“At Fettercairn we are passionate about the potential of Scottish Oak and the unique flavour characteristics it offers to the whisky maker.” – Gregg Glass
Brought to life through their ground-breaking Scottish Oak programme and calling on a 100% finish in Scottish oak sourced from the Scottish Highlands, this whisky represents a long-term vision coming to life. Born from an initiative which extends far beyond cask production to the creation of a circular economy and the future-proofing Scottish Oak for the next generation of whisky makers.
Progressive and innovative in style and substance, this whisky celebrates what makes Fettercairn different – from the surprisingly tropical house style achieved by the distinctive copper cooling ring distillation; to their future focused, innovative approach to local sourcing and working with the land in Aberdeenshire – ‘The Garden of Scotland’.
Fettercairn 18 is a culmination of an approach to whisky making I have developed across a number of years. This first release reflects the dedication not just of myself, but of our partners ‘from Forest to Field’, who each played a role in rekindling the skills required to harvest Scottish Oak.
At Fettercairn we are passionate about the potential of Scottish Oak and the unique flavour characteristics it offers to the whisky maker.
– Gregg Glass: Master Whisky Maker
Fettercairn has kindly sent me a sample of the 18 Year Old to try.
Cheers fettercairnwhisky.com (@FettercairnWh) for the opportunity!
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
Natural in colour and non-chill filtered.
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Nose: Tropical fruits are very much to the fore and then along comes crisp apples, cane sugar and toffee. After a while a strong citrus develops mainly consisting of lemon. Cereal finishes off a very fine nose indeed!
Palate: Creamy and smooth with powerful tropical flavours leading to vanilla, toffee and nice dark coffee. Finish: Strong, warming spice with a little pepper and a dry finish. Overall: A lovely, smooth dram that really spoils the palate! A broad range of flavours that you’ll want to revisit time and time again! |
Fettercairn Scottish Oak 18 Year Old Whisky is now available at an RSP of £175
Available from October onwards at an RSP of £175
Fettercairn Whiskies are also available to buy from these Merchants:-
Driven by a progressive ethos at the heart of our distilling philosophy since 1824, today Fettercairn Distillery lives by a long-standing commitment to unfettered thinking.
We’re not like other distilleries and we’ve never been afraid to tread our own path. It’s only by defying convention, tradition and expectation, we can adopt an enlightened and progressive approach.
Take our cooling ring, our home-grown Scottish oak and single estate whiskies, the special collaboration with 200 local farmers, the Warehouse 2 Collection. And not forgetting the unicorn on our bottle!
Our vision is future facing, so we don’t need to look back to move forward. But ultimately, all of this leads to an unwavering commitment to a prosperous and sustainable future for whisky making.
We are Fettercairn; the home of enlightened whisky making.
Respected whisky maker Gregg Glass joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016, where he has been a leading light in the rejuvenation of Fettercairn alongside Distillery Manager Stewart Walker.
Gregg enjoyed a childhood in the heart of whisky making country, the Black Isle. With 22 years in industry notably 11 years at innovative whisky maker Compass Box, Gregg joined Whyte and Mackay in 2016 to work alongside renowned Master Distiller Mr Richard Paterson OBE.
Gregg has enjoyed 15 years career as a blender and whisky maker. At Whyte and Mackay Gregg has led whisky development for Fettercairn Single Malt Whisky, Jura Single Malt Whisky and in 2017 launched Whisky Works – an independent innovation wing of Whyte and Mackay.
Gregg is devoted to his craft and believes in flavour-led hands-on whisky making. Gregg is passionately involved in every aspect of the whisky making process from ‘acorn to glass’ and since 2020 leads whisky making across the Whyte and Mackay portfolio.
Casado Single Malt Whisky!
Experimenting and exploring different flavours throughout the whisky-making process is something Kilchoman is always doing.
ANTHONY WILLS: Founder
In recent years barley variety and yeast influence have been discussed in depth but wood management remains a key part of any single malt.
Anthony Wills, Kilchoman Founder and Managing Director, had the idea to try something out of the norm and purchase 6,000 litre red wine vats at char level 2 and 3, each giving a slightly different impact on the whisky finishing inside, then marrying them together after a longer than usual finish.
The red wine marriage gives the whisky layers of red fruit and spices which complement the vanilla and butterscotch influence of the bourbon barrels beautifully.
– ANTHONY WILLS: Founder
12,900 bottles available!
Nose: An opening note of intense campfire smoke balanced with ripe summer stone fruits; peach, plum and cherry. Deep notes of marzipan become the focus combined with layered maritime notes
Palate: The red wine vatting brings pepper and spice on the first taste. Dry, salty peat smoke sits on the palate, yet fruit notes of apricot and lemon find their way through
Finish: A long finish which brings a hot, spicy character from the marriage in Portuguese red wine vats. Stewed, cooked fruit notes bring a sweet-jam profile providing an on-going sweet-ness that the classic Kilchoman smoke balances beautifully
Kilchoman is available to buy from these Merchants:-
Kilchoman Distillery is a small family run farm distillery based on the rugged west coast of Islay. The distillery was established by Anthony Wills in 2005, the idea was to build a new distillery which took whisky production back to its roots. Anthony and wife Kathy have been joined by their three sons; George, James and Peter.
Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2022
Kilchoman produces its 100% Islay single malt from barley which is grown in fields surrounding the distillery and completes every stage of the whisky-making process at the distillery, including traditional floor malting. Kilchoman is the only distillery in Scotland to do this.
Since the first bottling was released in 2009, Kilchoman has quickly established itself as a high quality Islay Single Malt Whisky with these notable awards:
– The IWSC 2022 competition – Machir Bay scored 98 points and was awarded ‘Gold Outstanding’. 100% Islay was also awarded a “Gold Award’ and scored 95 points.
– The International Spirits Challenge 2022 – Machir Bay and Sanaig were both awarded Gold Medals.
– Kilchoman’s exceptional quality was recognised at the prestigious International Whisky Competition (IWC) when Anthony Wills was named Master Distiller of the Year 2013.
– In 2016 both core expressions won major awards with Sanaig named Best Single Malt Scotch Whisky – no age statement at the IWSC and Machir Bay came first as Best Islay Single Malt Scotch in the International Whisky Competition.
– Machir Bay was also awarded a Gold Medal in 2015 at the International Wine and Spirits Competition (IWSC) with Loch Gorm being awarded a Silver Outstanding Medal and 100% Islay a Silver at the prestigious awards.
– Kilchoman won Malt Advocates Artisan Whisky of the Year 2011, only three years after the first bottling was released.
WS:01 Borders Malt & Rye Blended Scotch Whisky
Last Wednesday nights @TweetTastings, which was once again ably hosted by Steve from The Whisky Wire, gave us a great opportunity to savour a brand new dram and to experience it amongst friends!
Only 5,988 bottles will ever be sold in the UK
The dram in question was WS:01 Borders Malt & Rye Blended Scotch Whisky which is the first Blended Scotch Whisky to leave the Scottish borders in 185 years!
To create this whisky, The Borders Distillery distilled a small batch of rye spirit and matured it in the same fresh-fill bourbon casks as their malt.
Each bottle of WS:01 Borders Malt & Rye, which is the first Scotch whisky blend from The Borders Distillery to be entirely distilled at its Hawick based site, is individually numbered. Only 5,988 bottles will ever be sold in the UK.
If you want to catch up on what all the tweet tasters had to say you can view their comments by searching for the hash tag #TheBordersDistillery on Twitter.
So, what did I think?
Here are my tasting notes …
The Borders Distillery Ð Workshop Series
WS:01 Borders Malt & Rye
Blended Scotch Whisky
ABV: 40%
Cask: Bourbon
Comprised of: 63.8% Single Grain Ð 36.2% Single Malt
£40.00
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Nose: Not sure I’ve seen a paler dram! Very tropical on the nose with apples and toffee. This morphs into delightful apple pie & custard. Later on the sweetness is balanced by some cereal & biscuit. Palate: Dry on the palate with cane sweetness and fruit. Lemon citrus then comes to the fore quite forcefully. Finish: There’s some creamy spice and little bit of coffee and it all finishes warmly. Overall: I wish the ABV had been higher – it would have given more flavour options but it’s a grower though! A progressively moreish dram that works well on the palate. The great thing though is the chance to sample a developing and exciting brand – good things to come I think! |
This is the first Blended Scotch Whisky to leave the Scottish borders in 185 years!
Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire / @TweetTastings) for a great evening and Border’s Distillery (@thebordersdistillery) for sending the samples and without whom!
The Cairn Distillery is Open!
The Cairn Distillery has opened its doors to the public! Bookings can now be made online for visitors to experience the first new distillery to be built in the Cairngorms National Park for more than a century!
Moray based family business, Gordon & MacPhail first unveiled their plans for a distillery at Craggan, near Grantown-on-Spey, in 2018, with planning permission granted in 2019.
Cairn Distillery is the first new distillery to be built in the Cairngorms National Park for more than a century!
The new distillery aims to build on Gordon & MacPhail’s 127-year heritage of producing exceptional Scotch whisky to inspire future generations. With magnificent views of its stunning location just outside Grantown-on-Spey, visitors can choose from a selection of immersive experiences, each culminating in a whisky tasting in The Discovery Room. With floor-to-ceiling windows, the room provides a stunning backdrop for visitors as they taste the future today: blended malt whiskies created to give a sense of notes, flavours and aromas that will be seen in the character of single malts that will be released from The Cairn Distillery in the 2030s.
After many years of preparation, planning and construction we look forward to finally opening the doors to members of the public, and in particular the local community, who have been so supportive since the project was first announced.
Having secured such a beautiful and awe-inspiring location overlooking the River Spey towards the Cairngorms, we wanted to create a building which complements the majesty of the environment. We are delighted with the result, and we look forward to sharing it with visitors from all over the world.
– Ewen Mackintosh: Managing Director at Gordon & MacPhail
These sherry cask-matured, unpeated expressions are being released under the new CRN57 brand (the distillery sits on 57 degrees latitude from the equator), with 70cl bottlings available exclusively to those who tour the distillery. The oldest expression in the CRN57 range, a 70-Year-Old, is presented in a stunning crystal decanter and is the oldest blended malt whisky in the world.
Nestled on the banks of the river Spey on the northern frontier of the Cairngorms National Park, every detail of The Cairn Distillery has been considered to create a remarkable structure that is reflective of its environment. From its sedum roof which encourages insect life to thrive, to the Caithness stone pathways, every aspect is designed to respect the natural shapes and colours around it. Reforestation projects are also underway to encourage native species and particular care has been taken to encourage the local population of rare goldeneye ducks.
Food is also exclusively available to those who take a tour at The Gathering which offers tapas-style plates of the finest Scottish produce designed as the perfect accompaniment to an experience like no other.
Open seven days a week all year round, visitor experiences start at £25, with three options available
Open seven days a week all year round, visitor experiences start at £25, with three options available:
THE EXPLORER EXPERIENCE (£25 / approx. 60 mins)
Visitors learn about the 127-year journey from 1895 to The Cairn opening its doors followed by an awe-inspiring film about its stunning location. A trip around the spirit production process is then followed by an absorbing foray through the art of maturation before tasting
drams of the CRN57 12-Year-Old, and 18-Year-Old blended malts, available nowhere else in the world.
THE ADVENTURER EXPERIENCE (£60 / approx. 90 mins)
Designed for visitors with that extra sense of adventure, this experience follows in the steps of the Explorertour, but also includes a dram of the 25-Years-Old blended malt as well as several dishes prepared to complement the whisky at The Gathering using locally sourced produce of exceptional quality.
THE VOYAGER EXPERIENCE (£350 / 120 mins)
Reserved for those willing to push the boundaries of exploration, Voyagers undertake a full, far-reaching whisky expedition rounded off by a very special tasting experience.
Voyagers are personally guided around the production process by our distiller, on hand to explore every detail, with extended time for questions. In the Discovery Room, Voyagers are able to enjoy all six drams from the full CRN57 range, from 12-Years-Old up to 70-Years-Old. A full range of small dishes from The Gathering are also available. (Driving packs available for those unfortunate enough to be behind the wheel)
To book your trip to The Cairn Distillery, please visit: thecairndistillery.com
The Wiseman WISE CHAI NEW FASHIONED!
Celebrate Old Fashioned Week (or any other time!) with The Wiseman Bourbon, a luxury Kentucky Owl expression created for those who appreciate high quality, attention to detail, craftsmanship, and authentic whiskey-making heritage!
The Wiseman is the perfect blend of four Kentucky straight bourbons, it leads with a beautiful caramel flavour and aroma followed by notes of allspice, citrus fruit and a nudge of oak, making it the perfect base for an Old Fashioned.
The Wiseman is a blend of Kentucky Owl 4-year-old wheat and high-rye bourbons, along with 5 1⁄2-year and 8 1⁄2-year-old Kentucky-sourced bourbons. This is the first Kentucky Owl release under Master Blender John Rhea, a 40-year Bourbon industry veteran who joined Kentucky Owl in June 2021.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman is an artful balance of soft wheat and spicy high-rye that provides a smooth but complex bourbon designed to drink neat, on the rocks or in a cocktail.
It leads with a beautiful caramel flavour and aroma followed by notes of allspice, citrus fruit and a nudge of oak.
– John Rhea: Kentucky Owl Master Blender
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman WISE CHAI NEW FASHIONED:-
30ml The Wiseman Bourbon | 1 Tbsp Chai Syrup* | 2 Dashes of Aromatic Bitters | Garnish – Orange Peel, Star Anise and a Cinnamon Stick
*Brew one bag of chai tea per cup of water, combine with equal parts sugar and heat until dissolved.
Stir in a mixing glass with ice and strain into an Old Fashioned glass over ice. Garnish with orange peel, star anise, and a smoking cinnamon stick.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman Bourbon won a Double Gold at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the world’s largest and one of the world’s most prestigious spirits awards. This is the first Kentucky Owl release under Master Blender John Rhea, a 40-year Bourbon industry veteran who joined Kentucky Owl in June 2021.
Kentucky Owl The Wiseman is available to buy from these Merchants:-
About Kentucky Owl
Founded in 1879 by C.M. Dedman, Kentucky Owl™ offers an artfully blended line of craft bourbons and ryes. Kentucky Owl is for those who appreciate high quality, attention to detail, craftsmanship and authentic heritage. For more information, visit kentuckyowlbourbon.com.
About Amber Beverage UK
Established in 1999, Amber Beverage Group UK (previously known as Cellar Trends) has an enviable record in building brands of wines, spirits and associated products in the UK. The company serves all sectors of the UK drinks trade in both on- and off-trade categories with a portfolio of 60 international brands. Since 2018, the company has been a part of Amber Beverage Group. amberbev.co.uk
About Stoli Group
Stoli Group was established in 2013 and is responsible for the production, management, and distribution of a global spirits and wines portfolio. Mainly known for the Stoli® Vodka brand, Stoli Group has expanded to appeal to luxury on-premise and more sophisticated global consumers. Signature brands are: Stoli® Vodka, elit™Vodka, Bayou® Rum, Kentucky Owl™, Villa One™, Gator Bite™ Rum Liquers, Cenote™ Tequila, Tulchan Gin™, Se Busca™ Mezcal and Stoli Group’s wine division, Tenute del Mondo®. With a presence across a network of more than 176 markets, Stoli Group works with a passionate team of 200 distributors around the world. Headquartered in Luxembourg, Stoli has production facilities in Spain, Italy, Argentina, and the United States, some of which are steeped in history dating back to the early part of the last century. For more information, visit stoli-group.com.
Elements of Islay Cask Edit, Elements of Islay Bourbon and Elements of Islay Sherry
EOI (Elements of Islay) is introducing this autumn a re-imagined core range of blended malt whiskies!
The multi-awarded brand which has won a loyal following over the years for its various limited batch editions, presents three permanent whiskies which each captures the essence of their origin: Islay.
The three expressions, Elements of Islay Cask Edit, Elements of Islay Bourbon and Elements of Islay Sherry are small-batch, expertly sourced, independently bottled whiskies; all are natural in colour and non-chill filtered. Each expression is inspired by a different element of maturation and aimed at curious whisky drinkers who have a desire to experience, taste and explore the unique flavours of Islay.
We’re very excited to present a new, re-imagined core range of whiskies for Elements of Islay. The rich, smoky flavours make this unquestionably elemental and a great start to the Elements of Islay whisky journey.
The blend combines fresher, fruitier style of peaty Islay single malt from the north coast with a typical rich and smoky style from Islay’s south coast and has been matured in four different styles of casks to offer a complex but balanced whisky for enthusiasts and people looking to discover the incredible island of Islay. We already had an excellent reception from the trade and hope we’ll introduce more drinkers to the joy of Islay whiskies.
– Oliver Chilton: Elixir Distillers, Master Blender
Cask Edit is a union of two single malts aged in bourbon and sherry casks leading to the creation of an exceptionally peaty Islay whisky showing the perfect balance of drinkability and personality at 46% ABV. The whisky also lends itself particularly well in cocktails.
On the bolder side, Bourbon Cask is matured in first fill and refill bourbon barrels and is bottled at 54.5% to fully demonstrate the whisky’s dominant Islay’s personality.
Sherry Cask offers a synthesis of flavour with notes of dried fruits, dark chocolate lemon oil and smoke. Bottled at 54.5%, it aims to challenge the status of quo of what it means to be an Islay whisky.
The new Elements of Islay range is available in the UK from this month onwards before rolling out to other markets later this year.
Elements of Islay Cask Edit – 70 cl – 46% ABV – RRP: £44.95
Elements of Islay Bourbon Cask – 70 cl – 54.50% ABV – RRP: £59.95
Elements of Islay Sherry Cask – 70 cl – 54.50% ABV – RRP: £64.95
Kentucky 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 100 Proof Whiskey!
Welcome to the #RebelBourbon #Whiskey #FlashBlog!
Organised by Steve from The Whisky Wire numerous contributors will be posting articles today sharing their sampling thoughts on the recently released Kentucky 10 Year Old Single Barrel Bourbon 100 Proof Whiskey.
If you would like to see what everyone thought search for the hash tag #RebelBourbon on Twitter!
A bourbon that is one-of-a-kind, just like the rebels who drink it!
So, here goes …
Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers have released this special bourbon which has been distilled and aged in Bardstown, Kentucky, USA.
A Multi-award winning Whiskey, distillery notes say it “initially has hints of caramel and citrus but continue sipping and it morphs into a velvety oak flavour with unabashed spice.”
Aged in charred oak barrels for 10 years, this bourbon boasts a unique flavour profile specific to each batch. It’s one-of-a-kind, just like the rebels who drink it!
Did I say awards? Well, it has won one or two …
Double Platinum Medal
ASCOT, 2022
Gold Medal
San Francisco World Spirit Competition, 2022
Worlds Best Single Barrel Bourbon
Whisky Magazine World Whiskies Awards, 2020
Best Kentucky Single Barrel Bourbon
Whisky Magazine World Whiskies Awards, 2020
Platinum Medal
SIP Awards, 2018
Double Gold Medal
San Francisco World Spirit Competition, 2017
So, what did I think? Here are my tasting notes …
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Nose: An orchard extravaganza! Lots of crisp fresh apples, sweet toffee and banana.
Palate: Oaky with a little dryness. Toffee, lemon citrus, seville oranges and a little chocolate. Finish: Deep and warming spice that grows with each sip topped with sharp pepper. Overall: A very tasty dram indeed with plenty going on – I’m not surprised it has been a multi-award winner! |
Many thanks to Steve at The Whisky Wire (@TheWhiskyWire / @TweetTastings) for the invite!
And many thanks to chapmanpoole (@ChapmanPoolePR) for sending me the sample!
And, of course, many thanks to rebelbourbon.com (@rebelbourbonglobal), without whom!
Real roots, real family, real products: Lux Row Distillers – a bourbon distillery experience on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail –brings the Lux family history and spirits tradition to the bourbon industry.
Lux Row Distillers is the home of bourbon brands including Rebel, Blood Oath, David Nicholson, Daviess County and Ezra Brooks.
Located in the heart of Bardstown, Kentucky, the 18,000-square foot Lux Row Distillers site includes a visitor centre, barrel warehouses, a tasting room, and event space, making for an all-encompassing bourbon experience. The 90-acre property is home to an 18th century stone house, registered as a National Historic Place, and a long, tree-lined driveway providing a scenic entrance to the distillery.
BALBLAIR
18 YEAR OLD
SAVE £20
 Balblair 18 Year Old BALBLAIR 18 YEAR OLD 70CL | 46% £107 WAS £127 SAVE £20 |
 Ki No Bi Kyoto Dry Gin KI NO BI KYOTO DRY GIN 70CL | 45.7% £40.95 WAS £45.95 SAVE £5 |
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Cù Bòcan Limited Edition 15 Year Old!
Cù Bòcan Single Malt has released a limited edition 15 Year Old which is the brand’s first age-stated whisky expression. The 15 Year Old has been fully matured in Oloroso Sherry casks for a minimum of 15 years and this 2022 Edition is the first in a series of planned annual batch releases!
Only 3,000 bottles available worldwide …
The award winning experimental Highland Single Malt is distilled every winter at Tomatin Distillery in limited batches and made with lightly peated Scottish barley for its signature wisp of smoke. In late 2005, after Tomatin had achieved its annual production quota, the Distillery Manager at the time brought in a load of lightly peated barley allowing the distillery to produce its own peated spirit for the last week of the year.
This production coincided with incredibly low water temperatures and resulted in a slightly oilier mouthfeel in the new make spirit. Recognising the quality of this spirit, the distillery continued to produce Cù Bòcan in small batches every winter since 2005. The newly released Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old features some of the first lightly peated spirit to be laid down in casks.
Matured fully in Oloroso Sherry casks for a minimum of 15 years, Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old is a decadent single malt with sun dried fruits and smoky exotic spices. The Oloroso Sherry casks impart flavours of dried fruits, flamed orange peel, cinder toffee, black cherry and cardamom. The peat provides a traditional earthy dryness rather than an obvious smoke, this has helped keep some of the sweeter elements of the sherry casks perfectly balanced.
Cù Bòcan is also renowned for exploring innovative maturations, creating whiskies full of intrigue and surprise. Earlier this year the brand released two new expressions within their Creation series, Creation #3, matured in Moroccan Cabernet Sauvignon casks and Creation #4, matured in a combination of Port and Cognac casks.
The current Cù Bòcan range now comprises of Cù Bòcan Signature, the only ongoing product within the range, matured in Bourbon, Oloroso Sherry and North American Virgin Oak casks, the Creation series and the newly released Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old.
We are delighted to introduce the 15 Year Old into the Cù Bòcan range, this whisky takes us back to where it all began, when we first started producing lightly peated spirit in the midst of winter back in 2005.
This release is a celebration of how far we have come since then, and a nod to all the exciting plans we have in store for Cù Bòcan, opening up the world of lightly peated whisky.
– Graham Nicolson: Sales Director
Each Cù Bòcan Single Malt offers an exploration in the subtleties of smoke, the character of the casks and the mastery of maturation.
The range is always non-chill filtered and natural in colour.
Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old, 2022 Edition, has been bottled at 50% Abv. and is a limited batch release with only 3,000 bottles available worldwide.
Cù Bòcan 15 Year Old, 2022 Edition, is available in specialist shops worldwide with an RRP of £95 per 700ml bottle.
