Archives for May 18, 2023

Mossburn Distillers & Bottlers Limited is releasing a series of four new strictly limited vintage cask single malts for 2023 that were matured with care and bottled in their prime, straight from the cask!

These batches of vintage cask single malts are carefully sourced from some of Scotland’s lesser-known distilleries which are renowned for their flavourful characteristics. This collection is designed to encourage whisky aficionados to look beyond the obvious and discover some fine drams destined to be savoured and shared with those that know and love Scotch.

The perfect gift for that whisky lover you’re not sure what to get, these hard-to-find vintage cask single malt whiskies from Mossburn Distillers, producers of Skye’s Torabhaig Single Malt and the Hebridean peated blend Caisteal Chamuis, have been matured, finished and bottled in a way that enhances the character of the spirit.

Two of the single malts in the 2023 collection have been finished in casks designed to either temper the power of the spirit or accentuate its flavour. All are released only when ready for optimal drinking, with minimal intervention, and bottled either at batch strength or 46% abv, with no chill filtering or colouring.

The master blender of this collection, Neil Macleod Mathieson, has specifically selected these barrels from Mossburn’s ageing warehouses, where many single malts lie slowly maturing until worthy of release. Each batch exhibits all the hallmarks of balance, depth and complexity that fine single malts can deliver.
 

While we bottle, distil and blend whisky, we’re whisky lovers first and foremost. And with the Mossburn Single Malt Vintage Cask releases, the idea is to bring something special to market.

Here, we allowed the spirit to sing, and sometimes this involved us showing restraint and just leaving it be until ready to release. This was the case with the beguiling, honeyed beeswax notes of Mossburn No. 33 Blair Athol Bourbon Cask 12-years-old, bottled straight from its original Bourbon Barrels, and the sweet spice and marzipan character of Mossburn Vintage Cask No. 34 Strathmill, which spent its whole life in Virgin European Oak.

We’ve used the grapey, fragrant sweetness of Moscatel casks to temper the full-bodied meaty character of Benrinnes 2008 No. 31 and added a fruity raspberry softness to the fragrant, natural grassy spirit of Teaninich 2008 No. 32 with red wine casks. This is an approachable and eminently drinkable collection to be savoured by whisky lovers.
– Neil Macleod Mathieson: Master blender

The four whiskies are:-

Mossburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky Vintage Casks no. 31 – Benrinnes Moscatel finish 14 years old, batch strength

Benrinnes is well known for its full-bodied, masculine character, and we felt that a Moscatel cask finish would not only bring some nice, sweet, grapey fruit but help tame the power as well.

The result was sufficiently well-balanced for us to decide to bottle at batch strength.

It is full and fruity on the palate with some red fruit and vinous notes evoking a degree of sweetness and light spice, finishing with a little extra dried fruit, prunes and a touch more oak and black pepper.

In short, a very complex and well-balanced whisky.

RRSP: £75.00

No of bottles: 1,800 bottles globally, 240 bottles available in the UK

ABV: 54.9%

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Mossburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky Vintage Casks no. 32 – Teaninich red wine finish 13 years old, batch strength

One of the very first whiskies we bottled was a batch strength Teaninich (No. 4), which was the best way we felt to retain its naturally linseed-like oily character.

So, we were pleased when we were able to bottle at batch strength here (No. 32) again. This time though we had added the extra dimension of a red wine finish.

It has a very precise bouquet of hay with a little “graininess” followed by toast, raspberry jam and cream. Complex on the palate with more red fruit notes integrated with malted cereal evolving into a very good long finish.

RRSP: £77.00

No of bottles: 1,900 bottles globally, 240 bottles available in the UK

ABV: 56.2%

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Mossburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky Vintage Casks No. 33 – Blair Athol Bourbon Cask 12 years old, batch strength

A naturally, beautifully balanced whisky – and so we again left it alone at batch strength. After a whole life spent in fresh first-fill Bourbon casks, we felt that the beguilingly beautiful beeswax notes were not to be messed with.

Aromas of honey, oak spice and toasted oats were a joy. The palate again had upfront honey and waxiness which developed into a rich, full spicy flavour with undertones of hazelnuts and oaky tannins. Not to be missed.

RRSP: £70.00

No of bottles: 1,900 bottles globally, 240 bottles available in the UK

ABV: 54.5%

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Mossburn Single Malt Scotch Whisky Vintage Casks no. 34 – Strathmill virgin European oak cask, batch strength – 12 years old

The only reduced whisky of this tranche of four, we found that the vanilla and marzipan notes were actually enhanced by reduction, and so we offer this whole-life Virgin European Oak at 46% abv. In addition to the complex vanilla and marzipan characteristics, are notes of boiled sweets, oak, toffee, sweet spice and barley sugar.

RRSP: £65.00

No of bottles: 1,700 bottles globally, 228 bottles available in the UK

ABV: 46%

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