Top 10 spirit launches in September 2013
If the top 10 spirit launches from September 2013 reflect any trends at all, it’s that flavoured whiskey is becoming scarily popular.
Can you guess which three of our top 10 spirit launches from September these images belong to?Dominating the list this month are a handful of flavoured whiskeys, all from the States of course, including two separate maple whiskey launches from the same company. And while the whisky category so far has stuck to traditional flavours of honey, maple and cherry, a new spiced variety entered the spotlight in September with a goal of encouraging rum drinkers to jump categories.
Flavours aside, there have been some notable, quality whisky launches from outside the States. A couple of stellar Irish whiskeys from William Grant and Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard remind the world that Irish whiskey is playing hard ball, while a new travel retail line-up for Glenfiddich and the completion of a TR trio for Laphroaig keeps Scotch in the spotlight. There’s even the return of a much-loved blend that has already set tongues wagging.
Take a look through our pick of the top 10 spirit launches in September, and do let us know if we’ve missed any out by leaving a comment below.
Black Bottle
Marking 130 years since the brand first launched, Black Bottle is returning to shelves following a complete revamp which sees the iconic green bottle turn to black.
Burn Stewart Distillers hopes to refresh the “dull” blended Scotch whisky category with the reintroduction of Black Bottle which contains less peated whisky than its predecessor.
The expression, which has an abv of 40%, will launch internationally into selected export markets from October at an RRP between £17.99 and £18.49.
Find out why Black Bottle is being relaunched by clicking here.
Bowmore The Devil’s Casks
A rather timely release from Morrison Bowmore is this fiery 10-year-old whisky inspired by a reported sighting of the Devil in the Bowmore cellars.
Bowmore The Devil’s Casks is a limited edition 56.7% abv whisky matured exclusively in first-fill Sherry casks.
Just 6,000 bottles have been produced in the run-up to Halloween, when it’s thought many a bottle will be cracked open to celebrate the ghoulish holiday.
Click here to discover the spooky tale that inspired Bowmore The Devil’s Casks.
Wild Turkey Spiced
Described as a “more masculine choice to spied rum”, the team over at Campari are continuing to build upon Wild Turkey’s success in flavoured whiskey with the launch of Wild Turkey Spiced.
Wild Turkey master distiller Eddie Russell says the release is a cross between robust Bourbon and island spirits, designed to attract rum drinkers into the category.
It’s being rolled out across the US now with an RRP of US$22.99.
Read more about Wild Turkey Spiced and its campaign to encourage male consumers to “man up”.
Tullamore Dew Phoenix
William Grant’s Irish whiskey distillery launched this Sherried release into travel retail in September through ARI.
Launched to commemorate the historic crash of a hot air balloon in the town of Tullamore in 1785 – the first ever recorded aviation disaster – Tullamore Dew Phoenix signifies the mythological animal that was subsequently added to the town’s coat of arms as a result.
A blend of single pot still malt and grain whiskey, Tullamore Dew Phoenix is non-chill filtered and and finished in ex-oloroso Sherry casks.
Find out more about the historic disaster and Tullamore Dew Phoenix here.
Redbreast 21 Year Old
A much-anticipated addition to the Redbreast single pot still Irish whiskey family is this Redbreast 21 Year Old.
Featuring a blend of whiskeys matured in first-fill Bourbon and first-fill Sherry casks, Redbreast 21 Year Old has all the trademark qualities of the brand, with a robust vanilla nuttiness with a creamy mouthfeel.
While a permanent addition to the family, the whiskey will only be available in limited quantities in its target markets of the UK, Ireland and continental Europe.
Laphroaig An Cuan Mór
Completing Laphroaig’s trio of no-age-statement travel retail exclusives is Laphroaig An Cuan Mór, launched through Aellia, Heinemann and World Duty Free Group last month.
Aged in ex-Bourbon barrels and finished in European oak casks, Laphroaig An Cuan Mór is bottled at 48% for what’s described as a spicy caramel, burnt apricot and raisin flavour.
Its introduction follows those of Laphroaig QA Cask in April, and Laphroaig PX Cask in 2012 to complete the brand’s exclusive offering in European travel retail.
Find out more about Laphroaig An Cuan Mór here.
Knob Creek Smoked Maple
Cited as reflecting the favoured flavours of former master distiller Booker Noe, Knob Creek Smoked Maple was launched in September as the Bourbon brand’s first flavoured expression.
Bottled at 45% abv, the flavoured whiskey has been rolling out across the US at an RRP of US$30.99. Maple has become a major flavour trend for American whiskey behind honey, although this is the first product released featuring a smoked maple taste.
Jim Beam Maple
Anyone would have thought it was national maple month in the US, as two brands – albeit owned by the same company – release maple-flavoured whiskeys.
Jim Beam Maple is the latest flavoured variant from the Bourbon brand, following Honey in 2012 and Red Stag (black cherry) in 2009.
When innovations such as these are driving sales for Jim Beam, a new flavour made using natural flavours, seemed obvious.
Click here to find out more about Jim Beam Maple, and where it’s available.
Glenfiddich Cask Collection
Hyped as the Speyside distillery’s “most innovative” release of the year, the Glenfiddich Cask Collection landed on travel retail shelves in Germany and Singapore during September.
Consisting of three expressions – Select Cask, Reserve Cask and Vintage Cask (to be released in April 2014) – the Cask Collection is designed to “appeal to the varied preferences of single malt drinkers around the world”.
Each has a distinct flavour profile, with the Vintage cask containing some rare peated malt from the distillery.
Click here to find out why the Glenfiddich Cask Collection is such a momentus launch.
Elephant Gin
Rarely does a new spirit brand launch with a pledge to donate a significant portion of its profits to charities.
New in September was Elephant Gin, a 45% abv London dry gin inspired by Africa, featuring 14 unusual botanicals from across the continent.
Its founders were inspired to create the gin after visiting Africa, and plan to donate 15% of the brand’s profits to African elephant foundations.
Find out which botanicals are used in Elephant Gin, and more about the elephant foundations here.
