Top 10 spirit launches in July 2014

Among our list of the top 10 spirit launches in July 2014 is Glenmorangie’s most expensive whisky to-date, a liqueur dedicated to famous literary sisters, and a vodka/Cognac hybrid.

There were some pretty exciting new spirits launched in July 2014

The spirits landscape in July was a diverse one, with a host of pioneering Scotch, vodka, rum, gin and Cognac launches.

Other notable releases include a unique XO Rose Gold Cognac by Bisquit, a new white sipping rum by Flor de Caña, and an ethically-minded gin.

Meanwhile, Three Barrels brandy made tracks into flavoured spirits territory, an industry veteran released a Cognac inspired by the Brontës and Grey Goose entered the hybrid spirits category.

Click through the following pages to see our roundup of the top 10 spirit launches in July 2014. If you a deserving new spirit has been missed off this list, let us know by leaving a comment below. 

Glenmorangie Pride

In July, Glenmornagie revealed its “rarest” and most expensive whisky to date in the form of Glenmorangie Pride, costing £3,900. The 34-year-old single malt was described by Dr Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation at Glenmorangie as his “most exquisite” edition to-date. With only 700 bottles will be available worldwide, Glenmorangie Pride initially started out as a 19-year-old vintage before being extra-matured in French Premier Grand Cru claret casks for an additional 15 years.

For more information, click here.

Bisquit XO Rose Gold Cognac

Cognac house Bisquit launched 1,819 decanters of its XO Rose Gold edition into travel retail to mark the year the house was founded, 1819. Created from six casks and distilled slower than usual for an extra hour on average, is described as having an aroma of mahogany, sandalwood, tobacco and cocoa, with notes of candied orange, apricot, prune and spiced on the palate.

For more information, click here.

Flor de Caña Blanco Reserva 7

Also launched into travel retail in July was  Flor de Caña’s Blanco Reserva 7 – an white sipping rum aged for seven years. Bottled at 40% abv and with an RRP of US$25, Flor de Caña Blanco Reserva 7 is described as having a “creamy floral and vanilla” taste.

For more information, click here.

Brontë Liqueur

Giving a literary edge to this list is Brontë Liqueur, a blackberry, sloe and jasmine liqueur created by Sir James Aykroyd, who has previously held senior roles with Buchanan’s whisky and Martini and Rosso, in honour of the Brontë sisters. Proceeds from sales of the liqueur will be donated to the Brontë Society, of which Aykroyd is an active member.

For more information, click here.

Three Barrels Honey

The flavoured spirits trend progressed further in July when William Grant & Sons unveiled Three Barrels Honey – described as a “fine blend” of Three Barrels VSOP with “natural honey flavouring”. The expression went on exclusive sale in Morrisons and will be rolled out to other supermarkets in due course.

For more information, click here.

Nomad Outland Whisky

Both Spain and Scotland influence new Nomad Outland Whisky, a brand created through a partnership between Spanish wine and spirits producer González Byass and The Dalmore master distiller Richard Paterson. The blended whisky, described as a “brand new concept” that “challenges perceptions of whisky”, has been created in Scotland, but aged in Spain.

For more information, click here.

Amaro di Angostura

The house of Angostura celebrated its 190-year anniversary with launch of Amaro di Angostura, marking the first time the Trinidad-based bitters and rum producer has moved into a new spirits category.Created using the Angostura aromatic bitters as a base, Amaro di Angostura combines additional spices and neutral alcohol for a 35% abv liqueur with notes of dark chocolate, cinnamon and liquorice.

For more information, click here.

Highland Park Dark Origins

Edrington’s no-age-statement Highland Park Dark Origins draws on the brand’s own cloudy origins as the new bottling was inspired by the clandestine smuggling operation formed by founder Magnus Eunson in the late 1700s. A permanent addition to the brand’s core range, Highland Park Dark Origins is non-chill filtered expression and bottled at 46.8% abv.

For more information, click here.

Becketts London Dry Gin

New conservationist gin brand Becketts claims to be the “world’s only” gin infused with English juniper. Working in partnership with the National Trust to create a sustainable juniper population in Surrey, Becketts is created with handpicked juniper berries from Box Hill in Surrey and mint grown in Kingston-upon-Thames. 

For more information, click here.

Grey Goose VX

Grey Goose made its first foray into hybrid spirits with the launch of Grey Goose VX, an ultra-premium hybrid spirit combining vodka with drops of fine Cognac. Containing Cognac created from grapes from the Grande Champagne cru, the variant’s title stands for “vodka exceptionelle” and is described as a “significant step change for the vodka/ white spirits category”.

For more information, click here.