Top 10 spirit launches in August 2014
Cult whiskies, small-batch gins and brands dedicated to bygone stars are all included in our list of the top 10 spirit launches in August 2014.
Click through the following pages to discover the top 10 spirit launches in August 2014The last month of summer was certainly full of interesting whisky and gin launches, with only two spots on our countdown falling outside of the categories.
While Islay distillery Ardbeg marked the return of its whisky vial sent into out of space into the Earth’s atmosphere with a new limited edition, Balvenie replaced its cult Tun 1401 and Bowmore releases the third edition of its hugely popular Devil’s Cask.
Also two firsts in the gin category as Glasgow launches its first expression of mother’s ruin for 100 years, and the first gin to be released in the UK’s Lake District is unveiled.
Two legendary icons – John Lennon and Humphrey Bogart – are also commemorated in new spirits brands.
Looking at those which were made available on the market, as well as those which were unveiled to be released at a later date, this is our roundup of the top 10 spirit launches in August 2014.
Click through the following pages to discover which brands made the cut.
Ardbeg Supernova 2014
It was revealed last month that Islay Scotch whisky distillery Ardbeg is to celebrate the return of its whisky vial from outer space with the launch of the third edition Ardbeg Supernova.
The expression, described as Ardbeg’s “peatiest single malt”, will launch on the same day as the whisky vial re-enters the earth’s atmosphere in September.
Working with US space research company NanoRacks LLC, Ardbeg sent sample to the International Space Station, where they have been sitting for the past three years to test the effects of gravity on maturation.
For more information, click here.
The Balvenie Tun 1509
To much surprise, The Balvenie Scotch whisky revealed its plans to introduce The Balvenie Tun 1509 as an annual release, replacing the discontinued cult bottling Tun 1401 which was felt by brand owner William Grant & Sons to be too limited.
The first Balvenie Tun 1509 release will be a NAS, 47.1% abv, non-chill-filtered whisky comprised of 42 casks selected by malt master David Stewart, including 35 American oak barrels and seven European oak Sherry butts.
As with Tun 1401, all the casks have been allowed to marry together for a period of several months within Warehouse 24.
For more information, click here.
Makar Glasgow Gin
The Glasgow Distillery Company (GDC) unveiled Makar Glasgow Gin last month – the first gin to be released in the Scottish city for 100 years.
Named Makar Glasgow Gin, after the Gaelic word for poet or bard, the 43% abv dry gin is juniper-led and contains rosemary and black peppercorns among its botanicals.
The distillery will begin distilling whisky shortly after it has taken delivery of two whisky pot stills.
For more information, click here.
Bowmore Devil’s Cask second batch
Bowmore unveiled the second batch of its much praised Devil Cask series, which has quickly become a cult classic and sold out on then distillery’s website in a matter of minutes.
The single malt expression is aged solely in first-fill Sherry casks for 10 years. It is said to offer flavours of dark chocolate fudge infused with sherried dark fruit, sea salt and walnut oil, finishing with sun-dried raisins and salted treacle.
It is named after a legend that says the Devil was once spotted and chased through the town, eventually hiding away in the distillery before escaping in a whisky barrel.
For more information, click here.
The Lake’s Gin
To follow on from its successful whisky – the first British blended whisky made from liquid sourced from across the British Isles – Cumbria’s The Lakes Distillery released its first gin last month.
The Lakes Gin is created using water from the region’s River Derwent and a mix of traditional gin botanicals as well as bilberry, meadowsweet, hawthorn and heather, foraged where possible in the local countryside.
Made by The Lakes Distillery, the first distillery to open the the UK’s Lake District in more than a century, the “artisan” gin is made in a bespoke 1,000 litre copper pot still.
For more information, click here.
John Lennon 40yo Scotch whisky
In homage to late Beatle rock god John Lennon, Winston Elizabeth and Windsor collectibles in Liverpool revealed plans to launch a 40-year-old Scotch whisky in 2020 to mark the 40th anniversary of his death.
Just 40 bottles of the limited edition bottles will be released, each presented in a black suede box with an 18-carat gold miniature guitar inside.
Lennon was fatally shot by Mark David Chapman on 8 December 1980 in the entrance hall to his building in New York.
For more information, click here.
Bogart’s Real English Gin
Bogart’s Real English Gin was launched just this week by the estate of legendary actor Humphrey Bogart and Rok Drinks, the drinks arm of Rok Stars, a UK consumer products company co-founded by US billionaire John Paul DeJoria, creator of the Patrón Tequila brand.
Each bottle of the gin bears an image of the Casablanca actor, who was known as Bogie, as well as one of his memorable quotes, such as “never trust a man who doesn’t drink”.
Described as a “small batch, artisanal” gin, the release has been infused and distilled in England.
For more information, click here.
Wild Turkey Diamond Edition
Gruppo Campari’s Bourbon brand Wils Turkey has released a Diamond Edition to commemorate the 60-year service of its master distiller Jimmy Russell.
The celebratory Wild Turkey Diamond Anniversary bottling is a limited edition mix of 13-year-old and 16-year-old whiskies hand-selected by Jimmy Russell’s son, Eddie.
It is described as having a flavour of caramel, vanilla and a spicy oak finish and is available in small quantities across the US.
For more information, click here.
La Hora Azul
New Tequila brand, La Hora Azul, meaning “the blue hour”, launched into the super-premium category last month.
Owned by the Canada-based Don Good Tequila Company, the brand comes in three vartiants: Pure Spirit (blanco), Experience the One (Reposado), aged for one year, and The Premier Highland Tequila (Anejo), which is aged for up to three years.
Described as both traditional and contemporary, La Hora Azul is bottled in a decanter bearing a serpent design.
For more information, click here.
Glen Garioch Renaissance Collection
In August, Highland single malt Scotch whisky brand Glen Garioch released the first edition in its age-focussed, four-part Renaissance Collection.
Launched to demonstrate the whisky’s ageing process, the 15-year-old Glen Garioch aged in Sherry casks, is described as an “uncharacteristically unpeated spirit” which has a flavour of toffee, chocolate, ginger and apricot.
Its release will be followed by that of an 16, 17 and 18-year-old edition, all of which will be released annually.
For more information, click here.
