Top 10 spirit launches in October 2015
Travel retail exclusive variants dominated new launches in whisky last month, while “daring” cannabis flavours took the spotlight in vodka, and gin appealed to its historical roots once more.
This is our selection of the top 10 spirits launched last monthWilliam Grant & Sons launched two major whisky collections in October – a new brand of Art Deco-style blended whisky and a 25-strong range of single cask whiskies from The Balvenie Distillery.
Pernod Ricard also excited the on-trade when it re-released its Beefeater Crown Jewel Gin, and launched the first GTR exclusive range from its Jameson Irish whiskey brand.
Meanwhile, Bowmore launched its highly anticipated “third and final” Devil’s Cask bottling and Glenmorangie geared up for winter with a festive launch.
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 October 2015.
Click through the following pages to discover which brands made the cut.
The Balvenie DCS Compendium
Created to mark the 53-year service of master distiller David Stewart, The Balvenie DCS Compendium is a collection of 25 rare single cask whiskies that capture the knowledge of the industry stalwart. Launched in five different “chapters”, each containing five different whiskies, over a five-year period, the range has been exclusively bottled at cask strength from single casks. The first whiskies to be unveiled in the Compendium include the youngest Balvenie whisky ever released at 9-years-old, charting how the distillery’s characteristics evolve over time.
For more information, click here
Beefeater Crown Jewel
Following a discontinuation in 2009, Beefeater re-released its Crown Jewel variant as a limited edition to the global on-trade last month. Made to the product’s 1993 recipe, which added grapefruit to Beefeater’s original botanical list, Crown Jewel pays homage to the legend that eight ravens reside at the Tower of London to prevent it from falling down. Each of the raven’s names are printed on the side of every bottle.
For more information, click here
House of Hazelwood
William Grant & Sons has unveiled a new blended Scotch whisky brand, called House of Hazelwood, inspired by Grant family member Janet Sheed Roberts (1901-2012) and her residence at Hazelwood House near to the Glenfiddich Distillery. The art deco style of the range pays homage to the 1920s style of the property. Three inaugural expressions have been introduced as part of the range: an 18-year-old, inspired by Paris in the 1920s; a 21-year-old, drawing on references from Mumbai; and a 25-year-old, with Shanghai a central theme.
For more information, click here
Christopher Wren Gin
The City of London Distillery partnered with retired Tanqueray master distiller Tom Nichol to launch Christopher Wren Gin, created in honour of famed architect Sir Christopher Wren, who designed St Paul’s Cathedral in the 1600s. The gin is created with just five botanicals – juniper, coriander, angelica root, liquorice and sweet orange – and is presented in a bottle that features an image of St Paul’s Cathedral.
For more information, click here
Bowmore Devil’s Casks III
Bowmore got tongues wagging last month when it unveiled the “third and final” bottling in its popular Devil’s Casks series. Devil’s Casks III Double the Devil is a no-age-statement whisky aged in two different types of Sherry casks, first fill Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks. First launched in 2013, The Devil’s Casks series pays homage to the Islay tale of how the devil himself was chased through the village of Bowmore and into the gates of its distillery before escaping in a cask of whisky bound for the mainland.
For more information, click here
500,000 Scovilles Naga Chilli Vodka
Said to be “200 times hotter” than Tabasco Sauce, 500,000 Scovilles Naga Chilli Vodka has been launched by The ‘Hot Enough’ Vodka Company – part of Maverick Drinks. Also twice as hot as its predecessor, the 250,000 Scovilles Naga Chilli Vodka, the new variant is created using pure wheat spirit and Naga Jolokia chillies, which Maverick claims are used by the Indian armed forces as a key ingredient in their chilli-based tear gas grenades.
For more information, click here
Jameson Deconstructed Series
Jameson Irish whiskey released its first range of GTR exclusives with its Deconstructed Series. Designed to “deconstruct key notes” from Jameson Original, the collection consists of three expressions: Bold, Lively and Round. Bold takes its lead from pot still whiskey, while Lively has been influenced by grain whiskey and Round is inspired by wood.
For more information, click here
Shotka
French drinks group Marie Brizard has launched a new brand of “bold and daring” cannabis-flavoured vodka, called Shotka. Targeted towards “rebellious night-clubbing fans”, Shotka has a “unique” taste of cannabis without its narcotic effects. The bottle features a dragon-style motif and the ambiguous phrase: “Promise you won’t shoot me down if I ask your name. Let’s dance first. Call us Mary & Jane. SHOTKA”.
For more information, click here
Glenmorangie A Midwinter Night’s Dram
Glenmorangie has extended its range of limited edition single malt Scotch whiskies with the launch of A Midwinter Night’s Dram. The whisky combines whisky matured in Bourbon casks made from American white oak with liquid aged in Oloroso Sherry casks. The brainchild of Dr Bill Lumsden, director of whisky distilling and creation at Glenmorangie, the expression is inspired by the tradition of the “16 Men of Tain”, who were treated to a special whisky during the festive season – created by the master distiller – as a thank you for their role in making Glenmorangie.
For more information, click here
Studebaker
Diageo took its first steps into the bottled cocktail market with the launch of the Studebaker brand. Inspired by cocktails served during Prohibition and using Canadian whisky as its base spirit, Studebaker currently consists of Old Fashioned and Manhattan variants.
