Top 50 most innovative spirits launches of 2015: 20-11
Cannabis-flavoured vodka, deconstructed whisky, and bitters made from “hand foraged” sloes are amongst the fourth instalment of our most innovative spirits launches list.
Click through the following pages to see the fourth instalment of our top 50 innovative spirits launches of 2015As we climb closer to the top spot, the degree of ingenuity and resourcefulness demonstrated by producers markedly increases, resulting in some of the industry’s more off-the-wall imaginings coming to fruition.
Technological advancements and the blurring of lines between spirits categories have given way to both “hybrid” and never-before-seen bottlings, including Minus-33, the “world’s first” juniper distilled spirit; and Jim Beam Kentucky Dram, a Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey blended with peated Highland Scotch.
Other notable victors in our rundown include a unique “Vodka Gastronomique” expression in the form of Grey Goose by Ducasse; and Grand MacNish Six Cask Edition, a whisky containing liquid from each of Scotland’s six whisky regions.
The world’s first alcohol-free distilled spirit also secures a top spot – read on to find out why.
Click through the following pages to see the fourth part of our top 50 innovative spirits launches of 2015, counting down from 20 to 11.
20. Barrelhound Blended Scotch Whisky
Pernod Ricard aimed to close the gap between Bourbon and Scotch with its Barrelhound release; a no-age-statement blend of Speyside malts aged in American oak ex-Bourbon barrels.
Named after the distillery’s “nose” – the person who discovers the best barrels for blending – it is described as having a “sweet, more accessible taste profile” than other Scotch whiskies with notes of vanilla, honey, oak and spice.
“In a market dominated by American whisky, we feel that Barrelhound brings something different and exciting to the category,” said Kate Pomeroy, vice president of innovation and consumer Insights at Pernod Ricard USA.
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19. Minus-33
Lauded as the “world’s first” juniper distilled spirit, Loca Lab founder Sam Trett unveiled Minus-33 this year – made from nine botanicals, including elderflower and angelica, and described on the bottle as “better than gin”.
“We created this in a lab and spent about a year experimenting with different flavours and abvs,” explained Trett. “What we found was that everyone agreed the spirit tasted best at 33% – but then you can’t call it a gin.
“It didn’t really fit into any other existing category, so we decided upon ‘juniper distilled spirit’ as it’s the perfect description.”
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18. Jameson Deconstructed Series
A global travel retail exclusive, this collection of Irish whiskeys was designed to “deconstruct key notes” from Jameson Original to form the base of three new variants: Bold, Lively and Round.
Bold takes its lead from pot still whiskey, starting with sweet and creamy flavours with soft fruits, and developing to into barley, baked apples and a hit of spices; while Lively is influenced by grain whiskey, giving notes of perfume bonbons and Turkish delight combined with hints of citrus and a little chilli oil.
The third expression in the collection is Round, which was inspired by wood and offers “plump charred tones”, with sweet vanilla flavours coupled with ripe fruits and pot still spices.
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17. Ballantine’s Hard Fired
The “subtly smoky” character of this blended Scotch is the result of a “bespoke charring process” that involves a “selective second charring, hard firing, of casks”.
Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s master blender, said: “When charred, casks form a natural layer of caramelised wood sugars that react with whisky, and a double char understandably intensifies this effect.
“The result is a smooth, creamy and subtly smoky Scotch whisky with tasting notes of sweet honey, soft red apples, and tangy liquorice. This balanced flavour profile results in a premium whisky that sits well within the Ballantine’s family style while offering something new.”
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16. Grand MacNish Six Cask Edition Blended Malt Scotch Whisky
If you’re looking for a whisky with complexity that carries through both taste and provenance, then this particular blend may well have been on your radar this year.
Described as the “first whisky of its kind”, no fewer than six casks have been married together to form this special release.
Launched by spirits importer M.S. Walker and whisky bottler MacDuff International, the blend comprises liquid produced in each of Scotland’s six whisky regions: Highland, Speyside, Islay, Campbeltown, Lowland and Island.
For more information, click here
15. Jameson Wild Sloe Berry Bitters
Jameson Irish whiskey has joined the handful of brands that have cleverly launched products to complement their core expressions in cocktail form.
Jameson Wild Sloe Berry Bitters is crafted using sloes foraged from the shores of Lough Corrib and Lough Mask in Ireland. A sloe berry distillate that has been slowly matured with Jameson Irish Whiskey forms the base of the product, along with a bitters mix including wormwood, gentian and ginseng.
For more information, click here
14. Shotka
Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits moved into “daring” territory with the launch of Shotka – a cannabis-flavoured vodka targeted towards “rebellious nightclubbing fans”.
Said to have a “grassy” taste of cannabis, but without its narcotic effects, Shotka is created by macerating cannabis seeds with grain ethyl alcohol water solution in a tank for three days before distillation.
Bottled at 50% abv, the vodka is produced at an unnamed Lithuanian distillery “built on land with 5,000 years heritage of cannabis cultivation”.
For more information, click here
13. Jim Beam Kentucky Dram
Jim Beam turned its gaze to bonnie Scotland to source inspiration for one of its latest additions, Jim Beam Kentucky Dram.
While teaser information was first released in 2014, the hybrid variant officially launched in July last year.
Kentucky Dram, exclusively available in global travel retail, blends standard Jim Beam Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey with a “touch” of peated Highland Scotch, adding a “smoky flavour” to the “vanilla and oaky notes” of the Bourbon.
For more information, click here
12. Grey Goose Interpreted by Ducasse
Grey Goose maître de chai François Thibault teamed up with Michelin-starred chef Alain Ducasse to create Grey Goose Interpreted by Ducasse – a vodka produced using three hand-batched roasts of French winter wheat.
Described as “Vodka Gastronomique”, the Grey Goose expression is produced using three hand batch roasts of French winter wheat.
Each batch is created using different toasting techniques to give the vodka a “rich, dark complex flavour” and is targeted towards after-dinner sipping. The variant even won The Spirits Business’s inaugural Travel Retail Taste Master award.
For more information, click here
11. Seedlip
Seedlip occupies a unique position in the list as the only non-alcoholic product. Touted as the world’s first alcohol-free distilled spirit, it is inspired by the 1651 book The Art of Distillation, which features copper pot distilled non-alcoholic tonic remedies. The product is made using individually distilled ingredients, including two barks – American oak and Bahamian Pimenta bark – spices and citrus peel, and is described as a “sophisticated alternative” to alcoholic drinks.
For more information, click here
