The ‘world’s first’ Tequilas aged in Speyside whisky casks, a Scottish absinthe and a winemaker’s move into flavoured vodka: it’s the third instalment of our most innovative spirits launches list.

We reveal the third instalment of our top 50 innovative spirits launches of 2017

Last year, the team at Teeling experimented with fortified wine in its new Irish whiskey range, while Pernod Ricard blended the boundaries of “fine cuisine and mixology” with the launch of a caviar-infused vodka.

Bruichladdich aimed to “highlight the issue” of transparency in Scotch whisky age components with its Fèis Ìle 2017 special edition bottling, and French producer Maison Monteru launched the world’s first brandy aged in Japanese mizunara oak casks.

Click through the following pages to see the third part of our top 50 innovative spirits launches of 2017, counting down from 30 to 21.

To view 40 to 31, click here.

To view 50 to 41, click here.

30: L’Orbe

In March last year, Pernod Ricard released a caviar-infused vodka, the first in a range of “gastronomic” spirits, called L’Orbe.

Created in Pernod Rcard’s experimental lab in France, the ethos behind L’Orbe is to “build the bridge between fine cuisine and mixology”.

Pernod has patented a technology developed by French cosmetic products manufacturer Capsum that coats the caviar with a water-based film – allowing it to sit in the liquid.

For more information, click here.

29: Stoli Crushed

SPI Group-owned Stoli Vodka unveiled new brand extension Stoli Crushed – a mix of real fruit juice and the vodka’s gluten-free expression.

The range currently comes in two flavours: Pienapple and Ruby Red Grapefruit. Distributor Stoli Group USA calls the product the “first premium imported vodka to enter the real fruit juice spirits segment”.

Stoli Crushed is an extension of the new Stoli Gluten Free innovation – a “completely new gluten-free recipe” comprising corn and buckwheat – and is produced at the brand’s production facilities in Riga, Latvia.

For more information, click here.

28: Monteru Brandy Mizunara

Is this the world’s first brandy aged in Japanese mizunara oak casks? According to French producer Maison Monteru, yes, it is.

Distilled from Folle Blanche grapes – 90% of which were picked in 2014, the remaining 10% from 2012 – the brandy was first left to age in used French limousine oak casks before being finished in virgin mizunara oak casks for approximately 12 months.

Bottled at 43% abv, only a ‘confidential number’ of bottles will be available through select spirits retailers.

For more information, click here.

27: Bruichladdich Transparency

Bruichladdich aimed to “highlight the issue” of transparency in Scotch whisky age components with its Fèis Ìle 2017 special edition bottling – a no-age-statement heavily-peated Port Charlotte whisky called Transparency.

Each individually numbered bottle carries a numerical batch code that buyers can enter into an online system to view the specific cask recipe of Transparency, including the single malt’s different age components.

The distillery said it believes current EU regulations “explicitly support” consumers’ rights to access cask recipes in multi-vintage single malts.

For more information, click here. 

26: UWA Tequila

Scottish company UWA Tequila launched, what are thought to be, the world’s first Tequilas aged in Speyside whisky casks in November last year.

The two super-premium 100% blue weber agave Tequilas are Platinum Blanco and Reposado, an expression aged for seven months in a Speyside whisky cask.

The company also plans to launch a 14-month aged añejo to the market this spring.

For more information, click here.

25: Teeling Whiskey Brabazon bottlings

The team at Teeling have been experimenting to see how fortified wines influence Irish whiskey, releasing two expressions last year under the Brabazon Bottlings banner: Brabazon Series No 1, which focuses on the use of ex-Sherry casks in maturation; and Brabazon Series 2, which examines the effect of ex­-Port casks on Irish whiskey.

The name Brabazon comes from a family synonymous with a trading square in the Liberties area of Dublin.

For more information, click here.

24: Murmichan

Proving Scotland is capable of much more than just whisky and gin, the Lost Loch Distillery released the first Scottish absinthe in 2017.

Murmichan is made with traditional and Scottish botanicals, including grand wormwood, green aniseed, fennel seed, star anise, bramble leaves and heather flower.

For more information, click here.

23: Echo Falls Summer Berries Vodka

Fortune has not always favoured flavoured vodka, but that didn’t stop wine brand Echo Falls stepping into the category for the first time last year. The flavoured vodka line replicates the group’s fruit-­infused wine range. The company hopes it will revive the popularity of the flavoured vodka sector, and bring an equally profitable boost to it.

The expression, bottled at 37.5% abv, is supported by a £5 million investment package to advertise the brand in a “large-scale way”.

For more information, click here.

22: Martell VS Single Distillery

Pernod Ricard­-owned Cognac house Martell stepped out of its comfort zone to bring a new expression to market in 2017, created from eaux-de-­vie produced solely at one distillery.

The new offering brings back the shape of the classic “montre” Cognac bottle, with a cork and label both stamped with the signature of Martell House founder, Jean Martell.

The producer recommends the Cognac be served neat, or in long cocktails, and it is said to pair well with red berries and citrus fruits.

For more information, click here.

21: That Boutique-y Gin Company

In February last year, the team behind That Boutique-y Whisky Company formed what is thought to be the world’s first independent gin bottler – That Boutique-y Gin Company (TBGC).

TBGC released 11 batches of “new and experimental” expressions from a variety of producers including Hernö, Ableforth’s, FEW Spirits and East London Liquor Company.

As with TBWC, the gin bottler plans to release its own creations, beginning with Cherry Gin – the “first” commercially available gin of its kind.

For more information, click here.