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Top 10 spirits launches in October 2019

The “world’s first” Afro-Caribbean rum, a Tequila barrel-finished Bourbon and an 11-year-old Lagavulin named after actor Nick Offerman are among our pick of top new products to launch last month.

SB presents the top spirits to launch in October

October saw a number of celebrities collaborate with spirits brands, including rock band Alice in Chains and Parks and Recreation star Nick Offerman.

Flavoured line extensions were also unveiled from some of the world’s biggest brands, including a red velvet cake-infused Baileys liqueur and an apple-flavoured Jack Daniel’s Tennessee whiskey.

Meanwhile, a series of firsts saw two rum experts create the “world’s first” Afro-Caribbean rum, while Vermont-based producer WhistlePig launched what is thought to be the first American whiskey finished in umeshu barrels.

Click through the following pages to explore our full round-up of eye-catching spirits launched in October.

Which new products grabbed your attention last month? If we’ve missed your favourite, let us know in the comments box below.

Lagavulin Offerman Edition

Actor and longtime Lagavulin fan Nick Offerman had the opportunity to create his own single malt with the Diageo-owned Scotch brand.

Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years has launched as part of the brand’s ongoing partnership with the Parks and Recreation star, which began in 2014 with the launch of the My Tales of Whisky series.

Lagavulin has also unveiled the next instalment in its My Tales of Whisky series, which features four videos starring Offerman.

For more information, click here.

Tovess

Tovess Single Batch Crafted Dry Gin is the first spirit from retail giant Amazon and will be available to buy in the UK, France, Germany, Spain and Italy through the retailer’s website.

The expression was based on a traditional London Dry gin and is made at a distillery on the outskirts of Birmingham, UK. It was produced using 18th century copper pot stills that are described as “among some of the oldest in the country”.

The new premium gin has been made in a single batch distillation and has been infused with individually distilled lime and grapefruit peels, said to give it “fruity notes and a smooth Mediterranean taste”.

For more information, click here.

Equiano

Equiano is the result of a collaboration between global rum ambassador Ian Burrell and Foursquare Rum Distillery’s master distiller Richard Seale.

The expression, which claims to be the world’s first Afro-Caribbean rum, is a blend of molasses rums from Barbados-based Foursquare Rum Distillery and Mauritius-based Gray’s Distillery.

Described as an “east and west” collaboration, Equiano is 100% natural with no added sugar, spices or colourants. It is said to be the first rum containing liquid from two different distilleries based on two different continents.

For more information, click here.

Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple

Launched in the US, Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Apple is made from the American whiskey brand’s core expression, which has been charcoal mellowed and matured in new American oak barrels, and apple-flavoured liqueur.

The 35% ABV whiskey is recommended served chilled, neat or in cocktails.

On the nose, it is described as having “crisp green apple and classic Old No 7 cues of caramel, oak and a soft spice”. The palate combines fresh cut apples with “warm caramel and toffee” followed by a “rich and smooth” finish with a hint of toasted oak.

For more information, click here.

Baileys Red Velvet

Launched in celebration of National Liqueur Day (16 October), Baileys Red Velvet has been created in partnership with US bakery Georgetown Cupcake.

The new limited edition liqueur features the signature flavour of the store’s best-selling cupcake, red velvet.

Bottled at 17% ABV, Baileys Red Velvet is said to taste like “fresh chocolate cake, topped with a dollop of cream cheese frosting and just a hint of cocoa powder”.

For more information, click here.

All Secrets Known

Few spirits master distiller Paul Hletko collaborated with rock band Alice in Chains to create All Secrets Known Bourbon, which was finished for six months in ex-Tequila barrels.

Bottled at 50.5% ABV, All Secrets Known takes its name from the opening track of the band’s 2009 release Black Gives Way to Blue and features a custom-designed label by artist Justin Helton.

It is described as “bold, sweet, and spicy”, with grassy agave undertones.

For more information, click here.

The Boss Hog: The Samurai Scientist

The sixth edition in WhistlePig’s Boss Hog range is a limited edition 16-year-old rye whiskey finished in umeshu-seasoned barrels.

Vermont-based WhistlePig partnered with Japanese brewery Kitaya, which produces saké, shōchū and umeshu, to create the limited edition offering.

The rye whiskey was finished in barrels that contained Saikoo, a “uniquely traditional” umeshu aged for 11 years. It is thought to be the first American whiskey finished in umeshu barrels.

For more information, click here.

Havana Club Professional Edition C and Professional Edition D

The latest additions to Havana Club’s bartender-created range Professional Edition were unveiled at on-trade show Bar Convent Berlin last month.

Professional Edition C and Professional D were created by bartenders Alex Kratena and Carina Soto Velasquez.

Professional Edition C is made from young aguardiente blended with older rum bases that have aged in San José distillery’s warehouses. It has been matured for up to 12 years in large white oak barrels, which are aged up to 40 years old.

Meanwhile, Professional Edition D is a white rum “that explores the raw expression of Cuban sugarcane and aguardiente”.

For more information, click here.

Kininvie Works

Last month saw Glenfiddich owner William Grant & Sons unveil three “experimental” whiskies from its Kininvie distillery.

The Kininvie Works collection comprises three whiskies, including KVSM001, a triple-distilled single malt aged for five years in ex-Bourbon casks.

The three whiskies are available to purchase online in the UK and France.

For more information, click here.

Midleton Very Rare 2019

The 36th iteration in the Midleton Very Rare Irish whiskey collection made its debut last month.

Midleton Very Rare 2019 combines single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys selected by master distiller Brian Nation.

Each cask has been matured exclusively in lightly charred ex-Bourbon American oak barrels for between 13 and 34 years ­­– marking the oldest casks used to create a Midleton Very Rare expression.

For more information, click here.

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