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New bottlings for World Whisky Day

There are exciting and innovative expressions coming from outside of traditional regions such as Scotland, Ireland and the US. We look at 10 new bottlings to mark World Whisky Day this Saturday (16 May).

SB presents 10 new world whiskies worth trying

The whisky sector outside of Scotland, Ireland and the US has benefitted from investment from major players and flexible regulations that allow for experimentation.

As this Saturday (16 May) is World Whisky Day, we sought to look for the latest drams from producers in countries such as Sweden, Taiwan, Germany and Australia.

From the first single malt from English county Yorkshire to a seasonal Swedish bottling made with green tea leaves, we present 10 expressions that are shining a light on the world whisky category.

Click through the following pages to see our pick of worthy drams for World Whisky Day. 

Kavalan Distillery Select No. 2

Earlier this month, Taiwanese producer Kavalan unveiled a second entry-level whisky as part of its Distillery Select Series.

Kavalan Distillery Select No. 2 was released in Taiwan last month with an RRP of NTD$1,000 (US$33.50) per 700ml bottle. The whisky will soon be released globally.

It is described as “deeply aromatic with an irresistible floral and herbal complexity, blending woody and spicy notes in rich layers”.

Kavalan Distillery Select No. 2 joined Kavalan Distillery Select No. 1 in the new series, which is said to emphasise tropical fruit notes. 

Filey Bay

In October last year, the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery released what is thought to be the English county’s first single malt whisky. The three-year-old expression (46% ABV), called Filey Bay, was inspired by the bay within sight of the distillery in the North Yorkshire coastal village of Hunmanby.

Earlier this year, the English producer released its second batch of Filey Bay, which has been created by marrying a selection of Bourbon casks together with one Sherry cask.

The resulting liquid is described as a “light and fruity spirit with flavours of citrus, vanilla ice cream, caramel, biscuit and honey”.

Earlier this month, the distillery extended the Filey Bay range with a limited edition Sherry cask-finished variant.

First Edition Single Malt

Earlier this year, Danish producer Copenhagen Distillery released its inaugural grain-to-glass whisky.

Copenhagen Distillery’s First Edition Single Malt was distilled from a mash bill of local barley malt. The whisky was entirely fermented, distilled and matured in Copenhagen.

The 56.2% ABV expression is said to have a profile that “bursts with chocolate and nuts, and a luscious, oily note of an iconically local, Scandinavian smoke”.

Suntory World Whisky Ao

Japanese whisky maker Suntory merged the worlds of Irish, Scotch, American, Canadian and Japanese whiskies last year with the creation of a ‘world whisky’ blend.

Suntory World Whisky Ao was bottled at 43% ABV, and sought to bring together whiskies from around the world and break down category boundaries. The expression is described as having a “complex and rich flavour”, and is recommended for mixing in a Highball.

The name ‘Ao’ is the Japanese word for ‘blue’, a reference to the seas that link the world’s five most prolific whisky‐making regions. The whiskies used in the blend hail from Beam Suntory’s own distilleries.

Mackmyra Grönt Te

In March this year, Swedish producer Mackmyra released a seasonal single malt, made with green tea leaves.

Described as “one of the distillery’s most innovative creations to date”, the whisky was finished in casks steeped with a blend of Japanese green tea leaves for 19 months. The tea leaves from Japan are said to provide a “subtly spicy and flavourful whisky”.

Created by master blender Angela D’Orazio, the “aromatic and floral” expression has notes of vanilla, green apple and herbal green tea.

Zhong Shi Ji

Described as a “premium taste of east and west”, Zhong Shi Ji whisky has been created by Diageo’s Scotch whisky master blender Craig Wallace and China Alcoholic Drinks Association’s Chinese baijiu master Zhou Xinhu.

The “new-to-world” whisky is made through a “unique” production method, which includes “softening” whisky through Chinese ceramic pot maturation.

The product has been launched under the Jiangsu Yanghe Diageo Spirit Company, a joint venture formed between Smirnoff producer Diageo and Yanghe, China’s third largest baijiu distiller.

Rhiannon

Last summer, Welsh distillery Penderyn unveiled a new whisky as part of its Icons of Wales series, called Rhiannon.

The 46% abv whisky is the seventh in the series and named after horse goddess Rhiannon from Welsh mythology.

The Rhiannon whisky is described as having “spicy sweetness with a hint of vanilla” on the nose while the palate has notes of “creamy caramel, figs, red berries, delicate frangipane, chocolate ganache and a touch of coffee”.

In October, Penderyn Madeira Single Cask Edition whisky was named European Whisky of the Year in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2020.

St Kilian Signature Edition Four

St Kilian Distillers in Bavaria, Germany, launched its first small batch three‐year‐old whiskies last year.

Signature Edition One was aged in five casks – ex‐Bourbon, ex‐Bourbon quarter casks, ex‐Pedro Ximénez, ex‐Martinique rum and chestnut casks. It was followed by Signature Edition Two, a cask strength whisky matured in ex‐Amarone barrels from Italy.

Signature Edition Three is described as the prelude to a new smoky whisky range from St Kilian. Inspired by classic peated malts, it was matured in select Tennessee whiskey barrels and quarter casks from Texas.

The latest edition to the range, Signature Edition Four, was released in February this year. It is said to be smokier than any of its predecessors and matured entirely in Andalusian Sherry casks.

Canadian Club Chronicles 42 Year Old Issue No. 2: The Dock Man

In November last year, Canadian whisky brand Canadian Club added a new expression to its Chronicles series. The 42-year-old is thought to be the oldest Canadian whisky available on the market.

Canadian Club Chronicles 42 Year Old Issue No. 2: The Dock Man celebrates the historic dock worker who delivered whisky to bar owners and consumers during the Prohibition era.

The 45% ABV whisky is said to have “robust rye spice, delicate notes of brown sugar and baking spices” on the palate. The palate has a “lingering taste of toffee and a subtle tartness”.

Every year, Canadian Club plans to release a new whisky in the range up to 45 years old, when the brand will skip five years and release a 50-year-old.

Archie Rose Sandigo Heritage Rye Malt Whisky

Australian producer Archie Rose Distilling unveiled its inaugural whisky in the new experimental Trials and Exceptions series.

Sandigo Heritage Rye Malt Whisky is made from landrace rye grown by fourth-generation farmers. The grain has grown continuously near Sandigo in New South Wales for more than 60 years, adapting to weather including droughts, floods and storms to evolve into its own distinct strain, according to Archie Rose.

In November 2019, the distillery released its second limited edition whisky release, called Ironbark Smoked Rye Malt Whisky.

A sequel release to the distiller’s Smoked Gin launched in March 2019, Ironbark Smoked Rye Malt Whisky features smoked water created by melting huge blocks of ice in the wood-fired oven of neighbouring restaurant, Three Blue Ducks, using sustainably sourced ironbark.

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