Romania’s first single malt whisky to launch

The first single malt whisky from Romania will be introduced to international markets with a global tour commencing on World Whisky Day (21 May).

Alexandrion Group, Romania’s largest spirits and wine producer and distributor, will showcase the Carpathian range of single malts with a series of global events throughout the year.

The tour will begin in the US on 21 May, and will showcase a limited edition run of 930 bottles for global allocation.

Nawaf Salameh, founding chairman of the Alexandrion Group, said: “We have been quietly distilling and maturing the single malt whisky liquid since 2017, sourcing casks from all over Europe and the USA. This is the first chance single malt enthusiasts will have to enjoy a Carpathian whisky.”

The three inaugural expressions to be presented on the tour include a Feteasca Neagra and Pinot Noir whisky from the brand’s Romanian Wine Cask Selection, and a Madeira cask-finished whisky, which features as part of the Spanish and Portuguese Wine Cask Selection.

Both the Feteasca Neagra and Madeira-finished whiskies were initially matured in first-fill Bourbon casks, while the Pinot Noir expression was exclusively matured in Romanian Pinot Noir casks.

The use of Romanian wine casks is a ‘world first’ in terms of single malt production, despite Romania’s 2,000-year history of wine production.

The liquids will be showcased at an event hosted at the residence of the Romanian ambassador to the US in Washington, on 25 May. The tour will then proceed to the UK in July, and will conclude in Romania in the final quarter of the year with a commercial launch of 10,000 bottles featuring 11 finishes.

Carpathian Single Malt is distilled, matured and bottled at the Alexandrion Saber 1789 Distillery, located near the Carpathian Mountains. It is made using 100% malted barley produced in Romania, with sub-Carpathian water, and it is bottled at 46% ABV.

The whisky has been under the stewardship of master distiller Allan Anderson, who holds more than 30-years’ experience in Scotch whisky and Irish whiskey distillation.

“This whisky perfectly showcases our distillery terroir,” said Anderson. “The huge flavour impact of our malted barley, the pure sub-Carpathian water combined with the unique flavours of Romanian and Portuguese wine casks make Carpathian Single Malt an exquisite whisky, which without doubt will become one of the best in the world as it further matures.

“The maturation in warmer climate regions vs Scotland (+5⁰C on average) might explain the unique, milder character of this superb whisky.

“Carpathian showcases this great potential and the clear quality advantage that we have vs other single malt whiskies of the same age, and we wanted to share our enthusiasm with whisky connoisseurs worldwide. The mash was double distilled in our distillery’s custom-made stills,” he concluded.

The Carpathian Single Malt joins Alexandrion Group’s portfolio, which includes the flagship Alexandrion brandy, Brâncoveanu vinars, Saber Elyzia fruit liqueurs, Zolmyr fruit distillate, and Kreskova vodka.