Top 10 spirit launches in June 2014

There’s no doubt that Scotch brands stole the spirits spotlight last month, but an array of rum, Bourbon and gin labels are also recognised in our list of the top 10 spirit launches in June.

Click through the following pages to discover the top 10 spirit launches in June 2014

Glenfiddich advanced its cask experimentation with the launch of its first ever expression matured exclusively in American oak barrels, while Ardbeg released a widely anticipated charity bottling inspired by the work of Prince Charles, and Glen Garioch unveiled its first wine cask matured expression.

Rum also made its mark last month after one independent Caribbean brand launched with the intention to premiumising the category in the UK and another craft label released what it claimed was the “world’s first” super-premium spiced edition.

In the Bourbon industry, Diageo added a third edition to its Orphan Barrel programme of “forgotten” whiskies, while Four Roses revealed its limited edition single barrel edition.

Elsewhere, Diageo revives a 180-year-old gin recipe, Rémy Martin launches an £800 luxury Cognac and Crown Royal Canadian whisky marks its 75th anniversary.

Click through the following pages to see our list of the top 10 spirit launches in June 2014.

Ardbeg Kildalton

Islay distillery Ardbeg released its latest limited edition bottling in June – a charity expression called Kildalton. The edition has been launched to raise money for The Kildalton Project, a charity inspired by the “sustainable” vision of Prince of Wales that seeks to support “fragile, rural communities” across the North Highlands. Ardbeg Kildalton is named after the iconic 1,200-year-old Kildalton Cross. The variant has been created by Dr Bill Lumsden, director of distilling and whisky creation at parent company Glenmorangie, using a range of ages and styles of Ardbeg matured in ex-Bourbon and ex-Sherry casks. It is exclusively available from the Ardbeg Distillery for £120.

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The Duppy Share

The Duppy Share – a new independent rum brand – launched in the UK last month, expressing an intention to push premiumisation in the rum category. A blend of three-year-old Jamaican rum and five-year-old Barbados, The Duppy Share has been aged in Bourbon barrels and then bottled in London. It has been launched by The Westbourne Drinks Co, a new business founded in London by George Frost and Jessica Swinfen, formerly of Innocent Drinks. The Duppy Share is now available from Selfridges at an RRP of £37.99.

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Rhetoric

Rhetoric is the third brand to be released through Diageo’s Orphan Barrel programme – a series of “forgotten” whiskies from across the world. The variant is a 20-year-old American whiskey created from stocks distilled at the New and Old Bernheim distilleries in Louisville and gathered from warehouses at the mothballed Stitzel-Weller distillery. Some stocks of the brand will be saved and released as older bottlings. Rhetoric, described as a “highly limited craft Bourbon”, carries an RRP of US$85.

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Tanqueray Old Tom

Diageo revived its Tanqueray Old Tom recipe last month, releasing Charles Tanqueray’s original 180-year-old recipe as a limited edition. The 1835 recipe is said to be a “lighter” than a genever but “sweeter” than a London dry style and is contained in a bottle reminiscent of the Tanqueray Old Tom bottle design from 1921. Only 100,000 bottles of the limited edition are now available at an RRP of US$32.99.

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Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old

William Grant & Sons unveiled its first ever globally released Glenfiddich aged soley in American oak barrels, called Gelnfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old. Matured exclusively in first fill and refill Bourbon barrels, the variant is described as having notes of vanilla, toffee, caramelised pineapple and spring blossom on the nose and described by Glenfiddich malt master Brian Kinsman as one of “the most desirable expressions yet”. Glenfiddich Excellence 26 Year Old is a permanent addition to the distillery’s range carrying an RRP of £350.

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Rumbullion XO

UK boutique drinks distributor Maverick Drinks launched what it claimed was the world’s first super-premium spiced rum last month, called Rumbullion! XO. The variant, part of the Professor Cornelius Ampleforth’s spirits range, is a 15-year-old blend of Caribbean rums flavoured with cinnamon, cloves, cardamom, Madagascan vanilla and orange. The new XO expression, an extension of the original Rumbullion label, is bottled at 46.2% abv and carries an RRP of £59.95.

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Crown Royal Monarch

June also saw Diageo’s Crown Royal Canadian whisky mark its 75th anniversary with a special edition blend, Crown Royal Monarch. Using hand picked whiskies form the brand’s stock, including a coffey rye expression, Crown Royal Monarch 75th Anniversary Blend is described as having a flavour of vanilla, caramel, fruit and spice. Each individually-numbered bottle carry an RRP of CAD$75.

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Glen Garioch Wine Cask Matured

Marking another first for a Scotch whisky brand, Glen Garioch unveiled its first bottling to be fully matured in wine casks. The Glen Garioch Wine Cask Matured variant has been aged for 15 years in French Bordeaux wine barrels from the Saint-Julien region. It is described as having a “rich, fruity and spicy character” that is emphasised by its “unusual maturation”. Just 5,400 bottles have been made globally available at an RRP of £100.

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Rémy Martin Centaure de Diamant

Rémy Martin unveiled its Centaure de Diamant bottling in June, which the house claimed quenched demand for an ultra-premium Cognac expression. Created by outgoing Rémy Martin cellar master Pierrette Trichet in 2010, the fine Champagne blend of 20-50-year-old eaux de vie will form the pinnacle of the core Rémy Martin Cognac range in the UK, France, Belgium and Russia. Rémy Martin Centaure de Diamant is now available exclusively in Harrods at £800.

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Four Roses Single Barrel 2014

Last month, Four Roses released its 2014 single barrel bottling, an 11-year-old Bourbon produced at the Lawrenceburg-based distillery from a mashbill of 75% corn, 20% rye and 5% malted barley. Bottled at barrel strength, non-chill-filtered and uncut, the Bourbon has an abv ranging between 52.2% and 54.3% and carries an RRP of around US$100.

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