Bruichladdich ‘first’ to age Scotch in Chinese wine casks
Islay distillery Bruichladdich has collaborated with boutique winery Grace Vineyard to craft what is believed to be the ‘first’ Scotch whisky matured in Chinese wine casks.
Available exclusively to the Chinese market, the Grace Vineyard Cask Series features nine-, 15- and 21-year-old expressions. The trio marks the first time Bruichladdich has used Chinese wine casks in its maturation process.
Douglas Taylor, CEO of Bruichladdich Distillery, said: “This collaboration represents a meeting of minds, rooted in place and driven by a shared passion for innovation. We’re well known for our experimentation with wine cask influence, and to work with a winery like Grace Vineyard – who are reshaping the narrative around Chinese wine on the global stage – feels a compelling next step.”
Bruichladdich’s master blender, Adam Hannett, created the Grace Vineyard Cask Series.
The whisky was distilled using 100% Scottish malting barley. Every drop of liquid in the range was distilled, matured and bottled on Islay.
Judy Chan, CEO of Grace Vineyard, added: “This is the first time we’ve explored the potential of our casks outside the world of wine, and the results are remarkable. Bruichladdich’s commitment to flavour and provenance mirrors our own, and it’s been a natural fit from the outset.”
The Grace Vineyard Cask Series 9 Year Old was originally drawn from a single 2015 vintage cask of Bruichladdich in first-fill Bourbon. The Chinese cask influence on the spirit comes to the fore with notes of black cherry, dark berries and forest fruits. While bottled at 63% ABV, the whisky is said to remain ‘incredibly smooth and accessible’, with Bruichladdich’s delicate fruity character adding a hint of citrus. It is priced at RMB 980 (US$137).
The Grace Vineyard Cask Series 15 Year Old was bottled at 56% ABV and was originally drawn from a single cask of second-fill Syrah. It balances ripe plum and apricot with the natural oils of the unpeated spirit and retails at RMB 1,780 (US$250)
Finally, the oldest expression in the series, The Grace Vineyard Cask Series 21 Year Old, was also bottled at 56% ABV. The 2003 vintage was originally casked in a single, second-fill oloroso Sherry hogshead, before ageing in the Grace Vineyard Chairman’s Reserve casks. The result brings robust red fruit notes and warm spice, with a subtle mineral note – a reminder of the whisky’s all-Islay maturation. It is priced at RMB 2,800 (US$392).
Since reopening in 2001, Bruichladdich has been a pioneer in the use of wine casks, with more than 200 different types currently maturing in its Islay warehouses.
The distillery’s founders, Mark Reynier and Simon Coughlin – both former wine merchants – brought a deep appreciation of oak influence to their whisky-making philosophy. However, the Grace Vineyard partnership marks the first time Bruichladdich has looked to China for casks and reflects the growing cultural and commercial exchange between Scotch whisky makers and the Chinese market.
Taylor explained: “The approach Judy and the team take to winemaking is so closely aligned with our distilling philosophy. We are both driven by curiosity and experimentation, seeking to create new and authentic products that speak of where they are from. Championing terroir, investing in soil health, and working with local growers all play into creating our delicious, flavour-forward whiskies, just as Grace Vineyard does with their wines.
“We’re incredibly excited to bring this whisky to a growing market in China built on fierce interest for provenance, authenticity, experimentation, and innovation, and can’t wait to see how it’s received.”
The series is said to be an acknowledgement of the growing appetite for single malt Scotch whisky in China, where a younger generation of drinkers is showing strong interest in brands that champion provenance, sustainability and craft.
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