Bell Rock: Cask Strength makes its debut
The latest expression of the popular Kingsbarns Bell Rock is a Cask Strength limited release for 2023. The first edition was released in 2021.
Released in small-batch quantities, its limited editions are examples of the companies experimentation into new avenues of whisky. This new expression presents an artful fusion of 30% ex-Bourbon barrels and 70% ex-Oloroso sherry butts creating a single malt which is fruity and spicy and with a single cask strength whisky of 61.1% ABV. It was distilled using local Fife barley and is non-chill filtered.
Full of toffee and fruity character, Bell Rock is brimming with luscious pecan pie notes and subtle baked fruits. However it is a limited edition release with only 3600 bottles for sale.
Isle of Raasay celebrate end of award-winning year
It’s been an award-winning year for Isle of Raasay Distillery. The distillers which unveiled a new limited-edition expression in celebration of winning the coveted Tourism Destination of the Year Award at the Scottish Whisky Awards 2022, launched a new ‘Distillery Exclusive – Tourism Destination of the Year’ malt earlier this year inspired by the Isle of Raasay. The team choose a unique blend of sherry and ex-Manzanilla Pasada casks to achieve a salty maritime note within the whisky that encapsulated the island’s climate.
The company also picked up a Gold Medal a the Tokyo Whisky Spirits Competition in 2023 and a Silver Medal at the IWSC awards.
Co-founder and Master Distiller, Alasdair Day said of its limited edition release, “The Isle of Raasay is a very small rugged, windswept Hebridean island that lies off the East coast of Skye. An island off an island. With all of our spirit being matured on Raasay in our warehouses there has been a lot of discussion about our maritime climate and how this may influence the flavour characteristics of our maturing whisky. It was with this thought in mind, combined with the tradition of maturing Scotch Whisky in sherry casks that we selected a small quantity of ex Manzanilla Pasada casks for our Isle of Raasay Single Malt to mature in.”
New DEWAR’S® 12 yo for UK market
DEWAR’S® Blended Scotch Whisky has unveiled its new DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old in the UK. The company say that DEWAR’S 12-yearold has been taken to the next level with a whisky that balances complexity, flavour and smoothness. The new liquid was created by a team led by DEWAR’S Master Blender, Stephanie Macleod. She says, “Curiosity has been at the cornerstone of the DEWAR’S brand since John Dewar created the first whisky in 1846.
And that sense of curiosity has carried through to how my teams and I develop our whiskies today. It was only natural to experiment and craft a new element to the maturation process, which has resulted in a distinctly different tasting experience.” “We wanted to take DEWAR’S 12-Year-Old to the next level and bring the joys of quality Scotch whisky to a new generation of drinkers. DEWAR’S whiskies have a characteristic floral and honeyed-style and we knew we could add a richer and more complex dimension through the use of first-fill American Oak Bourbon casks.”
Marie Peyto, European Brand Director for DEWAR’S at Bacardi commented, “Reimagining and relaunching this whisky has always been about one thing: delighting whisk(e)y drinkers. Whether you are a connoisseur looking to discover something new or are just seeking to share and enjoy with friends and family, we are certain that everyone will find something to savor and relish.”
