There’s been a hat trick of new malt announcements released today, and all from some of my favourite names in whisk(e)y across Ireland, Scotland, and England. [ed: hoping for a Welsh announcement soon!]*
Redbreast 18yo
Statements of age and intent are in order for Midleton’s Redbreast as they have announced a new ferment addition to their core range: an 18 year old.
The new release is matured across a series of casks, including bourbon, Oloroso sherry, cream sherry, and a little bit of tawny port cask influence for good measure.
The 12yo and 15yo have stood in earnest for some time as the mainstay age-statement releases and so it seems an obvious choice (in hindsight) that an 18yo would sit well and fit the gap between its siblings and their 21yo.
Whether or not Redbreast keep this trend up and fill up 3 year gap age statements up to their elder statesman 27yo, is anyone’s guess. It’d look gorgeous if they did. More importantly, it would taste so too.
Sitting at a tasty £185 GBP on its opening weekend, see the press release here: Redbreast 18
Laphroaig 30yo
Are we seeing the steady return of big age statements? The well established players will certainly have the stocks available!
A huge milestone in anyone’s timeline, but another statement of intent here by making this a permanent feature… or at least an annual batch release. The official statements talk about this being “a bold and rare single malt for life’s special moments” and you really would keep this for the big occasions.
Priced at £775 GBP on release, see Laphroaig’s promo here: Laphroaig 30
Wire Works Moscatel & Madeira Finished
The team at the White Peak distillery eschew age statements in their whiskies, and instead have been experimenting and releasing lots of finishes to their base spirit. Earlier this year saw the launch of their Wine Cask series – the first of which was an Amarone cask finish (see our notes here: Wire Works – Amarone).
The output from the distillery has been ambitious and successful in equal measure and today is no different as they simultaneously launch 2 new additions to the Wine Cask series: Moscatel Finish & Madeira Finish.
Both are released at a hearty 53.6% ABV and the question they are simply asking you is: Sweet & Spicy or Sweet & Fruity?
Priced at £75 GBP each, see the White Peak Distillery’s news here: Wire Works Wine Cask Series
Disclaimer: I haven’t been given any press releases or samples of any of these whiskies. It just seems that with an inbox full of exciting announcements from some of my favourite distilleries, then it was worth compiling and posting about. In fact, the order above is just the order they hit my inbox in.
*Im totally anticipating that there will be another Icons of Wales release from Penderyn soon. Just what Icon #12 will celebrate is up in unknown. Plenty to choose from! Though, despite the continued successes of Wrexham AFC, given that their co-chairman Rob McElhenney has released his own whiskey with the Always Sunny boys, I can’t see a Red Dragon release coming out…
whisky unplugged 
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