Catching Up on Friday (22 February 2019)

I'll try to get you up to speed in less than two minutes on the latest whisky news, rumours and interesting blog posts from the past week.

News

A brief summary of press releases and industry news from the world of whisky.

Benromach Heritage 1972 & 1977

The Benromach Distillery has announced the release of two Heritage expressions, Benromach Heritage 1977, an exclusive 41-year-old single cask vintage (49.6% abv) and Benromach Heritage 1972, a rare 46-year-old single cask vintage (55.7% abv).

Vintage Benromach

Source: Benromach

Big Peat 10YO

Douglas Laing & Co, the independent family company behind the “Remarkable Regional
Malts”, celebrates a decade of their Islay Malt with a commemorative Big Peat 10 Years Old bottling.

Source: Douglas Laing

Wemyss Malts Batch Strength batch 002

Wemyss Malts is about to release the second batch of its blended malts The Hive, Spice King and Peat Chimney.

Source: Wemyss Malts

Douglas Laing Old Particular Elements

Douglas Laing & Co, announce a series of Old Particular single cask whiskies for 2019, inspired by the four Elements of Fire, Air, Earth and Water. The series launches with the “Fire” bottling which, very aptly, is a mocha-spiced Craigellachie 12 Years Old from a well-fired and characterful Sherry butt.

Source: Douglas Laing

Rumours

Some exciting whispers we heard through the barley. True or not.

Ardbeg Traigh Bhan

Ardbeg is working on a new whisky named after the Traigh Bhan beach on Islay. It will be a 19-year-old single malt matured in American oak & Oloroso sherry casks. Bottled at 46.2% ABV. From the Singing Sands of Islay. Bottled during a storm (?).

More details to be found in the original blog post

Octomore 10.1 - 10.3 - 10.4

Time goes by really fast. Bruichladdich's Octomore series is on to its tenth iteration.

Interesting reads, sees and hears

• Serge Valentin & Angus Macraild - Wee indie Ardbeg battle (whiskyfun.com)
• The Sponge - Whisky Sponge sells out (whiskysponge.com)
• Ralfy Mitchell - Whisky review St Magdalene 19YO RMS (youtube.com)
• Greg Dillon - Wild Turkey distillery story (greatdrams.com)
• Mark Gillespie - Whiskycast ep. 755 - Amazon now delivering whisky videos (whiskycast.com)

That's it for this week, folks!