It seemed you liked our previous Bigger and Boutique-ier release earlier this year, so we thought we should bring you some more, and just in time for Christmas too!

Five new releases, following on in the same regional-ish theme as our core range, and our first Bigger and Boutique-ier release: Four whiskies from Scotland, and one non-Scotch all in 70cl, all bottled at ye olde 80 UK Proof (45.8% abv), and all with re-imagined labels from the pen of our long-time collaborator, Glasgow-based artist, Emily Chappell.

There are three single malts; a south shore Islay, a mature example of a classic Speyside, and a wee beauty from The Highlands, a characterful teenaged single grain, and a post-election 11 Year Old American Bourbon completing the lineup.

All of these are limited editions, with an age range spanning from 11 to 26 years old, and outturns ranging from just 197 bottles, to 344 bottles. Once again we’ve called upon Emily to bring a character, or an image, out from the original Boutique-y label to become the centrepiece of our reimagined labels. The regional colour schemes follow on from the core too, and we’ve introduced a new colour on our Tennessee Bourbon - It’s not quite as orange as the University of Tennessee orange (#f77f00) but it’s a nod in that general direction…

Why 45.8% abv?

Why not cask strength? Well here at TBWC we don’t think cask strength is necessarily right for every whisky for a start. There’s also UK duty on spirits to think about which is currently £31.64 per litre of pure alcohol, and will increase again on 1st February to £32.79. When we bottle at 45.8% abv, the duty paid on every bottle is £10.14. If we bottled at say a cask strength of 57.14% abv* that duty would increase to £12.66 (at current duty rates).

We settled on 45.8% abv as there’s a story to tell. I've probably mentioned this before, but it’s a nod back to times of old, when spirits in the UK were bottled at the old British imperial proof system. The British proof system was more complicated than the current alcohol by volume (ABV) system. Many of the bottles of Scotch Whisky bottled in the 1950s and 1960s were bottled at the old 80 proof, which is close enough to 45.8% abv.

Did you know that the United Kingdom, where the proof system originated, only started using ABV instead of the imperial proof system in 1980?

*57.14% abv is equivalent to 100 imperial proof.

LE Core Selection II

From Islay, a 16 Year Old Laphroaig
700ml 45.8% abv rrp £179.95

What we have here, is a smouldering smokey vatting of Laphroaig refill hoggies that we have finished in an ex-Oloroso Barrique. Spectacular! We’re expecting to get around 234 bottles at 45.8% abv.

Our original label featured the chaps from a whisky blog, in a ‘Back to the Future’ themed label in front of the distillery. Bessie Williamson, featured on this label riding a sheil. For our label evolution we’ve decided to bring Bessie front and centre, and rightfully so as she played an important role in shaping the distillery into what it is today.

N: Delicate hints of strawberry jam, cigars, walnuts, earth, teppanyaki sauce, creosote, licorice, and a touch of ointments and cough syrups.
P: Rich and creamy featuring chestnut purée, complemented by exquisite salted citrons and pink grapefruits, a hint of pepper, and perhaps a touch of jasmine tea.

From Speyside, a 26 Year Old unnamed distillery
700ml 45.8% abv rrp £199.95

The barrel from this Glenl--- we mean ‘unnamed’ Speyside distillery, was laid down in October 1998, and has been quietly maturing ready for this moment!

Rather than use the ‘Speyside No.4’ label, we decided to use the original label for the named distillery. Apparently secret distilleries aren’t as well loved as named distilleries, so we needed to add a few more clues for you! Obviously, Boutiquey Dave is gutted with this decision, as the Speyside No.4 label not only featured him, but his banjo too!

N: Bright and summery, with barley and vanilla, crisp apples, ripe mango, and a touch of honey. Floral notes of honeysuckle and a hint of lemongrass round out the profile.
P: A delightful mouthfeel with creamy vanilla, apple sauce, honey, lemon curd, and a touch of peppery spices and bitters. The finish is long and peppery, with heightened spiciness and a drying aftertaste.

From the Highlands, an 15 Year Old Blair Athol
700ml 45.8% abv rrp £64.95

You don’t see an awful lot of Blair Athol around, it’s rarely seen as a single malt in its own right. Blair Athol does appear as a member of Diageo’s ‘Flora & Fauna’ range though.

This is a beautiful 15 Year Old Blair Athol that we’ve finished in a First Fill ex-Bourbon Barrel. We’re expecting around 344 bottles of this Highland malt.

N: Bright and crisp, with a sweet malt character and subtle honey notes. Overripe orchard fruits mingle with soft oak undertones, adding just a touch of charred woodiness.
P: A sweet, malty base balanced by vibrant citrus notes, with a touch of vanilla sweetness and light summer grasses, finishing with subtle hints of ginger.

A 13 Year Old Single Grain from the Invergordon Distillery
700ml 45.8% abv rrp £45.95

Did you know that Invergordon was one of the first distilleries to release a single grain? In 1990, ‘The Invergordon,' a 10 Year Old was released by the distillery. Our Invergordon label has always been a favourite, and I love how Emily has reimagined this new label, complete with coffee splashes.

Our 13 Year Old release was distilled in 2011 and has spent its life, quietly maturing for us in a butt, (the finest, hand-picked obvs) until we bottled it. We’re expecting to fill around 248 bottles.

N: Brioche, raisin rolls, and shortbread, along with a hint of banana. The wood imparts a touch of pine and spearmint.
P: Coconut, vanilla, barley sugar, and lemon tart, with subtle hints of mint and pineapple. It’s rather moreish…

From the USA, an 11 Year Tennessee Bourbon
700ml 45.8% abv rrp £69.95

Sadly we’re not able to name this distillery, but it is a Bourbon, and you’ll notice it’s definitely labelled as a Tennessee whisky which narrows it down an awful lot! Some homework is required to establish which distillery it could have come from.

We’re expecting to get around 254 bottles of this Tennessee Bourbon, bottled at 45.8% abv.

N: Lush vanilla, toasted brown sugar draped over warm apple pie, with gingersnaps and cinnamon sticks.
P: Caramelised nuts, charred cask notes unfolding into earthy cigar box and vanilla bean, with a hint of maple syrup subtly woven in.

WRAP UP

  • Chill-Filtered? Never!

  • Caramel E150? Of course not!!!

All of these releases are in 700ml/70cl bottles, have been bottled at 45.8% abv, are non-chill filtered, and naturally coloured.

These Limited Edition 70cl bottles are available alongside our award winning Core Range from all of the finest retailers now!

Off-trade/on-trade enquiries should be directed to our UK distributor;Off-trade/on-trade enquiries should be directed to our distributors; Maverick Drinks./Master of Malt Trade

Cheers!

Boutique-y Dave x