New from Strathearn and Cutty Sark and More from Kilchoman

Hello everyone

First off it‘s such good news that Scotch Whisky has – for now, at least – escaped Donald Trump‘s tariffs, thanks to King Charles. Let‘s hope it‘s secure and not another flash in the Trump pan. Secondly, we have good news of the halving of duties on Scotch Whisky in India from 150% to 75% with more to come over the next decade. If anyone out there reading this is from the trade in India, I hope this increases the availability of Scotch, in terms of range, for your premises and so for your customers. Thirdly, Glasgow is buzzing right now with all the visitors, including the athletes, here for the Commonwealth Games, finishing this weekend. A boost to our bars and restaurants for 11 days. Lord knows, it‘s badly needed and a great follow-up to the World Cup.

News in from Douglas Laing and Co. this week of their newest small batch release, Strathearn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Batch 03. Whilst still following their usual maturation palette of ex-Bourbon, Virgin Oak and ex-Sherry Oak casks, there is a greater emphasis on Sherry Oak in this one. I‘m waiting to hear if a sample comes available. If so, I‘ll feature it next time.

31 carefully selected casks make up the vatting for this expression, drawing down stocks laid down before Douglas Laing bought the distillery and spirit since distilled under their ownership. This one is bottled at 50% ABV; there is no additional colouring and no chill-filtration, continuing the company‘s policy of presenting whisky with minimal interference, just as many of their bottlings from other distilleries are also NAC/NCF. I hadn‘t realised but every production shift at Strathearn Distillery produces just a single cask of whisky - definitely handcrafted - by only three distillers using Maris Otter Malt.

You can find this latest Strathearn offering at around £65 per bottle in specialist whisky stores and online.

With 31 casks used, it shouldn‘t be too limited.

Cutty Sark blended whisky has launched a new Follow Your Spirit of Adventure campaign. The new campaign „...inspires drinkers to bring Cutty Sark’s bold outlook into their own lives and discover where their curiosity might lead. The campaign is led by a bold key visual featuring a group of hikers climbing towards a stunning clifftop viewpoint by the sea. On the horizon is the brand’s emblem, the three-masted Cutty Sark – a beacon for the adventure ahead. A second visual places the viewer among kayakers setting out across an ocean, drawn onwards by the ship’s striking profile“. Certainly when the brand was launched in 1923 it made its name for years by being neither conventional nor one of the herd. The campaign will roll out gradually in August. Manon Brochet, international senior brand manager of Cutty Sark, said: “This is a whisky for all those ready to leave the shore and embark on adventures, no matter how big or small.” In the US they‘re running a competition via the Hiker visual to win an epic national park trip.

I did ask if all was well with Manon and colleagues (La Martiniquaise-Bardinet owns Cutty Sark amongst other brands) as I wasn‘t sure where they all were in relation to the current wildfires in France. Some are in Paris and fine but others are in or near Bordeaux which is a much more difficult situation. This is also posing dangers not just to lives and homes but also to the vineyards over there in arguably the world‘s greatest wine region.

Since I posted about Kilchoman‘s Rockside last time, there is a new range out – The Kilchoman Family Collection - 1st Edition. As the name suggests, this range will be carried on in future. The release says, „Discovered in the quiet corners of the Kilchoman warehouses, the Kilchoman Family Collection casks were selected during the Wills’ annual review of maturing stock.” Now, I’m not sure how these can have been “discovered” as surely there must be filling records but maybe they mean the taste profile and had not checked them for a while since they were picked out during a stock review. Deliberately tucking special casks away for years and checking them much later does seem a fun and exciting thing to do. There is a range of interesting drams here to tickle the taste buds, each one picked by a family member. The oldest is 20 years old, their oldest globally available release so far, the others being a 14 Year Old 100% Islay barley ((Rockside Farm and peating level of 20ppm, malted at the distillery), an 11 year old and an 18 year old. The 11,18 and 20 are all at peating levels of 50ppm all using peated barley from the island’s Port Ellen maltings. The 14,18 and 20 are all matured in ex-bourbon casks while the 11 comes from sherry wood.

That range would make a great vertical tasting opportunity for any specialist whisky bar. No indication of cost, though, from them but you can find them listed in specialist retailers as individual bottlings. The Spirits Embassy in the UK has (or had) them as a collection for £695. Other specialists in other markets may have a similar collection offer.

Just as an end note, I’ve seen news that consumption of alcohol in Ireland is falling. What?! The report I saw in The Spirits Business says,”..the average adult in Ireland drank 9.30 litres of pure alcohol last year, which was down by 2.1% compared to 2024 and by 35.6% compared to 2001, when Ireland’s alcohol consumption is said to have peaked...Spirits made up 22.4% of consumption, with the segment recording a minor 0.2% increase in volume last year.“ It‘s thought that „..an increase in responsible drinking and in moderation within Ireland“ may be responsible. Well, for one thing it‘s damned expensive there. When a similar story was released last year I mentioned it to a family member over there who said not in their circles it isn‘t, though the two young people in that household don‘t drink. Maybe they‘re following patterns as here in the UK.

Anyway, that‘s all from me for July. Back in August with whatever comes my way that’s worth reporting or commenting on.

Till then, happy dramming.

Slainte mhath,

Caroline