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Recent releases, August 2006
Three 'Festival' Whiskies
Most limited edition whisky releases tend to end up on the shelves of collectors, but here at whisky-pages we believe whisky is essentially for drinking. Accordingly, we have selflessly opened a trio of recent,
exclusive 'festival bottlings' for your delectation.
Laphroaig, 1994 (Scotland) 
This 12-year-old cask-strength bottling of Laphroaig was released for the 2006 Islay Festival of Malt and Music, and commemorates John Campbell’s 12 years of service at the distillery. Surprisingly, Campbell is the first true ‘Ileach’ to manage Laphroaig, and this bottling is from a cask that was filled by him in his apprentice days and hand-bottled by him in his new managerial role.
As you would expect from a cask-strength Laphroaig, the 1994 is almost overwhelming in its natural state, but modest dilution reveals peat smoke and fishing harbours on the nose. The flavour is unequivocally maritime, with peat notes balanced by lingering vanilla sweetness. The finish is phenolic, earthy and complex. Immense, yet never brutal.
Just 600 numbered bottles were released at £50, but they are already becoming as rare as the proverbial hen’s teeth, so if you see one, snap it up. E-bay is always worth a try. 56.0% ABV, 70cl, £50, No known UK stockists.  |  |
Spirit of Speyside, Blended Malt 2006 (Scotland)
Blended by master distillers Ed Dodson, formerly manager of Glen Moray distillery, and Jim Cryle of The Glenlivet, the Speyside Blended Malt was created specifically for the 2006 Spirit of Speyside Festival. Between them Dodson and Cryle boast 82 years of distilling experience, and to produce this whisky they combined the contents of 150 bottles of Speyside malt, representing no fewer than 26 distilleries. Although a 10-year-old, the blend includes malts up to 21 years of age, ranging stylistically from light-bodied whiskies matured in American oak to some of the region’s biggest, most heavily sherried beasts. Just 2,000 miniature bottles of the blend have been released. It is fresh, fruity, malty, with early acetone notes on the nose. An oily texture in the mouth, with fino Sherry. Comparatively dry and conservative. The finish is medium, with dry Sherry, aniseed and liquorice. This is an interesting, idiosyncratic blended malt, still available at specialist outlets on Speyside.
41.6% ABV, 5cl, £5.00, selected whisky specialists.  |  |
Springbank, Edinburgh Festival Blend (Scotland)
Springbank Distillers Ltd has created this limited edition blend to mark the 15th and final year of Sir Brian McMaster’s leadership of the Edinburgh International Festival. The 15-Year-Old blend is made from a range of well aged single malt and grain whiskies, some as old as 25 years, and only 2006 bottles have been released. The Festival Blend is rich, sweet and full on the nose, with a suggestion of stewed fruits. Malty, sophisticated and well-mannered in the mouth, this is a blend that wears its maturity well. The finish is long-lasting, with spices and fresh apricot, fading to wine gums. The only retail store for this limited edition is Cadenhead’s, 172 Canongate, Edinburgh.
40.0% ABV, 70cl, £35, distillery website.  |  |
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