Historic Edinburgh whisky producers John Crabbie & Co have released a new single-cask bottling of 22-year-old Orkney single malt finished in a palo cortado sherry cask. Just 253 bottles of this expression are being released under the signature of master blender, Dr Kirstie McCallum, who took charge of Crabbie’s whisky portfolio just last year.
Having spent 21 years in ex-bourbon casks, this peated Orkney single malt was transferred to a palo cortado sherry cask before being left to rest for a final six months at Crabbie’s warehouse in Leith. It was then bottled at 47.5% ABV with neither chill-filtration nor added colouring.
The distillery says that the influence of the unusual sherry type – somewhere between amontillado and oloroso – gives a wonderfully complex and rounded quality to the spicy smokiness of the finished whisky. The expression is further described as possessing a nose of dried fruit, vanilla fudge and forest berries and a hint of peppery smoke; flavours of sweet berries and cream, caramel toffee and dried fruit, along with hints of dark chocolate and coffee; and a long, smoky finish.
McCallum commented, “This beautiful, single-cask Orkney single malt is a very special whisky, an unusual coming-together of the wonderfully smoky flavours of the original bourbon-matured dram with so much depth and richness from one of the world’s rarest and most coveted sherries. And with only a few hundred bottles going on sale, I’m sure it will delight drinkers looking for something special to enjoy.”
Investment by parent company Halewood International in Crabbie’s new Bonnington Distillery has given new impetus to this old Scottish brand as it prepares to add its own whiskies to its range – distilled, matured and bottled in Leith, they are set to launch this year.
Crabbie 22 Years Old Orkney Single Malt is now available from the Whisky Exchange and the Whisky-Online Shop (RRP £175).
Having spent 21 years in ex-bourbon casks, this peated Orkney single malt was transferred to a palo cortado sherry cask before being left to rest for a final six months at Crabbie’s warehouse in Leith. It was then bottled at 47.5% ABV with neither chill-filtration nor added colouring.
The distillery says that the influence of the unusual sherry type – somewhere between amontillado and oloroso – gives a wonderfully complex and rounded quality to the spicy smokiness of the finished whisky. The expression is further described as possessing a nose of dried fruit, vanilla fudge and forest berries and a hint of peppery smoke; flavours of sweet berries and cream, caramel toffee and dried fruit, along with hints of dark chocolate and coffee; and a long, smoky finish.
McCallum commented, “This beautiful, single-cask Orkney single malt is a very special whisky, an unusual coming-together of the wonderfully smoky flavours of the original bourbon-matured dram with so much depth and richness from one of the world’s rarest and most coveted sherries. And with only a few hundred bottles going on sale, I’m sure it will delight drinkers looking for something special to enjoy.”
Investment by parent company Halewood International in Crabbie’s new Bonnington Distillery has given new impetus to this old Scottish brand as it prepares to add its own whiskies to its range – distilled, matured and bottled in Leith, they are set to launch this year.
Crabbie 22 Years Old Orkney Single Malt is now available from the Whisky Exchange and the Whisky-Online Shop (RRP £175).
