Berry Bros & Rudd has today (7th September) unveiled its autumn release of seven single malt whiskies and one rum. It includes a Dufftown bottling from the mid-1970s and a Christmas-themed Linkwood.
The whisky releases focus largely on Speyside, the engine room of single malt production in Scotland, including two Linkwood expressions, as well as malts from Dufftown, Glenlossie and Balmenach.
There are also single malts from Ledaig – the heavily peated whisky produced at the Tobermory distillery on the Isle of Mull – and from White Peak Distillery in Derbyshire, a rising star of the burgeoning English whisky scene.
Lastly, the spirits and wine merchant has included its first rum release from the Savanna Distillery on the Indian Ocean island of Réunion, which despite its exotic location is a French overseas department and therefore part of the European Union.
‘This year’s autumn release celebrates the outstanding and wholly distinguishable talents of Speyside distillers,’ said Joe Whittaker, global brand ambassador for Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits.
‘For instance, we have two bottlings from Linkwood distillery which could not be more singular, one of which is a Christmas Edition single malt Scotch whisky bottling, Linkwood 2010, that has been finished in a Pedro Ximénez cask.
‘Its flavours epitomise the festive season, making it the quintessential dram to be enjoyed and shared over Christmas,’ he added.
Rare singe malts
The tranche of releases offers the chance to sample whiskies from distilleries that are rarely seen in single malt form, such as Balmenach, Glenlossie and Linkwood. These are all substantial and historic Speyside distilleries, but are mainly used to supply malt to blenders.
Linkwood, located on the outskirts of Elgin, is known for its light, floral and grassy spirit character, and is loved by blenders for the thick texture it acquires with age. There are fairly frequent releases from Elgin-based independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail.
Glenlossie, like Linkwood, is owned by Diageo, the largest Scotch whisky business. Established south of Elgin in 1876, it makes a light but textured spirit – purifiers on the stills help to promote delicacy – and is a major contributor to the company’s blends.
The Balmenach distillery is perhaps more famous for its gin than its whisky – Caorunn Gin is made here. Nonetheless, it’s a favourite of whisky aficionados because of its old-school approach, producing a meaty, characterful spirit thanks to its small stills and worm tub condensers.
The other single malt Scotches in the autumn release are more familiar names: Ledaig owner Burn Stewart Distillers sells core 10- and 18-year-old expressions, plus limited-edition releases.
Dufftown – Diageo’s largest malt distillery before the opening of the vast Roseisle complex in 2010 – is now known for a light, grassy spirit style. Historically it made a nuttier, spicier whisky for use in the hugely successful Bell’s blend.
Berry Bros continues its exploration of the world of rum with the Savanna single cask release from Réunion; and of English whisky with a Wire Works malt from the White Peak Distillery. The first Derbyshire whiskies (made in a 19th-century wire works – hence the name) were only released in 2022, but the distillery is already gaining a good following for its lightly peated, well-balanced drams.
All eight releases are available now from bbrspirits.com.
New spirits releases from Berry Bros & Rudd: tasting notes
Balmenach 2011 Cask #121
At first, a polite, well-spoken example of the lesser-spotted Balmenach. There’s full, waxy lemon and just the merest hint of something darker on the nose – but the palate builds to a punchily meaty, sulphury finale. It’s funky, tangy, characterful, and a taste of Scotch whisky’s past. £75/70cl Alcohol 54.4%
Dufftown 1975 Cask #10430
No sample supplied. £1,000/70cl Alc 40.1%
