This week on our tour of Whiskies Around the World we’re headed to Scotland to check out the latest and greatest drams coming out of Whisky Motherland this year.
Caisteal Chamuis Blended Malt
Caisteal Chamuis Blended Malt is a characterful whisky, blended from a careful selection of fine single malts—all distilled on the islands of Scotland (Islay, Orkney, and Skye)—first aged in refill and first-fill American Oak Hogshead, then re-casked in fresh 200-liter bourbon barrels for added depth and a mellow oak-spice finish. This second period of maturation adds further layers of scented smoky oak to the original medicinal peaty aromas and a touch of sweetness with heightened vanilla overtones on the palate.
Like other Mossburn’s whiskies, Caisteal Chamuis Blended Malt is bottled without artificial coloring or chill filtration. The bottle label displays a moody illustration of the ruined castle and surrounding landscape that was specially commissioned from an artist on an adjacent island. It conveys the mystical atmosphere of a place steeped in legend and myth—that is Caisteal Chamuis.
Speyburn Whisky
Speyburn Distillery produced its first drop of whisky in the stunning Speyside region of Scotland in 1897. The liquid came to life through the extensive efforts of founder John Hopkins and his devoted team. They all worked relentlessly through frigid winter days and nights with one goal—to fill their very first barrel of whisky in time to bear the date of Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. Their grueling battle against adversity paid off on Christmas day when they finally sealed the first cask of Speyburn Whisky.
Over a century later, Speyburn continues using many of the same techniques and practices used back when it all started. The distillery embodies the generations of commitment, experience, and tradition that go into producing award-winning single malt scotch whisky. To celebrate its milestone anniversary, the distillery has created a series of 1890s-inspired cocktails to raise a toast to 125 years of history and heritage. Taking inspiration from the Victorian era, Speyburn’s cocktails include a Jubilee Punch, a Jack Rose, and a Holland House, each nodding to the heyday in which the distillery was born, while showcasing Speyburn’s wonderful expressions.
Dewar’s 12-Year-Old
Already producers of the world’s most awarded blended scotch, Dewar’s has taken the category to the next level with the debut of its 12-Year-Old whisky aged in American oak bourbon barrels. This unique aging process brings uncommon depth and smoothness to Dewar’s signature blend, adding complexity to your favorite whisky cocktails and making for an incredible sipping option.
Did you know that all Dewar’s whiskies share one thing in common? For the past 125 years, they have all been double-aged. This maturation process is unique to Dewar’s, having been perfected by the company’s first Master Blender, AJ Cameron, in 1897. The newly reimagined 12-Year-Old blend builds on this tradition of two-stage aging, the first age up to 40 rare grains and malts separately, and the second, all blended and then aged in first fill American bourbon casks. The relaunch of the 12-Year-Old blend continues a legacy of tradition and innovation stretching into a third century.
To accompany the blend’s relaunch, Dewar’s has reimagined the bottle and labeling. The whisky is presented in a new, premium clear glass bottle with a modified base, branding, and enclosure. The label emphasizes the double aging process and offers tasting notes that make the whisky more accessible. Overall, the streamlined look serves to modernize a heritage brand while remaining true to authenticity. The signature of Master Distiller Stephanie Macleod adds a nice, personalized touch.
