The summer time vacation season is in full swing. Persons are jetting off to all elements of the globe, and one thing particular is ready for you within the departure lounge – journey retail unique whiskies you’ll not discover on the excessive avenue. These supply different flavours for shoppers and sometimes see well-known manufacturers and newcomers alike pushed in refreshing and completely different instructions.
Listed below are six of one of the best journey retail-exclusive whiskies to attempt in your subsequent airport journey.
Benriach | Smoky Quarter Cask
The revolutionary Speyside distillery of Benriach was forward of its time. Within the early Nineteen Seventies, the homeowners of the time determined to provide some flippantly peated single malt. This has occurred for a brief interval annually ever since, which means that the distillery has the oldest shares of smoky whisky within the Speyside area. This bottling {couples} this spirit with maturation in small quarter casks, which maintain round 100 litres.
Benriach makes use of peat reduce from close by Aberdeenshire, which supplies a tender, woody and heathery smoke that differs tremendously from the basic Islay peat traits. This whisky sees preliminary maturation in ex-bourbon barrels earlier than a secondary interval in American oak quarter casks.
The mellow, candy smokiness wraps itself round scrumptious notes of ripe pink apple, vanilla pod and hazelnut praline. Fabulous.
Fable | Piper Chapter 7
The blokes at Fable are doing issues somewhat otherwise. This unbiased bottler makes use of evocative storytelling and artistic illustration by Bolivian visible artist Hugo Cuellar to convey its ever-expanding vary of whiskies.
Many within the Fable portfolio are single casks, and this journey retail unique follows this pattern—the Piper Chapter 7 is a 13-year-old single malt distilled on the little-known Glen Elgin distillery in Speyside.
The whisky is bottled on the pure cask energy of 55.8% ABV and is each non-chill filtered and of pure color. It’s laced with caramelised banana, inexperienced apple and toasted malt notes, and there are simply 575 bottles.
It’s Speyside single malt at its greatest. Seize one earlier than they’re gone.
Fettercairn | 17 Years Outdated
The Highland distillery of Fettercairn celebrates its 2 hundredth anniversary in 2024, and to commemorate this milestone, it has revamped its journey retail vary. The brand new 17-year-old sits in the midst of the gathering alongside 14- and 25-year-old expressions.
This bottling has seen spirit mature solely in ex-bourbon barrels and launched at a punchy 47% ABV. There’s by no means been a greater time to find this underrated Highland gem.
This whisky is tremendous tropical on the nostril, with chargrilled pineapple, overripe mango and contemporary coconut. It evolves nicely on the palate—it feels full-bodied and sturdy, with beautiful notes of golden syrup, vanilla pod and apricot compote. Hints of bitter orange and white pepper spherical issues off fantastically.
Silky, elegant and stylish.
Glendronach | 16 Years Outdated
The Glendronach distillery in rural Aberdeenshire has lengthy been recognized for utilizing beautiful ex-sherry casks from southern Spain. However with this journey retail unique they’re celebrating the total Iberian Peninsula. Dr Rachel Barrie, the Grasp Blender for Glendronach, has married three cask sorts: ex-Oloroso and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry, plus ex-Port barrels sourced from the Douro Valley in Portugal.
The addition of the ex-Port maturation has enriched Glendronach’s signature depth and sweetness. Anticipate notes of caramelised apricot, milk chocolate and cinnamon mingling with hints of spiced plum, candied orange and sandalwood. A last kick of warming gingerbread provides additional depth.
That is luxurious, elegant and scrumptious.
Technique & Insanity | Amburana Wooden End
The Technique & Insanity vary takes Irish whiskey in a really completely different and experimental path. This airport unique could be certainly one of their quirkiest bottlings but.
The only-pot nonetheless whiskey was produced on the Midleton Micro Distillery in Co. Cork and completed for six months in amburana—a South American wooden that’s extra typically used to age the Brazilian spirit of Cachaça. It’s the first Irish whiskey to function such casks.
As one could count on, the amburana wooden presents a novel set of flavours – consider cardamom, marzipan and demerara sugar notes sitting with hazelnut syrup, cinnamon, heather honey and a drop of clove oil.
It’s splendidly expressive and a whiskey for the traveller who likes to discover and style uncommon spirits.
The Singleton | Deep Forest Riches
The Singleton is likely one of the world’s best-selling Scotch whisky single malt manufacturers and homeowners Diageo have not too long ago introduced a brand new journey retail vary for it: The Singleton Gardens of Abundance. The gathering consists of 4 whiskies, every distilled on the Speyside distillery of Glendullan, starting from round £50 to this one at over £200.
Deep Forest Riches sits on the pinnacle of the vary and options an unorthodox set of 4 casks – European oak barrels earlier than ending durations in ex-Marsala wine, ex-Palo Cortado and ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks.
The whisky is bottled at 44.8% ABV and is filled with wealthy aromas and flavours—think about a mixture of raisins, dates and darkish chocolate with hints of hazelnut, black treacle and juicy sultana.
It’s elegant and opulent.
