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Year after year, whisky producers have saved some of their biggest releases and announcements for the runup to The Whisky Show in London. This year is no different. The only difference is that the show, hosted by The Whisky Exchange, was held earlier than in previous years.
From Macallan's Time:Space Collection, which includes the new record holder of 'the oldest whisky ever bottled', the 84-year-old, to Glenfiddich's 31-year-old Grand Chateau and the announced return of the Ardbeg 17-year-old, the first week of September has truly lived up to the expectations.
Here are some, and we do mean only some, new whisky releases that caught our attention in the first week of September 2024.
Glenfiddich 31-year-old Grand Chateau x André
Teased in social media before an official launch on 5 September, the 31-year-old limited edition Grand Chateau was designed in collaboration with French graffiti artist André Saraiva. The whisky was finished for nine years in Bordeaux red wine casks and is offered at 47.6% ABV.
Limited to only 250 bottles, the Artist Edition has a suggested retail price of £1,550. Although some bottles have been made available in the UK through specialist retailers, the official website offers the option to enter a ballot.
Image by Glenfiddich
Tales of Macallan Vol II
Following Tales of the Macallan Vol I, a 71-year-old whisky released in 2021, the second edition in the series is a homage to Alexander Reid, founder of The Macallan Distillery. The single malt in Vol II was distilled in 1949 and bottled in 2022, making the whisky around 73 years old.
The Lalique crystal bottle is encased in a book presentation illustrated by Andrew Davidson. Offered at 44.8% ABV, the release will be available exclusively in The Macallan Boutiques across global travel retail (GTR) for £77,390 (US$89,000) and is limited to 344 decanters. Although the second release was just revealed, bottles are already also on sale from specialist retailers for up to £110,000 (US$144,450) in the UK.
Original Images by The Macallan
Ballantine's True Music Icons - Elton John & John Lennon
Announced in early September 2024, the two limited edition designs of Ballantine's Finest will be available worldwide from 23 September. Dedicated to music legends and friends Elton John and John Lennon, the editions follow last year's releases of Ballantine's True Music Icons, honouring rock bands AC/DC and Queen.
Original Images by Ballantine's
Tamdhu Dedicated Collection 43-year-old & 46-year-old
In September 2024, Tamdhu released its 43-year-old single malt as part of the Dedicated Collection. The expression joins the range of 'oldest, rarest and most limited' single malts from the Speyside distillery and the first release, the 46-year-old, which was announced in late 2023 for global travel retail. All the whiskies in the collection have been aged in Oloroso sherry casks and will include eight expressions—four for general retail and four for GTR.
The 43-year-old was distilled in 1979 and laid in three sherry casks. The whisky is bottled at 50.8% ABV and is limited to 100 decanters worldwide, each retailing for £13,500 (US$17,735).
The GTR exclusive 46-year-old Tamdhu was distilled in 1977 and drawn from a single sherry cask. Limited to 100 decanters, the single malt is offered at 46.1% ABV and a suggested retail price of £16,000 (US$19,632) at the time of release.
Images by Tamdhu
Dalmore Distillery Select Limited Series
In early September 2024, Whyte & Mackay-owned Dalmore distillery launched its Distillery Select series, dedicated to rare vintages. The inaugural launch includes three single malts, distilled in 2009, 2007 and 2000. The 2024 releases are exclusively available in the UK through the brand’s website and globally through The Dalmore Boutiques.
The first expression, 2009, is a 15-year-old single malt finished in sherry casks from González Byass. The whisky is offered at 52.8% ABV and is limited to 2,736 bottles, each retailing for £300 (US$295).
The 2007 vintage was aged for 17 years and finished in Italian Amarone and Port casks. Offered at 45.8% ABV, the expression is limited to 383 bottles and has a suggested retail price of £1,000 (US$1,315).
The oldest of the trio, the 2000 vintage, was finished in Calvados casks from the House of Drouin. The 24-year-old release is also limited to 383 bottles but retails for £5,000 (US$6,585) at 50.3% ABV.
Image by Dalmore
Jura Perspective No.1
Another Whyte & Mackay-owned distillery, Jura, revealed a new Perspective collection. The first 16-year-old edition was finished in Oloroso sherry casks and is a nod to the distillery's discontinued expression, Diurach's Own. The whisky is offered at 46.5% ABV.
What makes the collection a bit different is that each bottle label features a unique geometric gold and black design, meaning no two bottles are identical.
Image by Jura
Rampur Jugalbandi No.5 & No.6
Indian Radico Khaitan distillery has released Jugalbandi editions 5 and 6. Although the whiskies debuted at the 2024 Whisky Show in September in London, they will be available in the UK, the US, Europe, Singapore, and global travel retail from October 2024.
The series will feature eight Indian single malt whiskies, each drawing inspiration from the ancient musical art form ‘Jugalbandi’, which translates to ‘entwined twins’. In musical terms, Jugalbandi signifies a duet between two solo musicians and their instruments.
Edition 5 was matured in American Bourbon barrels and finished in Tokaji wine casks. The expression is offered at 55.6% ABV.
Edition 6 was matured in Madeira wine casks and bottled at 55.8% ABV. Both expressions retail for £400 (US$526).
Original Image by Radico Khaitan
Waterford Biodynamic Cuvee Luna
The Dublin-based Waterford distillery released its first organic and biodynamic whiskey in 2021. The latest addition to the core range, Biodynamic Cuvee Luna, is made with 100% Irish barley and aged in first-fill American oak (37%), virgin American oak (17%), French oak (25%) and Vin Doux Naturel casks (21%). The expression is offered at 50% ABV and retails for £90 (US$120).
Original Image by Waterford
Virginia Brewer's Coalition
Virginia Distillery Co revealed its new Brewer's Coalition series in early September 2024. The series is dedicated to whiskeys finished in casks from preeminent breweries across the US. The two inaugural autumn expressions are offered at 50% ABV and retail for US$50 (£38) starting from September.
The first, Goose Island Bourbon County Stout Cask Finish American single malt, was finished in barrels from a Chicago-based brewery. The second release, Hardywood Gingerbread Stout Cask Finish American single malt, was finished in barrels from Hardywood Park Craft Brewery in Richmond, Virginia.
Original Images by Virginia Distillery Co
Two Drams Blended Whisky
Edinburgh-based Halewood Artisanal Spirits, known as the owner of Bonnington distillery and brands like Crabbie & Co, released a blended whisky called Two Drams. The whisky is a blend of both single malts and grain whiskies around Scotland, without more specification. Two Drams is offered at 40% ABV and retails for £15.99 (US$21).
Original Image by Halewood Artisanal Spirits
Whisky Heroes Second Batch
Glasgow-based independent bottler, blender and distiller Brave New Spirits, which is currently building Witchburn distillery in Campbeltown, released the second batch under its Whisky Heroes range. The new batch includes single malt and single grain whiskies from Scottish distilleries, including Tamdhu, Glendullan, Inchgower and North British.
The vintage-era adventure novels-inspired second collection will include six different whiskies for general release and additional bottlings exclusively for selected markets, including the UK and Germany. Each single cask or small batch expression will feature an age statement and has been matured or finished in either Bourbon or a variety of sherry barrels, such as Pedro Ximénez, Palo Cortado and Oloroso.
Original Image by Brave New Spirits
Clonakilty Single Pot Irish Whiskey
In early September 2024, the Clonakilty distillery, established in 2019, revealed its first Irish single pot whiskey distilled and matured at the distillery. Made with 100% Irish barley, the whiskey was triple-distilled and aged in ex-Bourbon, Amontillado and Oloroso sherry casks.
Clonakilty Single Pot Still whiskey is offered at 46% ABV and retails for US$50 (£38).
Image by Clonakilty
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