This month’s review of recent whisky releases takes us on a veritable tour of the UK - from the Highlands and Islands of Scotland to the fields of Norfolk via the dramatic landscape of north Wales, the rivers of Speyside and the industrial cities of Glasgow and Birmingham.

On top of this, there’s a couple of impressive new whiskies from one of Kentucky’s most prominent producers.

But before we get into the whisky, let’s talk about a very old rum…

APPLETON ESTATE

Jamaican producer Appleton Estate have revealed their oldest expression to date. In fact, it is believed to be the world’s longest tropically aged rum.

The Appleton Estate 51 year old The Source is a 1973 vintage matured in American oak barrels. Crafted using the estate’s own sugarcane and distilled exclusively in their copper pot stills, the result is a rum with an unparalleled depth of flavour. We’re promised notes of honeyed-raisins infused with cinnamon, maple, smoked oranges, ripe figs and dark chocolate, with a long, oaky finish.

Those in the know will understand that tropically aged spirit evaporates faster than spirit matured in cooler climates. As a result, rums of this age are rare and only 25 decanters of The Source will be bottled.

This stunning rum will be available in the UK exclusively from Berry Brothers & Rudd from September, with an RRP of around £59,320.

FIELDEN

Yorkshire’s Fielden have unveiled the second whisky in their four-part Fieldnotes series.

Fielden Hazybower is a tribute to the wildflowers, herbs and resilient plants that cohabit Fielden’s regeneratively farmed grain fields. To do this, they’ve crafted a fresh and mellow take on their signature rye whisky, resulting a whisky bursting with notes of freshly cut grass, freshly baked scones and zesty lemon tart - all in all a whisky that will bring to mind hazy summer days in the English countryside.

This whisky will be sold exclusively via Fielden’s website and Berry Brothers & Rudd with an RRP of £102.50. Only 1,000 bottles will be available when the whisky is formally released on 6th August, so be sure to set a reminder if you don’t want to miss out!

GLASGOW DISTILLERY COMPANY

The Glasgow Distillery introduced a new expression to their celebrated core range this month.

Glasgow 1770 Ruby Port Cask Finish is a 6 year old single malt. Crafted from unpeated, double distilled spirit, this liquid then spent three years and 10 months in first fill ex-bourbon casks followed by two years and 10 months in ruby port hogsheads.

Bottled at 55% ABV, we can expect a fruity profile with notes summer berries, dark cherries and rich vanilla. Available now from the distillery’s website and selected retailers. RRP £57.

GLENFARCLAS

J&G Grant-owned Glenfarclas recently announced a distribution deal with Ian Macleod Distillers that will see a line of new whiskies being released exclusively for travel retail.

Glenfarclas will produce an 11 and a 16 year old for the travel retail market. Both expressions will be bottled at 46% ABV - a touch higher than their core range counterparts - and will retail for £49.99 and £69.99 respectively.

Joining these exclusive expressions will be two whiskies from their core range: the high strength Glenfarclas 105, and their 35 year old - both presented in larger, 1 litre volumes. Finally, the range will be rounded out by a number of limited edition, single cask releases, the details of which are yet to be announced.

GLENFIDDICH

Late last year, the legendary Speyside distillery announced an ongoing partnership with Aston Martin Formula One. Its as revealed that they would be producing a well-aged single malt as part of the collaboration and this whisky was finally released this month.

The Glenfiddich 1959 Aston Martin Formula One is a 65 year old single malt, presented in a bespoke decanter and case designed by acclaimed Glasgow designed John Galvin. Design elements are said to be inspired by both companies’ legacies of innovation and excellence.

The whisky itself was drawn from a Sherry butt, bringing notes of aged leather and oak on the nose and dates, dark chocolate and cloves on the palate.

This unique whisky is exclusively available at Harrods’ Fine Wines & Spirits Room, with an RRP of £79,000.

HIGHLAND PARK

Orkney’s Highland Park are celebrating the career of their long-serving master blender with a new limited edition expression.

Highland Park 19 year old Sherry Skies is a ‘farewell dram’ from Gordon Motion as he enters retirement. As the name suggests, this is a sherry-driven expression that have been crafted from just nine casks. Six were sherry-seasoned European oak quarter casks, while the other three were American oak ex-bourbon casks to provide some balance to the sherry dominance.

The result is an intensely fruity and incredibly drinkable dram. Toasted oak and fragrant vanilla on the nose, leading to sweet, caramelised fruit, spice and citrus peel on the palate, with Highland Park’s trademark fragrant smoke coming on the finish.

Sherry Skies is available now with an RRP of £265. For more information on Gordon Motion and Highland Park, check out our recent article ‘Highland Park's Master Blender Retires’.

LAGG

The Isle of Arran’s Lagg distillery have added another expression to their range of small batch, cask finished single malts.

Lagg Palo Cortado takes the distillery’s peated, bourbon-cask matured spirit and finishes it for six months in Palo Cortado sherry casks. Palo Cortado is a refreshing yet rich style of sherry noted for its nutty profile.

This is influence is most noticeable on the finish, when peat smoke intertwines with nutty and slightly winey notes. Before this, the whisky boasts a citrussy profile led by apricots and oranges alongside toffee, ginger, and a touch of smoke.

Bottled at 56.2% ABV with an RRP around £80, this whisky is available now from selected retailers.

PENDERYN

Wales’ Penderyn have released the first whisky crafted entirely from spirit produced at their Llandudno distillery.

Penderyn Serpent’s Tears takes its name from local landmark The Great Orme (old Norse for ‘great serpent’) and pays homage to both the adventurers of the past and the brooding North Wales landscape.

This lightly peated whisky was bottled at 46% ABV and was said to showcase aromas of dry leaves and wood smoke and notes of baking apples, vanilla and sweet peat on the palate. However, all 3,000 bottles of this first release have sold out, so you’ll need to search the secondary market to find out what it tastes like yourself!

SPIRIT OF BIRMINGHAM

Birmingham’s first every distillery have recently released their first ever whisky.

The Spirit of Birmingham Inaugural Release is a bit of an anomaly. On the one hand the producers are quite transparent with certain details, on the other it’s quite secretive. While we don’t know the age of the whisky or the year it was distilled (the distillery was founded in 2020, so we know it’s young at least), the label does share a lot of other information regarding cask types and the barley varieties used.

We also know it’s bottled at 48% ABV with no additional colouring, and that only 900 bottles have been produced. Initially released to just a handful of retailers, some have already sold out while just a few bottles remain elsewhere.

ST. GEORGE’S DISTILLERY

The Norfolk based whisky producers continue their 18th anniversary celebrations with the release of whisky drawn from the first cask ever filled at the distillery.

The English Cask 001 comprises spirit distilled in 2006, a year before the distillery was officially opened. This whisky is not just a milestone for the distillery, but an important piece of English whisky history; St George’s was the first licensed distillery in England, technically making this the first legally produced English spirit.

Cask 001 was aged for 18 years before being bottled at 54.1% ABV. In terms of flavour, this unpeated single malt offers notes of poached pears, peaches, treacle, vanilla and a mild salinity.

Available to pre-order now with a scheduled release date of 25th September. RRP £3,000.

W.L. WELLER

Buffalo Trace have released two new expressions for their W.L Weller brand, one of which is the oldest whiskey to have been released by the distillery.

Last year they released the inaugural Weller Millennium. This month has seen the release of the second edition of this exceptional whisky. Like the previous edition, this is a blend wheated bourbons and wheat whiskeys, however this year’s is crafted using a selection of different vintages (2001, 2003, and 2006). Bottled at 99 proof with an RRP of US$7,500.

Joining this is the oldest ever Weller expression - the W.L Weller 18 year old. Bourbons of this age are uncommon, but this Weller wears it well. Expect notes of crisp green pears, tobacco, and warm baking spices.

The Weller 18 year old will be available exclusively at selected global travel retail outlets with an RRP of US$499.

WOLFBURN

The northernmost distillery on the mainland of Scotland have released their first ever twelve year old single malt.

The Wolfburn 12 year old is bottled at 46% ABV after 50/50 maturation in bourbon barrels and second-fill Oloroso sherry casks. Hints of smoke can be picked up on the otherwise delicate, floral nose, before sweeter notes of honey, burnt sugar, and dried fruits lead to a lingering, slightly spicy finish.

This whisky isn’t a limited edition, with Wolfburn declaring that this is their new flagship expression. Available now from their distillery store and website with an RRP of 69.95.