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These days, all limited edition whiskeys seem to be the most attractive bourbon And res. They take up the most space on liquor store shelves and are highly visible in Instagram feeds and bar listings. Although a lot of whiskey lovers drink scotch, the legendary spirit has lost a bit of its luster lately. The Scotch industry, which has been suffering from a 25 percent import tariff in the United States since October 2018, has been pretty low. Distillers ran around the clock hoping for a change in trade policy. Supply chain problems and production outages due to the pandemic have also affected the transatlantic whiskey trade. Fortunately, things are going downhill for scotch producers, so you can grab some amazing limited-edition rollers.
In June, US Trade Representative Catherine Taye and British International Trade Secretary Liz Truss agreed to suspend tariffs on single malt Scotch (and a host of other products) for five years. The distilleries and bottling lines that shut down during the lockdowns in 2020 are now running again, producing a lot of good stuff.
These are all great reasons to treat yourself to some of the newest scenes in his scene, if the thirst for something new wasn’t enough. Look out for these delicious single malts (and one knockout blend) from Islay, Highlands, Campbeltown, and more.
Best New Limited Edition Sketches of 2021
1. Lagavulin Offerman Edition: Guinness Cup Finish
Parks and recreational resorts Star Nick Offerman made no secret of his IRL love for Lagavulin when he was as Ron Swanson; The scotch was a scotch department manager’s favorite, too. So when Offerman teamed up with the distillery to launch their own 11-year-old single malt in 2019, TV and whiskey fans alike embraced it. Now the collaborators are back with a new whiskey. This was finished for four months in beer kegs from the Guinness Open Gate Brewery in Maryland. Take a closer look at the front label and you’ll see the famous Guinness toucan. They are flying over the little Offerman and his father, Rick, fishing in a dinghy.
[$80; drizly.com]
2. 19-year-old Dewar The Champion’s Edition
This spring, Dewar announced a three-year sponsorship of the US Open golf tournament, and one component of that partnership, of course, is whiskey. The inaugural edition of the Dewar Special Series at the US Open includes a blend of malt and whiskey, all of which are at least 19 years old. It was finished in former bourbon casks under the hands of master mixer Stephanie MacLeod. The bottle, in an elegant silver box, hit shelves in May and can still be found in retail stores. Even better: A portion of the sales support the USGA Foundation.
[$80; reservebar.com]
3. Ardbeg Scorch
During the annual Fèis Ìle, Islay’s malt and music festival, every distillery on the island releases limited edition whiskey. These packs rarely make their way to the US side, except in the case of Ardbeg. It offers both a barrel power version for the fan club, the Ardbeg Committee, and a more widely available version at 46 percent ABV. Inspired by the legends of the dragon, the whiskey, Ardbeg Scorch, was aged this year in heavily charred former bourbon casks. It gives an intense oak-forward character that blends well with the oily peat characteristic of drip.
[$120; ardbeg.com]
4. 43-year-old Talisker Oak Xpedition: The Atlantic Challenge
The oldest version ever to come from an Isle of Skye distillery, this whiskey is suitably pricey — although still a relative bargain compared to similarly aged scotches from leading producers. The Xpedition Oak has all the hallmarks of Talisker—sweet smoke, sea salt, and peppery spice—and you might even taste a little something extra, too: The whiskey is finished in casks made of wooden sticks that have sailed the length of the Talisker Whiskey Atlantic Challenge, the annual paddling competition that raises money for business. charity. Only 1,830 bottles are available – in honor of the distillery’s founding year – with the first bottle to be auctioned in support of Parley for the Oceans later this year.
[$4,000; reservebar.com]
5. Ardnamurchan Small Batch AD / 03.21: 02
Most new distilleries can’t wait more than the three-year statute of limitations required to launch their first Scotch, but Ardnamurchan — owned by independent bottler Adelphi Selections — has doubled that time frame for its first launch. After opening in 2014, remote control Highland DistilleryLocated on a narrow finger-like peninsula in the far west of the country, this mild single barley allowed to ripen in sherry and bourbon casks for about six years before packaging it at 46.8 percent ABV. The first batch of about 5,000 bottles reached the US market, each one traceable via the blockchain. And if you’re looking for more, there’s also a US-only barrel of Ardnamurchan ($110) with a whopping 59.4% ABV barrel strength.
[$65; dandm.com]
6. Ending the Glen Scotia Campbelltown Barley Festival Bordeaux
Tiny Campbeltown was once the beating heart of Scottish whiskey production, but today it has only three distilleries – Springbank, Glengyle and Glen Scotia. The latter creates a strong oil spirit that handles well with any type of barrel. Although most of the maturation takes place in formerly bourbon casks, the annual limited edition, bottled for the local whiskey festival, usually features a special finish, including rum, port brown, and—this year—red wine casks from Médoc in Bordeaux. . Bottled in a barrel with a strength of 56.1% ABV, the distillery’s signature fruit, honey and saltwater flavor.
[$100; in stores and online at glenscotia.com]
7. Dalmore 12-Year-Old Sherry Cask Select
There is an abundance of 12-year-old scotch on the market, but when Dalmore releases a new offering, whiskey lovers take notice. Premium Highland Distillery launched this single malt exclusively at Total Wine & More stores in the US earlier this year, where it will remain until at least February 2022. Initially aged in former bourbon casks, the whiskey – overseen by legendary distiller Richard Patterson – has spent a two-year termination in sherry casks specially designed for Dalmore by three co-ops (Bay’s, Tefasa and Facima) and sweetened with a proprietary blend of PX-oloroso.
[$80; totalwine.com]
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