The spirits enterprise has roared again to life in 2022 following the pandemic and cessation of all related guidelines and lockdowns. Whisky gross sales have been significantly robust with many manufacturers reporting vital development and eventually releasing particular editions that have been destined for 2020 or 2021.
Scotch has had a strong 12 months, however different notable releases from elsewhere on the earth have additionally appeared. Right here we take a look at 10 of the easiest new whiskies of 2022.
Ardbeg Hypernova
Hypernova marketed itself because the smokiest Ardbeg ever. Every time such proclamations are heard, it’s all the time fascinating to see if the whisky lives as much as the hype.
Hypernova doesn’t disappoint and seemingly takes the sturdy Ardbeg spirit from the well-known Scottish whisky island of Islay to a brand new degree. It’s huge, daring and tremendous peaty with loads of pungent earthy and coastal aromas and flavours.
Notes of bonfire embers, damp moss and drying seaweed mingle with sturdy cereals, scorched inexperienced apple, white chocolate and a touch of salinity. Not for the fainthearted.
Purchase now at Home Of Malt
Bimber Camden City
The west London distillery of Bimber has had a powerful 2022. It has nicely and actually cemented its place as one of the vital fascinating and collectable craft whisky manufacturers on the earth.
Camden City shaped a part of its limited-edition London Underground Collection – a spread of whiskies bottled in collaboration with Transport for London. All bought out in report time and featured a ending interval in lesser-known ex-sherry casks.
Camden City featured ex-Amontillado casks and gives Bimber’s daring and fruity model alongside dried fruits, nuts and sturdy oak spice. One to observe.
See extra at Bimber distillery
Benromach 40 Years Outdated
Whereas most whiskies on the record sit inside a sure funds, the Benromach 40 years outdated is in a unique league worth clever. £1,000 a bottle to be actual. Nonetheless, it’s a lot older and rarer than every thing else right here.
That is solely the second time that the small, conventional family-owned Speyside distillery has ever launched a 40-year-old expression, and it’s beautiful.
Wealthy and multi-layered notes of darkish caramel, orange marmalade and heavy baking spices are accentuated by hints of hazelnut praline, clove and black cherry. All sit alongside a fragile whiff of peat smoke. A subliminal whisky.
Purchase now at The Whisky Trade
Bushmills 1997 Rum Cask
This wonderful single malt whiskey was the most recent addition to the Bushmills Causeway Assortment, named after The Large’s Causeway. The well-known world heritage website is simply a few miles from the distillery, which sits on the Co. Antrim coast in Northern Eire.
Ex-rum casks are recurrently used to complete Scotch whisky for brief durations. Nonetheless, this triple distilled spirit has seen its full 25 years in high-quality rum casks sourced from the Caribbean.
Scrumptious tropical notes of pineapple, mango, cane sugar and peach are added to the basic Bushmills gentle, grainy and grassy model.
Purchase now at Grasp Of Malt
Craigellachie 13 Years Outdated Armagnac Cask End
The usage of ex-Cognac and ex-Armagnac barrels in Scotch whisky maturation has change into more and more in style during the last couple of years. Few have been pretty much as good as this Craigellachie, which kicked off the Speyside distillery’s Cask Assortment collection.
Preliminary maturation in ex-bourbon casks has been enhanced by a ending interval in French oak Bas-Armagnac brandy casks from the Gascony area of France.
Juicy fruits and baking spices bombard the tastebuds and spotlight Craigellachie’s signature oily spirit. Apricot, pear, vanilla, sultanas and ginger are additionally current.
Purchase now at The Whisky Trade
Dalmore 15 Years Outdated 2007 Classic
The north Highland distillery of Dalmore is among the most prestigious in Scotland. Sitting on the shores of the Cromarty Firth, the UK’s deepest sea loch, it’s identified for its wealthy and decadent single malts.
The 2007 Classic is bottled at 15 years of age with simply 12 casks used. After preliminary maturation in ex-bourbon barrels, the whisky was transferred to a mixture of 4 cask varieties – ex-Matusalem, ex-Apostoles and ex-Amoroso sherry, plus ex-Madeira candy wine.
Floral and warming with notes of sultana, brown sugar, heather honey and a pinch of Christmas spice.
Purchase now at Harvey Nichols
Glendronach Cask Power Batch 11
The annual cask power bottling from the Aberdeenshire distillery of Glendronach has been disrupted by the Covid pandemic. Batch 10 was launched earlier in 2022, however Batch 11 appeared just lately to convey the collection again into sync.
Glendronach is thought for its use of high-quality ex-sherry casks and this bottling isn’t any totally different. Whiskies of differing ages have been aged in ex-Oloroso or ex-Pedro Ximenez sherry casks, earlier than being married collectively.
Wealthy and fruity notes of raisin, sultana, prune and candied orange mingle with caramel, toasted nuts and chocolate. Very good.
Purchase now at The Whisky Trade
Glenfiddich Orchard Experiment
One other pioneering whisky from these unique single malt pioneers at Glenfiddich. The well-known Speyside distillery is extensively considered those to kick off the one malt class within the Sixties.
The Orchard Experiment is the fifth bottling within the in style whisky model’s modern Experimental Collection and has seen Glenfiddich’s candy, mushy and fruity spirit matured for a interval in Somerset Pomona apple brandy casks. It’s a scrumptious marriage between Scotland and Somerset.
Baked apple and toffee apple notes come by way of delightfully, together with hints of honey and cinnamon. A vibrant, sunny and attractive whisky.
Purchase now at Amazon
Gold Spot 9 Years Outdated
The Irish whiskey class is booming and was joined by this fabulous addition to The Spot Household from Irish Distillers. The Gold Spot was launched to commemorate the one hundred and thirty fifth anniversary of brand name companions Mitchell & Sons, the well-known Dublin-based wine retailers, coming into the whiskey bonding enterprise in 1887.
It options an intriguing marriage of cask varieties – ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks plus ex-Bordeaux purple wine barrels and ex-Port pipes.
Anticipate a scrumptious mixture of tropical fruit, apricot jam, golden syrup and vanilla sugar with hints of cinnamon, purple apple and gingerbread.
Purchase now at Grasp Of Malt
Whistlepig Piggyback 6 Years Outdated
This new whiskey from premium American model appeared in the course of the 12 months and has taken the bartending world by storm. Piggyback represents the youngest bottling of Whistlepig, which is thought for its high-end and costly rye whiskies.
The Vermont-based distillery has gained many awards worldwide however wished to provide customers a extra economical choice. Piggyback was the outcome however with not one of the model’s high quality being compromised.
Notes of vanilla, maple syrup and coconut mingle with darkish cherry, peppery spices and a touch of cola bottle sweets. Nice in a cocktail or on the rocks.
Purchase now at The Whisky Trade
