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Friday, June 5, 2015

New Whiskey Labels: Diageo Distiller's Editions and More


This week's most interesting new labels from the federal TTB database:

Diageo cleared labels for a number of this year's Distiller's Editions, including Cragganmore (distilled 2003), Dalwhinnie (no dates), Talisker (2005) and Glenkinchie (2003).

Diageo also cleared a label for Johnnie Walker Select Casks, a ten year old blended Scotch finished in rye casks.

A new label cleared for anCnoc Rascan, a no age statement peated whiskey.

A label cleared for Wild Reeds Blue Bourbon Cask Whiskey, a South African whiskey distilled at the Schoonspruit Distillery. The label indicates that it is a three year old corn based whiskey. I would have thought the TTB would have had a problem with this whiskey classing itself as "Bourbon Cask Whiskey."  Bourbon must be from the United States.  While lots of Scotches and other whiskeys are aged in bourbon casks, they normally are designated as single malt (or blended whiskey, etc.) aged in bourbon casks.  This whiskey doesn't do that and seems likely to cause confusion.

Note:  The fact that a label appears on the TTB database does not necessarily mean it will be produced.  In addition, some details on the label, such as proof, can change in the final product.

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6 comments:

  1. SteffenJune 5, 2015 at 7:51 AM

    This is the first time I have seen a whisky matured or finished specific in an ex-rye cask

    For the last couple of years I have asked people in the industry and almost everyone else I met I thought would know, what's the difference between aging malt whisky in ex-rye versus ex-bourbon.

    I never got any sensible answers, and those most sensible leaned towards it doesn't really matter

    Bourbon isn't just bourbon and rye isn't just rye. There is bourbons with no rye in it at all (wheaters for example) and there is bourbon with a lot of rye, like the 35% Four Roses recipe. There is ryewhisky with just about 51% rye and there is 100% rye rye whiskies. A 51% rye whisky is probably more closely related to a 35% rye bourbon than a 100% rye rye

    I look forward to hear what Diageo means the ex-rye cask finish adds to Johnnie Walker Select Cask

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  2. Michael DietschJune 5, 2015 at 8:10 AM

    Was the Johnnie Walker designer drunk? What an ugly label for a brand that's normally so elegant.

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  3. skuJune 5, 2015 at 8:28 AM

    Steffen, given that all of Diageo's rye on the market (Bulleit, Dickel) is MGP 95% rye, my guess would be that's where the barrels come from.

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  4. tanstaafl2June 5, 2015 at 2:33 PM

    As someone always willing to look for the oddities out there the Wild Reeds has a peculiar appeal. Pictures I have seen suggest it comes in a truly tacky Africa shaped bottle. Since I have a connection in Jo'berg I may have to make a request for a delivery to see if the local stuff is any different from this potential import!

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  5. kallaskanderJune 8, 2015 at 2:56 AM

    Hi there,

    the Dalwhinnie label states Distilled 1998 Bottled 2015 in small print.

    Greetings
    kallaskander

    ReplyDelete
  6. Whisky of the WeekAugust 4, 2015 at 5:29 AM

    We tried the Wild Reeds Blue Bourbon Cask Whiskey last year and you can read our comments on it here. http://whiskyoftheweek.co.uk/wild-reeds-whiskey-whisky-week/

    If you are looking for something interesting from South Africa, rather look for the Three Ships Single Malt 10 yo. Much more worth it! http://whiskyoftheweek.co.uk/whisky-of-the-week-three-ships-10-yr-old-single-malt/

    ReplyDelete