Spotlight on sherry casks in Tomatin launches

The Tomatin Distillery Co Ltd has launched five limited edition extensions to highlight the role of sherry casks in its Tomatin Highland Single Malt and Cù Bòcan Highland Single Malt ranges.

The Tomatin Cuatro Series is a new selection of four limited edition expressions of Tomatin Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The maturation of each expression was completed in casks previously used in the production of one of four different types of sherry.

The whisky was all distilled on the same day and initially matured for nine years in traditional American Oak casks, before being divided into four lots – ‘Cuatro’ is Spanish for ‘four’ – and transferred to spend a period of more than three further years in the respective sherry butts.

With the range named Fino, Manzanilla, Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez, according to the style of the sherry produced in each of the cask types, the four expressions have each developed their own unique characteristics.

The new Tomatin Cuatro Series was launched via social media, with a ‘Tweet Tasting’, by Tomatin distillery manager Graham Eunson on 3 September 2014. Selected tasters were provided samples of each of the new expressions, along with the relevant sherry.

“We are constantly striving to innovate and push boundaries, and I believe Cuatro is a great example of something yet again different from Tomatin Distillery,” Eunson said.

“Sherry is a key feature within our core range and this limited series allows us to delve deeper into the different effects it can have on our whisky.”

Packaging design for the new Tomatin Cuatro Series was handled by Breeze Creative. Jennifer Masson, Tomatin marketing manager, said: “The Cuatro range is a unique release from Tomatin and as such we wanted the packaging to reflect that. Our brief was to create a premium design for the range that, while maintaining key elements from the standard Tomatin pack, clearly showcased the strong sherry influence. I believe Craig from Breeze Creative has delivered on this with a classy, elegant design."

Availability of each expression is limited to 1,500 bottles, and each is expected to retail at £49.99.

Also following the sherry theme, Cù Bòcan Limited Edition Sherry Cask is the first of three new limited edition releases intended to highlight the different flavour characteristics imparted by the three types of wood used in the production of the Cù Bòcan standard edition: sherry, virgin oak and bourbon cask.

Fully matured in first fill sherry butts, the Cù Bòcan Sherry Cask edition is described as rich and fruity with hints of smoke and paprika. There are only 6,000 bottles available and it is expected to retail at £49.99 in specialist retailers.

As with all previous editions of Cù Bòcan, the presentation and packaging was developed by Pocket Rocket.

The further two limited editions of Cù Bòcan – Virgin Oak and Bourbon Cask – will be released in 2015.

15 September 2014 - David Longfield