Wemyss releases new range of blended Scotch

Independent bottler Wemyss Malts has released a new range of blended Scotch produced from the family's private collection of maturing whisky casks.

Rather than use whisky that has been purchased mature and ready to blend, Wemyss Malts has over the past decade sourced oak cask varieties to partner with single malt spirit selected from some of Scotland’s foremost distilleries.

Under the guidance of industry expert Charlie Maclean, the Wemyss family has handpicked casks that show balance between wood and whisky. Each yearly Wemyss Family Collection release will focus on one specific influence that impacts whisky, be it regional, malt style or cask effect.

The first two releases of the Wemyss Family Collection represent two opposite whisky styles; that of bourbon cask matured and sherry cask matured whisky. In keeping with other releases from Wemyss Malts, these new bottlings have been given flavour led names by the Wemyss tasting panel:

Vanilla Burst is the first release of the Wemyss Family Collection range and is a blend of only two Speyside single malts chosen to mature in 15 1st-fill Ex-bourbon barrels. The 4800 bottles of Vanilla Burst are said to demonstrate first fill bourbon wood influence on Speyside whisky.

Treacle Chest, selected as the second release of the Wemyss Family Collection range is a blend of only two Highland single malts chosen to be matured in just 14 1st-fill ex-sherry hogsheads. The resulting 6300 bottles of Treacle Chest are designed as an example of how first fill ex-sherry casks influence unpeated Highland Scotch malt whisky.

Both blended malts are bottled non chill-filtered, at natural colour and are 46% abv. They are presented in screen printed 70cl bottles with a charcoal and copper detailed gift carton.

William Wemyss, founder and managing director at Wemyss Malts, commented: “It is with great anticipation and excitement that we release to the drinks enthusiast and whisky community the first two Wemyss Family Collection bottlings. We are very proud of the quality of these two blended malts and look forward to seeing how future yearly releases will compare.”

Isabella Wemyss, director of production at Wemyss Malts stated: “Great effort and time has been taken to ensure the Wemyss Family Collection will be remarkable blended malts, from the very first steps of selecting the spirit and sourcing exceptional casks from around the world, to selecting and blending the mature casks under the supervision of leading industry professionals.”

Wemyss Family Collection; Vanilla Burst and Treacle Chest will be available mid-August from selected retailers in the UK, EU and key Asian markets with suggested retail prices of £43 and £47.

16 August 2017 - Sam Coyne The Drinks Report, news editor