New: Karuizawa Legend of Asama / Bunnahabhain Aonadh / Benromach 40 Years

Karuizawa 1981 The Legend of Asama

The Legend of Asama celebrates the last bottles of Karuizawa, from the very last casks ever produced by the distillery. It’s a set of two Karuizawa 1981 single casks (#4059 and #6183) released as a set. Both were bottled in 2017 and have been sold in different presentations already, but 30 Noh-style bottles of each were kept behind and are now presented in yet another packaging, handcrafted by Glencairn Crystal in Scotland. The bottles are stored in handmade lunawood tubes. The price is on application.

If I understand the press release correctly, all 364 casks of Karuizawa that made up the remaining stock sold in 2011, have now been bottled and sold. So unless spirit is re-bottled at some point, or kept back in some way, Karuizawa is now officially finished.

 

Bunnahabhain Aonadh / Ledaig 22 Years / Tobermory 17 Years / Deanston 2008 Oloroso Cask

Distell announced four new releases accross its distilleries:

Bunnahabhain Aonadh (pronounced ‘oon-ouch’) is Gaelic for Union. It’s a 10 year old combination of Port finished spirit and spirit fully matured in sherry casks. (56.2% ABV – £ 120).
Ledaig 1999 Pedro Ximénez Cask (55.6% ABV – £ 250)
Tobermory 2004 Oloroso Cask (55.9% ABV – £ 130)
Deanston 2008 Oloroso Cask (52.7% ABV – £ 80)

Next up, Heineken finishes?

 

Benromach 40 Year Old

Benromach 40 Years is the start of a series of annual releases. The first batch, available now for around € 1850, was distilled in 1981 and bottled at cask strength 57.1% ABV. It spent four decades in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks. Each batch will reflect the nuances of the selected casks. Expect a review soon!

 

Fettercairn Warehouse No.2 – Batch #2

I never managed to try Batch #1, but I’ve heard good things about it. Now there’s a second batch of the Fettercairn Warehouse No.2 expression. It was distilled in 2009 and matured in a combination of first-fill ex-rye barrels and first-fill ex-bourbon barrels, before being bottled at 48.5% ABV. Available for £ 55.
Master of Malt already has it in stock.

 

Also interesting

Things that may not have been widely announced but that grabbed my attention in shops recently…

Laphroaig 25 Year Old (2021 release)
Irish Single Malt 29 Year Old (That Boutique-y Whisky Co)
Ben Nevis Coire Leis
Ardnamurchan AD/07.21:05
Port Charlotte Islay Barley 2013
Glenmorangie Barrel Select Cognac Cask
Benromach Contrasts: Peat Smoke Sherry Cask
Milk & Honey 2017 ex-Islay cask (TWE exclusive)
Glenlivet 28 Years 1993 (G&M Connoisseurs Choice)
Benriach Malting Season 2012
Westport 21 Year Old (Boutique-y Whisky Co)
Bruichladdich 2005 first-fill sherry (The Red Cask Co)
Whisky Advent Calendar 2021 (Drinks by the Dram)
Single Cask Whisky Advent Calendar 2021