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April 2024 was a busy month for new whisky releases, including bourbon, Scottish single malts and blends. In this article, we have selected ten limited releases and new core range expressions either introduced or announced that caught our attention in late April 2024 for various reasons.
Please click here to find whisky releases from early April 2024.
Fettercairn Core Range Revamp
In April 2024, Fettercairn distillery decided to celebrate its bicentennial by revamping its core range. The new domestic range includes three whiskies: a 12-year-old, which can be enjoyed neat or in cocktails; a 16-year-old that was previously only released annually; and a new addition, the 24-year-old. All of these expressions are aged exclusively in ex-bourbon casks to showcase the diversity of the distillery's tropical whisky in its purest form.
In addition to the domestic range, three releases were introduced for the travel retail market: a 14-year-old, a 17-year-old, and a 25-year-old.
Original Images by Fettercairn
In The Welsh Wind Inaugural Whisky Release
The In The Welsh Wind distillery in Ceredigion, Wales, has released its first single malt whisky for pre-ordering at the end of April 2024. The distillery's first release is limited to only 673 bottles, bottled at 48% and finished in a Palo Cortado wine cask.
Image by In The Welsh Wind distillery
Aultmore Marsala Wine Cask Collection
The Aultmore Marsala Wine Cask Collection was first announced in late 2023. In April 2024, the series was officially launched with three releases: Ruby, Sweet, and Dry Marsala-finished expressions.
Malt master Stephanie Macleod created this collection using Sicilian fortified wine casks to give the Aultmore whiskies an extra twist. All the limited editions are aged 15 years and bottled at 46%.
The Aultmore distillery is undergoing refurbishment, including expansion with new wash backs and pot stills. This development aims to double the distillery's annual capacity. The refurbishment began in early 2023 and is expected to conclude in 2024.
Images by Dewar's / Italy.it
Basil Hayden Gentle Smoke
The Basil Hayden Gentle Smoke was first introduced in 2022 as a limited release. However, due to popular demand, it was re-released in late April 2024 for the US market. Unlike many other peated whiskies, Gentle Smoke gets its light, smoky character from being finished for six weeks in charred casks infused with hickory smoke.
The release will only be available for an unspecified limited time, so bourbon fans better get it when they can.
Image by Basil Hayden
WhistlePig 25-year-old Single Malt
Following the release of the 21-year-old single malt 'Béhôlden' in 2023, WhistlePig introduced its 25-year-old limited-release single malt in late April 2024. Although not publicly announced, the Canadian malt most likely comes from Glenora distillery, like the 21-year-old. Glenora was established in 1990 in Nova Scotia and is the oldest single malt distillery in Canada.
The new release, 'The Badönkådonk', is among the oldest North American single malts ever released. The whiskey was shipped to Vermont in 2020 to continue maturation and finished in a single Cabernet Sauvignon wine cask from Silver Oak Cellars in California's Alexander Valley.
This limited 25-year-old single-cask release is bottled at 45.5% ABV and retails for US$2,000 (£1,600).
Original Image by Whistlepig
Nc'Nean Huntress - Orchard Cobbler
In late April 2024, Nc'Nean released the third instalment from its Huntress series, Orchard Cobbler. This special release is limited to 6,153 bottles.
Unlike most distilleries, Nc'Nean runs two separate spirit runs each year—one style designed to be released at a young age and the other to be matured for over ten years. Orchard Cobbler comes from a distillation that occurs in the week following the switch from the old to the young spirit. It is an extremely fruity release named after the team's favourite dessert.
Image by Nc'Nean
Compass Box Travelling Circus
As the second circus-themed whisky launch in April 2024 (the other, Ardbeg Spectacular), Travelling Circus was inspired by the Compass Box 2016 limited release, The Circus. The new release is the first expression from the whisky maker to be intended exclusively for the global travel retail market, limited to only around 9,300 bottles worldwide.
The whisky is a blend of malt and grain whiskies, including a sherried malt from a 'distillery near Aberlour', Talisker, Caol Ila and Port Dundas, bottled at 49% ABV.
Image by Compass Box
McConnell's 20-year-old
After the announcement of McConnell's distillery's opening in mid-April 2024, the distillery unveiled its oldest single malt release to date. This 2024 limited-release whisky was initially aged in ex-bourbon casks and then finished in tawny port casks before bottled with an ABV of 52.5%. The release is limited to 375 bottles, and only 258 bottles will be made available to retailers, with the remaining 117 available for purchase at the new distillery on Crumlin Road in Belfast.
Image by Irish Whisky Auctions
Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2024 Release
In April 2024, Kilchoman released their annual Loch Gorm sherry cask matured whisky. This edition was made using whisky that was distilled in 2014 and matured in 23 oloroso sherry butts from Bodega Jose y Miguel Martin. The production of the edition was limited to 18,000 bottles worldwide.
Original Image by Kilchoman
Ardnahoe Inaugural Single Malt
The long-awaited inaugural single malt release from the new Islay distillery, Ardnahoe, was announced on April 30, 2024. The distillery was established in 2017 by Hunter Laing & Co.
Titled Inaugural Release, the limited five-year-old expression from Ardnahoe was matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks. The expression is offered at 50% ABV and will be available from May 10 at the official website and the distillery, with roll-out in select high-end retailers worldwide.
Original Image by Ardnahoe
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