News Briefs for March 11, 2024
March 11, 2024•Bruichladdich, part of the Remy Cointreau portfolio, is out with an 18 year old version of Port Charlotte, its oldest expression yet.
Port Charlotte 18 year old is made from 100% Scottish barley. Bottled at 54.3% abv, Port Charlotte 18 was distilled in 2004 and is a limited release of 6,000 bottles. Priced at $199, it’s available on ReserveBar and at retail. Bruichladdich has been showing more of its aged whisky game lately, as this release comes on the heels of the recently announced 18 and 30 year old expressions of the Bruichladdich label. Whisky Advocate has more.
•Diageo is debuting the 2024 release of Mortlach 30 Year Old: Midnight Malt, an ultra-luxury and limited bottling from the brand. The 49.8% abv single malt ages in three different cask types—Bordeaux, Calvados, and Guatemalan rum—before being transferred to quarter casks to marry. Only 350 bottles of Mortlach 30 will be available worldwide for a suggested price of $5,300 with 40 bottles allocated to the U.S.
•Ruffino, part of the Constellation stable, is continuing to build out its Ruffino Winemaking Council, as the brand continues its revamp. Last year the council was initially formed including enologist Alberto Antonini, agronomist Stefano Poni, chief winemaker Gabriele Tacconi, and Ruffino estates director Maurizio Bogoni. Now, Tacconi is transitioning to a brand ambassador role, as winemakers Alberto Stella, Olga Fusari, and Rita Orrù step to the fore. Additionally, the winemaking council has welcomed Lingua Franca founder Larry Stone and Australian enologist Stephanie Edge.
•Bardstown, Kentucky-based 15 Stars has announced a bottling of its Private Stock Fine Aged Bourbon, alongside the second batch of the brand’s First West rye. The new Private Stock release comes in at 53.5% abv and is made from a blend of Bourbons aged 8 and 15 years, up from the previous blend of 7 and 15 years. It carries a suggested price of $139. The new batch of First West rye is bottled at 52.5% from a blend of 6-, 7-, and 9-year-old rye whiskies, and carries a suggested price of $89. Both whiskies are now available in Kentucky, Indiana, Tennessee, Missouri, Georgia, Louisiana, Florida, Massachusetts, Oregon, and Illinois. 15 Stars’ whiskies are made at Bardstown Bourbon Company.
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