Wonderfull whiskies

Beverage giant Diageo delights the world with three fine new whiskies. Two of them you can pick up straight from the off-licence, one is a bit more challenging...

Text: Gerben Bijpost

Double enjoyment

What you see here is The Singleton's Gourmand Collection: three whopping 42-year-old single malts, each with its own character. To make it extra tasty, The Singleton had these whiskies translated into delicious desserts, created by Master Pastry Chef Nicolas Rouzaud, known from The Connaught in London.

The result is a unique match between mature whiskies and haute patisserie, which you can start tasting at The Home of The Singleton at Glen Ord Distillery from May 2025, should you happen to be in the area. What to expect? First, The Singleton Nuts & Figs: a full-bodied, smooth whisky with flavours of dark chocolate, ripe figs, mild spices and a hint of coffee. Thanks to long maturation - partly in Spanish red wine casks - this variant has a deep, warm flavour. Then The Singleton Caramelised Crème Brûlée: smooth and creamy, with flavours of baked vanilla custard, lightly caramelised sugar and a hint of toasted nuts.

Maturation in ex-Grand Cru Chardonnay casks creates a round, elegant finish. And finally, The Singleton Black Cherry Gâteau: a powerful whisky with layers of black cherry, dark chocolate and a subtle hint of black pepper. The influence of Italian Amarone casks makes this bottling full-bodied, with a nod to the classic dessert. Should you not like sweet desserts and want to stick to the whiskies, you can buy the whole set for the sweet sum of €11,850. Mind you, only 136 sets are available worldwide (3 × 50cl), so be quick.

Fruity

Johnnie Walker launches Black Ruby, a new addition to the iconic Black Label range. It is the first Black Label creation under the direction of Master Blender Dr Emma Walker and a lasting variant in the range.

This blend owes its unique fruity yet powerful flavour to whiskies from the famous Four Corners distilleries: whiskies from the Highlands, such as Clynelish, contribute to its creamy flavour. Lowland whiskies, such as Glenkinchie and Cameronbridge, add vanilla and fruit notes, while Speyside whiskies such as Cardhu provide fruit notes. As a finishing touch, Cao Ila's whisky adds a subtle, smokiness that completes the blend. Johnnie Walker Black Ruby is available now for €39.99 via johnniewalker.com

Whisky with a mission

Talisker, the iconic whisky from the Isle of Skye, presents The Wild Blue, a layered, maritime whisky inspired by rugged coastal landscapes. For the first time, Talisker matured its spirit in red wine casks from South African coastal regions, resulting in a rich expression with smoky and fruity notes. Think: campfire on a deserted, windy beach. But The Wild Blue is more than just flavour. For every bottle sold, Talisker will donate €3.50 to the Blue Marine Foundation - an organisation dedicated to cleaner water and biodiversity. That amount is in addition to a previous pledge of over €113,000. The proceeds will be used to restore oysters and seagrass in coastal areas - essential elements for a healthy coastal ecosystem. Talisker is also making strides on the sustainability front. For example, this edition comes in a bottle of 100% recycled glass with a ceramic label and no cardboard is used. This results in 21% less water consumption and 74% less CO₂ emissions during the packaging process. Talisker The Wild Blue is available through selected outlets and on Malts.com for £78.