Flor de Caña V Generaciones, Bruichladdich Rare Casks, Octomore 10 series, Lagavulin Offerman Edition, High Jinks Bar, Saga Bar and more, in this week’s bar/spirited news & recommended reads.
Don Carlos Pellas with Flor de Caña V Generaciones – Photo © Cocktails & Bars
Flor de Caña V Generaciones
Don Carlos Pellas, Flor de Caña fifth generation founder visited Sydney to launch Flor de Caña V Generaciones, a 30-year-old rum aged in a single barrel since 1988. The luxury expression comes in a bottle with the signatures of the five family generations behind the company, a bottle cap made of volcanic rock and a replica of the 1902 volcano postal stamp of Nicaragua. Each V Generaciones bottle is individually numbered and has a metallic label, a certificate of authenticity and comes in a black leather case. Only 411 bottles are available worldwide with 10 bottles available in Australia. Flor de Caña V Generaciones is bottled at 40% ABV retails at $2500 AUD.
Bruichladdich Rare Cask Series
Douglas Taylor, Bruichladdich CEO and Murray Campbell, Brand Manager whom we interviewed in 2016 visited Sydney and Melbourne and hosted an intimate dinner and tasting of three expressions of the Bruichladdich Rare Cask Series.
- Bruichladdich 1985 / 32 Rare Cask Series – Bourbon: Hidden Glory – (48.7% ABV) a limited release of 4200 bottles aged for 32 years, matured in third fill bourbon casks until 2012 then re-casked into first fill bourbon casks with a final ace in premium French oak that previously held claret.
- Bruichladdich 1986 / 30 Rare Cask Series – Sherry: The Magnificent Seven – (44.6% ABV), the very last 7 casks from 1986, a limited release of 4200 bottles, matured in Oloroso casks until 2012 then recasked into PX casks from Fernando de Castilla
- Bruichladdich 1988 / 30 Rare Cask Series – Bourbon: The Untouchable – (46.2% ABV), a limited release of 5800 bottles aged for 30 years, matured in refill bourbon barrels and squat hogsheads, untouched in 30 years.
Octomore 10 Series
Also during their visit, Douglas Taylor and Murray Campbell of Bruichladdich presented a preview of the Octomore 10 series at Eau de Vie bar in Sydney. The series is comprised of:
- Octomore 10.1 – 59.8% ABV, 5 yo, 107 ppm, distilled in 2013 from the 2012 harvest, fully matured in first fill American whiskey casks
- Octomore 10.2 – travel retail expression, 56.9% ABV, 96.9 ppm, 8 yo, matured for 4 years in first fill ex American whiskey casks then 4 years in ex Sauternes casks
- Octomore 10.3 – 61.3% ABV, 5 yo, 114 ppm, single field, single farm, single vintage Islay grown barley, fully matured in first fill American whiskey casks
- Octomore 10.4 – 63.5% ABV, 3 yo, 88 ppm, distilled in 2016 from 2015 harvest, full maturation in highly toasted French Limousin virgin oak
Saga Bar Opens in Sydney
Sydney has a new hidden bar, and to find it, you need to walk down a dodgy alleyway to reap your reward. Prepare to be amazed. Read about Saga Bar here.
Black Market Rebrands as High Jinks
Last month, we brought you the news that Black Market Canberra has reopened under the new ownership of Noriel Calub, known to the industry as Noz. The bar has since rebranded to High Jinks Canberra, in line with bringing a fun, social and down-to-earth vibe to the capital, a place to have a ‘silly goose time’. Read about High Jinks bar here.
Lagavulin Offerman Edition
Another week and another actor/celebrity is putting their name (literally) to a spirit. This time actor and writer Nick Offerman has joined forces with Lagavulin to release a new, limited-edition Lagavulin Offerman Edition Aged 11 Years Single Malt Scotch Whisky. A series of comedic videos entitled My Tales Of Whisky can be viewed here. The expression is only available in Australia and the USA at a RRP of $120 AUD.
Icons of Whisky Australia 2020
The Icons of Whisky Australia 2020 were announced at the Icons dinner held in Sydney. In case you missed it, the full list of the winners and highly commended Icons of Whisky Australia 2020 can be viewed here.
Recommended Reads
- The bartenders embracing abstinence (source)
- Is the 50/50 Even a Martini? (source)
- Are smoked cocktails cool again? (source)
Opening a new cocktail bar or Australian distillery? Contact us here.
