Page 54 - Thirst Magazine Issue 2 June 2017

whisky trends

to watch coming Irish whiskey revolution is Diageo’s has already been a huge success since it was
William Grant and Sons’ Monkey Shoulder
attempt to get back into the sector, two years
launched in 2005, while last year, Johnnie
after selling one of the category’s jewels,
Walker recently reinstated the previously
Bushmills, to Mexican company Jose Cuevo.
Diageo recently launched a new brand, Roe
back into its core range. Not to be left out,
And Co, and is currently building a new
Chivas Brothers launched its first ever blended
distillery in Dublin. discontinued (except in Taiwan) Green Label
malt brand, Chivas Ultis, last year.
By SJ Zheng the new world catches up
Ireland is not the only one that is on the up. GettinG experimental
Whiskies from other countries have also With the shift towards NAS whiskies,
rom Scotch to bourbon, Japanese to the age statements off most of their bottlings. started to trickle out into the market. Japanese, distilleries will be looking to make their
Irish, there is no doubt that whisky (or In fact, NAS bottlings are becoming such Canadian, Australian, and American whiskies products stand out more to make up for the
whiskey) is one of the biggest spirit a trend right now that it’s become a tendency are already well-established, but what’s lack of an age statement. This could lead to
categories in the world. In recent for some distilleries to declare that they will surprising is how quickly whiskies from other more experimental whiskies or more unique
F times, the category has experienced a NEVER take away the age statement. During countries are also getting a foot in the door. bottlings in the market.
worldwide boom, leading to an industry that a visit to Kuala Lumpur last year, Glen Grant Taiwan’s Kavalan, for instance, has been a For example, Glenmorangie and Ardbeg
is constantly evolving to keep up with global master distiller Dennis Malcolm defiantly massive success, winning numerous awards, have released bottlings that experiment with
demand. With that, several notable trends have claimed that as long as he worked there, it and expanding its reach far beyond Taiwan unique cask finishes via the Glenmorangie
emerged within the whisky world. will always have a core range of whiskies and Asia – it recently announced that it will be Private Editions and the annual Ardbeg Day
with an age statement. And in a strange plot releasing five new bottles in the US this year. limited edition bottlings (the recent one,
twist, Johnnie Walker actually renamed their In terms of volume, India is the largest Ardbeg Kelpie, was aged in virgin Black Sea
non-aGe statement scotch Platinum Label to the Johnnie Walker 18-Year- consumer of whisky in the world, though oak casks).
There is no denying it anymore – non-age Old! much of it is domestic ‘whiskey’ derived from Glenfiddich also recently launched their
statement (NAS) whiskies are here to stay. molasses. The country does produce single own experimental series, with two expressions
They may argue that what matters is the malt whisky as well though, mainly through – the Glenfiddich XX (a blend of malts chosen
flavour of the whisky, not the age, that is two brands – Amrut and Paul John, both of by 20 of the distillery’s brand ambassadors)
most important, but the fact is more and more the rise of the irish which have also been getting a good reputation and Glenfiddich IPA (finished in casks that
whisky producers are coming up with NAS Ireland was the country overseas. previously held IPA beer).
bottlings these days largely to cope with the that invented whiskey, With whisky distilleries popping up Some distilleries have been looking at other
rising demand for whisky worldwide. and was once the everywhere, from Iceland and South Africa to ways to influence their spirit, for instance, the
While many of the established brands still largest producer of Belgium and Switzerland, don’t be surprised if barley – Bruichladdich has whiskies made from
retain the age statements on their core ranges, the spirit in the world. your next favourite whisky isn’t from Scotland 100% Islay-grown barley, while Springbank has
many have However, it fell by the or Japan. its Local Barley series.
I don’t remember, How old are released NAS wayside for a variety of Even Johnnie
does it matter? expressions reasons and historical Walker is coming up
you? Like 20?
as well – circumstances. Recently with experiments
Glenlivet, though, Irish whiskey of its own via the
for instance, is going through a Blender’s Batch series,
recently renaissance that has which sees master
launched the seen it become the blender Jim Beveridge
Glenlivet fastest growing spirit and his team
Founder’s category in the world. experimenting with
Reserve, which A recent Wall Street different cask finishes
could well Journal article reported and flavours in limited
replace its core that Irish whiskey has grown worldwide at a edition bottlings.
12-Year-Old staggering 131% over the past decade compared more malt-ernatives As Scotch
bottling in the to Scotch’s relatively modest 13%. At the tail Blended whisky may still be Scotch’s biggest continues to grow,
future. Over end of 2016, it was estimated that there are seller, but with increasingly discerning whisky look out for more such
in Japan, the more than 30 new distilleries being built or drinkers demanding more malt whisky, blended ‘experiments’ in the
two biggest planned at the time. malt (a blend of only malt whiskies) could be future. It’s an exciting
producers of With new distilleries like Teeling Whiskey another way for distilleries to go. Also known time to be a whisky-
whiskies there, at its forefront and established brands like as “pure malt” in Japan, the category may still drinker, so don’t let a
Suntory and Jameson attempting to diversify its portfolio, be rather small compared to single malt and number (or the lack
Nikka, have these are exciting times for Irish whiskey. blended whisky, but that could change in the of one) on the bottle
already taken Perhaps one of the clearest signs of the future. limit your choices!

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