An all-new range of experimental whiskies have been announced, with the launch of The Whisky Works.
Launching with two limited edition whiskies – first, a Classic Whisky named The 29 Year Old Glaswegian and second, a Modern Whisky called the King of Trees. The Whisky Works will mark the launch at Whisky Live London this Friday 29 and Saturday 30, with an exclusive master-class.
The Whisky Works is led by expert whisky maker, Gregg Glass.
Taking inspiration from centuries of distilling tradition, as well as embracing innovation to develop new maturation practices, Gregg spent years refining his skills in brewing, distilling and maturation. The Whisky Works is a new platform to enable Gregg to bring his experimental whisky making to consumers with a series of Limited Editions
Gregg’s commitment to whisky making starts at source. He is a passionate, hands-on whisky maker, forming partnerships and collaborating with other wine and spirit producers, coopers and sawmill owners to take The Whisky Works closers to every part of the whisky-making process.
The Whisky Works has been founded by Whyte & Mackay, as an independent project home to Gregg Glass.
Whyte & Mackay is one of Scotland’s oldest whisky firms, founded in 1844. The Whisky Works is a new vehicle supporting Gregg’s bid for perfection by offering creative freedom over the selection and maturation of these unique whiskies.
Gregg said: ‘Whisky making is a true passion of mind. Along the way I have been fortunate to develop relationships with brilliant producers connected right along the whisky making process right
back to the individual foresters that manage the woodland that produces our casks.
‘The Whisky Works is a fantastic opportunity to celebrate what can be achieved in the production of a Scotch Whisky.’
The first phase of the launch will give those that enjoy and collect whisky, a ticket to an interesting world of whisky with two new products.
King of Trees, the first Modern Whisky Experiment to emerge from The Whisky Works, is a Highland Blended Malt, part-finished in native Scottish Oak. Wind-felled on an ancient estate in the Scottish Highlands, timber from two centuries-old Scottish oak trees formed a single cask. This enables Gregg Glass to produce a whisky born from a rare, experimental whisky maturation process.
This cask gave King of Trees fresh and crisp notes of apple and pear, vanilla and aromatic cinnamon. There are only 2,157 individually numbered bottles (46.4% ABV), which are natural colour and non-chill filtered.
Gregg’s appetite for experimentation is paired with an appreciation for time served distilling methods. This is the key to the new range, as he searches Scotland’s forgotten distilleries to find rare and exciting whiskies.
The first Classic Whisky from The Whisky Works is, 29 year-old Glaswegian from a now-silent grain distillery which once stood at the heart of Scotland’s waterways.
The single grain whisky has been matured in American White Oak casks held mostly in traditional dunnage warehousing, which provide perfect conditions for maintaining a cool temperature and slower maturation. The influence of the wood on this light grain whisky has created a balanced, sweet taste with flavours of rich butterscotch, custard and exotic fruit rounded off with caramelised Crème Brulee notes, a treat to be savoured by any whisky enthusiast.
With only 1,642 individually numbered bottles (54.2% ABV), natural colour, strength and non-chill filtered, this whisky will be an imaginative journey for whisky fans.
King of Trees (priced at £75, 70cl) and 29 year-old Glaswegian (priced at £130, 70cl) will be available at Whisky Live on Friday 29 March and will then be available exclusively for two weeks on The Whisky Exchange.
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