This New Whisky Series Sources Lesser-Known Single Malts for Serious Scotch Collectors

There is so much whiskey and whisky out there to choose from, so it’s notable when something comes along from a lesser known distillery that you likely haven’t had a chance to try before (or haven’t even heard of). These often come in the form of releases from independent bottlers who source barrels from various distilleries and release them as single-cask expressions. Case in point is a new series of eight bottles from American independent bottler Single Cask Nation, which turned to some unfamiliar scotch distilleries to come up with a lineup for hardcore whisky collectors.

Single Cask Nation was founded in 2011 by Jason Johnstone-Yellin and Joshua Hatton. The company has focused on single malt scotch from distilleries like Aberfeldy, Caol Ila, and Glen Moray, but there have also been some interesting expressions from American distilleries like Catoctin Creek, Westland, and MGP, as well as an Australian rye and a couple of rums. “Independent bottling is a longtime tradition in Scotland—one that gave rise to the global fascination and reputation of single malt whisky itself many now take for granted,” said Hatton in a statement. “These eight bottlings highlight distilleries many people are not familiar with, but should be. Add to this, some of the cask maturation we’ve focused on with these releases helps to broaden the array of flavors in remarkable ways. There’s a flavor ride here for any and all interested whisky lovers.”

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The single malts included in the new Collection are as follows: Macduff 16 Year Old aged for 12 years in an ex-bourbon barrel and four years in an American Oak oloroso sherry hogshead; Ruadh Mhor 14 Year Old aged in a efill ex-bourbon hogshead; Knockdhu 14 Year Old aged for 11 years in an ex-bourbon barrel and three years in a Spanish oak Oloroso sherry hogshead; Inchmurrin 14 Year Old aged for 11 years in an ex-bourbon and three years in a new toasted oak barrique; Bunnahabhain “Staoisha” aged for six years in an ex-bourbon barrel and four years in an American oak PX sherry hogshead; Pluscarden Abbey 16 Year Old aged for 13 years in an ex-bourbon barrel and three years in a refill PX Sherry hogshead; Auchroisk 13 Year Old aged for eight years in an ex-bourbon barrel and five years in an ex-Jamaican rum barrel; and Glen Moray 12 Year Old aged entirely in an ex-bourbon barrel.

Whisky fans may be familiar with some of these names, but a few of them could use a little explanation. Ruadh Mhor is a label used by the Glenturret Distillery for its peated malts, and this whisky should appeal to fans of Ledaig, Croftengea, or younger Craigellachie according to the Single Cask Nation notes. Pluscarden Abbey is not the name of a distillery at all—Single Cask Nation is not at liberty to reveal which one produced this whisky, but it is a Speyside single malt. And Auchroisk is a Diageo distillery that once bottled whisky under the Singleton name, but now mostly produces whisky that is used in the J&B blend (this is said to be a favorite of the Single Cask Nation team).

This new Single Cask Nation collection will available starting in March, prices ranging from $110 to $150 per bottle, at select retailers around the country. You can also find some previous releases available to purchase from websites like ReserveBar and Total Wine.

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