Sell-out launch for new Scottish independent bottler Saltire Rare Malt Whisky as it launches collection of rare single malts
Scotland’s newest independent bottling firm is celebrating having sold out of its first six releases of rare single malt whisky as it launches to the global drinks market.
Saltire Rare Malt Whisky based in Falkland in Fife, released the six different expressions to great success with products already available across the UK, Japan, Latin America and The Netherlands.
Brand owners, friends and serial entrepreneurs Keith Rennie and Nigel Heywood, look to further expand into international markets with their sights on Germany, Belgium, Luxembourg, New Zealand, USA and North Asia amongst others.
Purchasing casks and maturing whisky over the past decade, the duo has more than 250 in their growing collection.
Saltire Rare Malt Whisky’s 14-year-old Aultmore, 15-year-old Tamnavulin and 17-year-old Glen Moray were the first trio released. The second trio of bottles included an original cask strength 14-year-old Dailuaine, 14-year-old Ardmore and 15-year-old Macduff. Each cask has produced up to 350 bottles which retail from £79 to £105.
All bottlings from Saltire Rare Malt Whisky will be a minimum of 48.8% ABV or higher and will be 14 years or older. Each expression is a limited release and one of a kind.
The next trio to be released in the coming weeks includes a 17-year-old Caol Ila and two Speyside bottlings, Benriach and Dailuaine, both at 14 years old. Pre-orders for the individual bottles are currently available online.
Keith and Nigel both hail locally and it was important that their company was linked to the historic area, which is home to Falkland Palace where Scottish kings once lived and first recognised aqua vitae – the water of life.
Keith said: “We wanted to honour the pedigree of Scotland’s liquid pride and started to quietly purchase casks of maturing whisky throughout the last decade. Now, 530 years after the official birth of Scotch in 1494, coincidentally at Falkland Palace, we thought it was the right time to release the first bottlings of Saltire Rare Malt.”
Respected whisky experts Hans and Becky Offringa, known internationally as The Whisky Couple, have been appointed as curators of the stock and will be responsible for the final liquid that is bottled. The couple boasts more than 50 years of experience between them and are well-known in the industry.
Hans said: “We’ve never connected our name so clearly to a specific whisky company before, but we really felt that this was the time and the opportunity to do so. The stock is of excellent quality and from a wide variety of distilleries which is exciting to explore.”
Saltire Rare Malt Whisky has also appointed David McCallum as the UK and Europe brand ambassador. In his role, David will showcase the brand to consumers and trade across the country and will travel to introduce the brand to international buyers while exploring new market opportunities.
The whisky bottlers hosted a soft launch at the 25th anniversary of the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in May and have already sold more than 2,100 bottles.
Spirits writer Steve Rush of The Whisky Wire will host a special Saltire Rare Malt Whisky online tasting on his Twitter channel @TweetTastings on September 4 at 7pm.
The tasting will include the Caol Ila, Benriach, Dailuaine and Ardmore expressions and are free to attend online.
To find out more about Saltire Rare Malt Whisky and the next releases visit www.saltireraremalt.com
