Benromach Château Cissac
Beyond having a core range comprising a few age statement scotches, Benromach has also long played the game of experimentation. This has been seen recently in their Wood Finish series, which sees their spirit aged in different types of casks. The Benromach Château Cissac is finished in casks from Château Cissac in the French wine region of Haut-Médoc near Bordeaux for just a touch over two years. The dominant grape grown in this region is Cabernet Sauvignon.
Port Dundas 12 Year Single Grain
Situated just north of Glasgow, Port Dundas distillery was closed in 2010 after distilling grain whisky for almost two hundred years. By the end of the 19th century, it was one of the largest whisky makers in Scotland by volume, at over two million gallons a year. The grains used were barley, rye, and most curious of all, American corn. Unlike many distilleries that fell into closure due to poor sales or temperance movements, the decision to close Port Dundas was made due to another distillery in Diageo’s portfolio, Cameronbridge, having a higher production capacity. Even though the distillery was demolished in 2011, enough product remains for Diageo to have two offerings at least in the American, this Port Dundas 12 Year and an 18 Year grain scotch.
Oban Little Bay
While Oban has been distilling for over two hundred years, their geographic restraints have kept them from growing into a truly giant place of production. For many years, their single malts were relegated to the 14 Year and Distillers Edition. Therefore it was a welcome surprise when they introduced a new No Age Statement offering to their lineup in 2015, the Oban Little Bay. The Scottish Gaelic name for the town, An t-Òban, means “little bay”. The single malt is blended in 200 liter ex-bourbon barrels, the smallest barrels available at the distillery. This was at one point their travel retail exclusive.