October may have already begun, but we are still holding on to September—or at least some of it. Take a look at what we think are the top 10 spirit launches from last month:
1. Glenmorangie Taghta
Translating to “the chosen one” in Gaelic, this limited edition spirit is the first crowd-managed single malt whisky in the world. Created through Glenmorangie’s Cask Masters program, avid fans of the brand from more than 30 countries helped influence every stage of this whisky’s production, from its packaging design to its name. With only 12,000 bottles globally available, Taghta’s flavor consists of salt, caramelized citrus, oak, and olives with an after taste of chocolate and dates.
2. Greenall’s Sloe Gin and Wild Berry
For the first time in 250 years—since the company began making gin in 1761—Greenall has introduced two new products, Sloe gin and Wild Berry gin. While the wild berry flavor is a hearty combination of English blackberries and raspberries, the sloe berry is a welcoming touch to Greenalls’ original eight botanicals. Whichever you choose, Greenall’s gin is a warming beverage ideal for the upcoming autumn and winter seasons.
3. Martell Premier Voyage
For the company’s 300th birthday, Martell released a limited edition blend of cognac using eaux-de-vie sourced from winegrowing families whose ancestors supplied Martell in 1735—1742. Sticking with the company’s age, this spirit is matured in barrels crafted from a 300-year-old tree. Also 300 bottles have been produced, and if you’re lucky enough to buy a bottle, you’ll also receive an accompaniment of minimalist steel artwork by artist Bernar Venet.
4. The Glenlivet Winchester Collection
The Glenlivet is the first Scotch whisky brand to release an exclusive collection of rare 50-year old whiskies. Although the collection will be in limited supply, the number of single malts to be released as part of the assortment is yet to be confirmed. Still, each bottle is considered to be a classic, so keep your eyes peeled for this vintage variety.
5. Killer Queen
Owned by none other than the band, Queen, this vodka is intended to pay homage to the group’s late front man, Freddie Mercury. According to Queen guitarist, Brian May, Mercury loved vodka so much that he used to carry around a cooler of the spirit while on tour. Named after the 1974 hit single, Killer Queen is distilled 7 times and bottled at 40%, a process Mercury would surely approve of.
6. Ciroc Pineapple
P Diddy has done it again. The release of the singer’s 5th flavor of his collection has been a notable one. Having a rich pineapple taste with a touch of vanilla, Ciroc pineapple is perfect if you’re fishing for a cocktail with a tropical finish.
7. The Balvenie 50 Year Old
William Grant & Sons released two 50 year old bottlings for The Balvenie, one being from cask 4567 and the other from 4570. Even though both are created from whiskey distilled on the same day back in May 1963, each bottle still tastes significantly different. There are only 131 bottles from cask 4567 and 128 from cask 4570, so if this interests you, we’d recommend keeping a lookout.
8. Cotswolds Gin
A London dry gin, Cotswolds Distillery created this spirit by infusing pure wheat spirit with juniper, angelica root and coriander for 24 hours. After this process the product is mixed with other botanicals such as black pepper, lavender, bay leaf and grapefruit to produce a unique and irreplaceable taste.
9. Old Forester Birthday Bourbon
Celebrating its founder George Garvin Brown, who founded both the company and the bourbon more than 140 years ago, this product marks the 13th annual birthday bourbon release. A vintage dated spirit, old forester birthday bourbon contains a creamy vanilla taste with after notes of cinnamon, maple and citrus.
10. The Ardmore Legacy
This no-age-statement single malt is ideal for whiskey drinkers looking for something new to experiment with. It has a creamy vanilla-spice flavor that is mixed with that of smoky, sweet honey. Finally, its dry, tangy finish compliments this whisky, proving that its name should indeed be a legacy.
Have you already sipped on some of these spirits? Let us know how you liked them!