Frapin and Highland Park go ultra-premium

Published: 23 July, 2008

Cognac Frapin and Maxxium UK's malt whisky brand Highland Park have both made additions to the very top ends of their portfolios.

Cognac Frapin's newcomer is Cuve 1888, a blend of very rare Cognacs, some of which pre-date 1888. It is sold in a fine crystal decanter designed in the shape of a spinning top and with a 24-carat fine-gold thread. In all, 1,888 bottles have been produced, and they will be distributed in the UK by McKinley Vintners with an anticipated' retail price of 3,000.

Highland Park's launch, Highland Park 30-Year-Old Single Malt, has the slightly less intimidating price of 179.99. Launched at this year's Whisky Live in Glasgow, the new single malt is the oldest in the Highland Park portfolio and is aged in 75% Sherry casks and 25% Bourbon barrels.

Speaking at the launch of the 30-year-old new' malt, Highland Park brand ambassador, Gerry Tosh, said: This particular malt proves that 30 years of maturation results in an entirely new expression of Highland Park that is unique in flavour while maintaining the distincitve Orcadian characteristics of smokiness, peat and sweetness.'

Diageo has announced that it is to stop marketing its Rare Malts Selection after the 2005 release. In future, all of

its premium and rare malt whisky bottlings will be made available in the annual Special Releases series.

The 2005 release of Rare Malts will consist of four cask-strength single malts, each taken from closed distilleries: Glen Mhor 28-years-old; Millburn 35-years-old; Glendullan 26-years-old; and Linkwood 30-years-old.

Printer friendly version