Ferg & Harris reveals 2024 collection
Independent bottler Ferg & Harris has released a collection of five single malts finished in different casks, including a Bunnahabhain finished in Sauternes.
The Ferg & Harris team sources single casks from distilleries across Scotland and finishes them in different casks, creating a series of unique, limited edition single malt whiskies. The 2024 collection features one Islay whisky and four Speyside single malts, two of which come from Glenallachie Distillery. Initially aged in an Amontillado Sherry cask, a 15-year-old single malt from Craigallachie was divided and used to fill two different finishing casks – one virgin oak and one white Port. These ‘sister’ whiskies share the same fruity warmth from their Sherry maturation but have developed different characteristics. Offered at 64.2% ABV, the virgin oak-finished Craigallachie is limited to 284 bottles and retails for £129.99 (US$170). The palate displays notes of vanilla, caramel, and a hint of spice. The second 15-year-old Craigallachie, finished in white Port cask, is bottled at 63.1% ABV, limited to 279 bottles and retails for £129.99 (US$170). The whisky offers aromas of honey-roasted peanuts and vanilla with an array of spices, ginger and smooth buttery caramel on the palate. Another Speyside malt, an 11-year-old Tormore, was initially aged in a first-fill Bourbon barrel. The whisky was finished in virgin oak, limited to 205 bottles, and retails for £89.99 (US$118). Offered at 63.3% ABV, the expression displays light strawberry, peach, vanilla, and ‘s'mores’ notes. Limited to 288 bottles and retailing for £124.99 (US$163), the 12-year-old single malt from Longmorn Distillery was first matured in a first-fill Bourbon barrel then finished in a white Port cask. Bottled at 58.8% ABV, the expression offers aromas of candied strawberries and cream on the nose, followed by sour green apple, citrus and nutty flavours on the palate. The last of the quintet, a 14-year-old peated Islay single malt from Bunnahabhain, was aged in a second-fill oloroso hogshead before finishing in a Sauternes sweet wine cask. Limited to 281 bottles, retailing for £139.99 (US$183) and offered at 54.7% ABV, the expression displays notes of maple-glazed smoked bacon with roasted nuts and spices on the palate. Ferg & Harris was founded in 2021 by whisky enthusiasts John Ferguson and Alex Harrison as part of Young Spirits, an Edinburgh-based spirits and bottling business. Harrison commented: "When aged whisky meets exotic wood, there’s an element of alchemy that produces a sometimes unexpected but always incredible dram. "The latest five whiskies to join our collection are very special. Each cask was already a first-rate single malt whisky, but we have added that little bit of extra time in a richly flavoured finishing wood, and that’s when we see the magic happen. That quality, character and the extra finish is what distinguishes every Ferg & Harris bottling and we hope whisky fans will enjoy exploring and tasting our latest collection." In addition to the latest collection and previously released single cask bottlings, the brand also offers a core 12-year-old Speyside single malt whisky finished in a first-fill Pedro Ximénez Sherry hogshead.
