Mossburn finishes whisky in Calvados casks

Scotch producer Mossburn Distillers has released a limited edition 12-year-old blend finished in Calvados casks from Domaine Dupont.

The Calvados apple cider brandy-finished Speyside malt is the second limited edition in the company's annual Collaboration Series. It follows the release of Mossburn Foursquare in 2023. Mossburn and Domaine Dupont have worked together for several decades, but this is the first time a collaborative bottle has been produced. The Speyside malt whisky used for the release was initially aged in ex-Bourbon casks and re-casked for secondary maturation in French oak Calvados and Pommeau casks. Domaine Dupont is located in Normandy, France, and was established in 1887 as a farm and cider house before a focus on Calvados began in the 1980s. Etienne Dupont began his career in the Cognac region before moving into the production of brandy. Neil Macleod Mathieson, whisky maker at Mossburn Distillers, commented: “When looking at collaborative efforts, one likes to turn to one’s oldest friends. "Having worked with the Dupont family for 30 years and admired the deft touch with which they introduce oak to their Calvados, I was sure this would allow us to use their locally coopered casks to great effect on a Speyside malt finish, emphasising its typical heathery and floral notes. Even before casking, we were imagining autumn days and spiced baked apples – what a treat.” Released at a batch strength of 57.2% ABV, the expression displays floral honeyed notes with baked red apples, vanilla cream, pink peppercorn and oak spices on the palate. The finish offers lingering flavours of apple crumble, toasted hazelnuts, sultanas and toffee brittle. The Mossburn 12-year-old limited release will be allocated 2,580 bottles in the US, 1,400 bottles for the UK and the rest of Europe with 3,540 bottles. In the UK, the expression will be available from Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange and has a suggested retail price of £65 (US$90/€80). Mossburn Distillers & Blenders is an independent bottler, blender and whisky maker, known for producing Torabhaig single malt on the Isle of Skye. The company also makes Caisteal Chamius blended peated Scotch.