Wemyss showcases Highlands with new blends

Edinburgh-based Wemyss Malts has added two new additions to its blended Scotch whisky range: Blooming Gorse and Flaming Feast.

Both whiskies have been created from casks selected by whisky writer Charlie Maclean and the Wemyss Malts team. Blooming Gorse is a combination of two Highland single malts matured in a total of 15 first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels and first-fill ex-Bourbon hogsheads. It is described as a “malty and floral whisky”, of which 6,900 bottles have been produced. Flaming Feast is a combination of 15 casks from two smoky single malt distilleries based in the east Highlands and west coast Inner Hebrides. The blend, 6,000 bottles of which are available, is said to display a “complex mix of sweet and savoury smoke”. Both whiskies join the Wemyss Family Collection range, which highlights specific influences on Scotch whisky, including regional style and the effect of different casks. Blooming Gorse and Flaming Feast showcase the Highland Scotch whisky-making region. “The brief we set for these blended malts was to really illustrate the diversity of Highland malt whisky and show that there really is no one Highland regional style,” said Wemyss Malts brand manager Steven Shand. “Casks selected for the Family Collection are always very well balanced with active oak, therefore the recipes were purposely kept simple. We selected casks from only a few single malt varieties for each blend to find complementing flavours that establish depth and complexity once combined and left to marry.” Both expressions have an abv of 46%. Blooming Gorse is priced £46 (US$58) while Flaming Feast has an RRP of £48 (US$60). They will be available initially to Wemyss Malts Cask Club members and then roll out to selected retailers in the UK, EU and Asian markets.