Canasta Cream Sherry Williams & Humbert 75cl

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Whisky is as synonymous with Scotland as tartan and golf, and a club as prestigious as Dundonald Links deserves a whisky tasting room to match this traditional pastime. Brendan McCarron, master distiller at Bunnahabhain, said: "We’re so excited to welcome whisky fans from across the globe to celebrate the world of Bunnahabhain at Fèis Ìle once again. We look forward to the festival every year as it is a great way to spend time with whisky lovers, bring them into our world and share some fantastic drams in such a beautiful setting. The first iteration of The Dragon Series is called The Field, and tells the journey from field to distillery, described as the ‘origin story’ for all Bladnoch’s whiskies. Although Amontillado sherry is essentially a compromise between Fino and Olosoro styles, it’s best covered last given that learning above the others provides essential context. Despite being located on an island known for its abundant supply of peat, Bunnahabhain stands out from the crowd by predominately specialising in unpeated whisky. What’s more, the installation of a Biomass Energy Centre in 2022 put Bunnahabhain on course to have the first net-zero distillation process on Islay. The Centre, which is fuelled with a mix of spent process malt called draff and locally sourced forest wood, saves 5,500 tonnes of carbon emissions a year, representing a reduction of 95 per cent over oil. Nevertheless, while embracing the latest in green technology, the other elements of Bunnahabhain’s production process have remained resolutely traditional, with two large onion-shaped stills producing a bold and fruity spirit with plenty of character.

Ashy coal dust, peppermint and cardamom, then dark chocolate and eucalyptus rolling in to disguise Ardbeg's iconic balance. Finally, Manzanilla is a variant of fino sherry that’s particularly light. It’s named after a chamomile infusion as its flavours are said to resemble the herb. It distinguishes itself by being made closer to the coast near the port of Sanlúcar de Barrameda.

The use of Canasta casks gives Bunnahabhain the best of both worlds with layers of spicy Oloroso and rich and sweet Pedro Ximenez. Scotch whiskies are made from malted barley and are aged for no less than three years. To be a true Scotch malt, they must be distilled in Scotland, like our very own Dundonald Links whisky.

We worked with whisky consultant Blair Bowman to curate the whiskies for the whisky room. As part the brief, Blair wanted to include a variety of well-known whisky that guests would recognise, but also plenty of ‘hidden gems’ distilleries or bottlings that might be less familiar. For those guests visiting from overseas, he wanted to give them an opportunity to try whiskies they may never have tasted before. We also wanted a range whiskies to suit all budgets and occasions. For the first time this year, Bunnahabhain is also launching an immersive virtual reality experience for those who can't make it to the festival in person. The experience allows viewers a 360º exploration of the distillery and the chance to watch virtual tastings with the distillery team, including master distiller McCarron. As we approach Fèis Ìle 2023, we're taking a look at this years Bunnahabhain offerings. Bunnahabhain Fèis Ìle 2023: Canasta Cask Matured Consider also blue and soft cheeses. However, I would suggest using quince or fig jelly to extend the sweetness a little while you marry the two. A few fresh walnuts with your cheese would also heighten the experience. The whisky aims to capture numerous variables in the brand’s casks, such as oak species, growth environment and the technical aspects of toasting, charring, and seasoning.

Beer

Scotland’s oldest privately-owned whisky distillery, Bladnoch, has unveiled a collection of five single malts that celebrate the ‘natural unpredictability’ of whisky making. The Dragon Series draws its inspiration from a fractional curve in mathematics