Skye-based Mossburn Distillers & Blenders has kicked off its Cask Collaboration Series with a special limited-edition bottling of 12 Year old Mossburn Speyside blended malt finished in rum casks shipped directly from the Foursquare Distillery in Barbados.
The release marks the start of a new annual Cask Collaboration Series for Mossburn, that will see it blend and finish a different Scotch each year in a special cask finish using barrels sourced from a distinctive world-renowned distillery across different spirit categories.
The collaboration between RL Seale Barbados – owners of the Foursquare rum distillery – and Mossburn is a natural one. RL Seale was an independent bottler and blender before becoming distillers and while Mossburn is younger it is following a similar trajectory – blending and bottling whiskies before it opened its first single malt distillery, Torabhaig on the Isle of Skye, in 2017.
The bottle and packaging nods to the shared heritage of both companies and features the flags of Scotland and Barbados. Bright illustrations of palm trees adorn the bottle and gifting tin.
The spirit started life as a classic expression of Speyside Malt Whisky, first aged for more than 12 years in ex-bourbon casks before re-aging in American oak casks that previously contained mature Foursquare rums. It is released at batch strength, 57.7% ABV and is non-chill filtered with no added colour.
Mossburn’s Neil Macleod Mathieson said: “Pairing casks to a whisky is a delicate business for Mossburn, we are looking to enhance the character of the chosen whiskies and add nuances from the spirit that the new casks used to contain. It’s all about balance. These Barbados casks complement rather than fight with our Speyside malt whisky blend and together they create a whisky both rum and whisky lovers will surely enjoy.”
Richard Seale, CEO and Master Distiller of RL Seale and Foursquare Distillery, added: “When Neil asked if we could collaborate on aging his whisky in Foursquare casks I was immediately keen to be involved. It’s intriguing to see the character our rum casks will impart on the blend and it’s an excellent opportunity to engage whisky drinkers to bring them into the world of rum.”
Twelve Year old Mossburn Speyside blended malt finished in Foursquare rum casks has an RSP of £65. A total of 1,500 bottles are available in the UK.
