The Botanist has announced an exclusive bottling of one of the oldest aged gins on the market, the 2011 Single Cask Islay Aged Gin. The new offering has been maturing in the cool climes of Bruichladdich Distillery’s warehouse on Islay since the year that The Botanist was launched.
Under the watchful eye of Head Distiller, Adam Hannett, the gin has been matured in a premium red wine cask, soaking up the color and flavors of the oak barrel and the marine influence of the Islay sea air. With just one cask worth of the exclusive gin created, there are only 418 350ml bottles of the limited-edition liquid available.
“It’s something special to have a single cask of The Botanist, matured from the first year that we realised it out into the world,” said Hannett. “We describe The Botanist as the unique expression of the heart and soul of Islay but obviously the island is best known for whisky. Curiosity and patience led us to this unique experiment. We think it’s been worth the wait.”
This one-of-a-kind release of The Botanist 2011 Single Cask Islay Aged Gin features a palate that combines notes of brown sugar, honey, tobacco, and toffee from the oak, with a finish of citrus freshness and sweet-scented juniper. It’s best enjoyed neat or on the rocks.
“This single cask of The Botanist, Islay aged gin is the embodiment of our curiosity, craft and philosophy,” said Douglas Taylor, CEO of Bruichladdich Distillery. “To think that it has been maturing quietly on Islay, from the very beginning of the brands existence to this point, is really special. I’m delighted to toast The Botanist’s tenth birthday with this incredible and unique spirit.”
The Botanist is releasing this limited-edition bottling as part of Bruichladdich Distillery’s Fèis Ìle 2021 celebrations. This virtual event, taking place on May 30th, is centred around some of the milestones achieved in the distillery’s 140 year history. These milestones include 20 years since the Bruichladdich re-opened, 10 years since The Botanist was first distilled, and one year since the distillery was awarded their B Corp certification, cementing their position as one of the only distilleries in the world to have achieved this.
The Botanist 2011 Single Cask Islay Aged Gin will be on sale from May 30, 2021 via ballot. To register, head over to the official webpage.
Last month, The Botanist announced a new partnership with the Independent Restaurant Coalition (IRC) to support local restaurants and bars as they continue to rebuild their businesses and navigate the impacts of COVID-19.