][1]Whisky gift ideas are ten a penny at the moment but this one from the Isle of Arran Distillers was an attention-grabber in the run up to Christmas. The distillers have joined forces with the Agronomy Institute at Orkney College UHI, part of the University of the Highlands and Islands, to produce a new single malt whisky made with bere, Scotland’s oldest cultivated barley.
Viking spirit
Apparently, bere was thought to have been introduced to Scotland by the Vikings over a millennium ago. It used to be an important crop in Scotland but fell from favour as higher yielding strains of barley were brought in.
As the new crops were introduced, distillers stopped using bere to make whisky. All the whisky we drink now probably tastes very little like the whisky that used to be made with bere. You see where this is going?
The Agronomy Institute and Arran Distillers worked together to revive the flavour of bere whisky and the result is the new Arran Malt Orkney Bere. Matured in ex-bourbon barrels for eight years, the spirit matured faster than expected and should go on sale at the beginning of December. Only 5,800 bottles will be available.
Collector’s edition
The Arran Malt Orkney Bere has a flavour of ripe apples, oak and rich spices. The spirit has an ABV of 46% and has developed in American oak barrels with no artificial colours and non-chill filtered. A true collector’s edition, you can buy the whisky online at www.arranwhisky.com and from specialist whisky shops. RRP is £47.99 for 70cl.