January 2024
Lindores Coonawarra Cabernet Single Cask
Created Exclusively for The Whisky Club
From the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, this scrupulously created single cask was bottled at the ruins of Lindores Abbey exclusively for The Whisky Club.
Scotch, Single Malt
Colour
Dark maple leafNose
Warm orange tart, ripe nectarines and berries alongside spiced baked apples and boysenberry ice-cream.Palate
Fresh raspberries and cream, light plum and zesty orange notes accompany patisserie spices and sweet dough.What makes this whisky so special
This is a single cask from the birthplace of Scottish whisky. And it’s coming exclusively to Members of the Club this January.
For the first time in over 500 years, aqua vitae is once more being distilled at Lindores. The first recorded Scotch whisky distillation occurred at Lindores Abbey in 1494, while 2017 saw the stills fired up once more. Re-emerging among the likes of new wave Scottish distilleries you already love – think Ardnamurchan and Kilchoman – Lindores are clearly raising the stakes for single malt Scotch.
Their first and signature release, the Lindores MCDXCIV (1494, get it?), slammed home a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2022, and even took out ‘Gold Outstanding’ at the International Wine & Spirits Competition in the same year, with a nearly perfect 98 out of 100 points.
The Lindores Coonawarra Cabernet Single Cask is the first ever single cask to come into Australia from this resurrected distillery. Their fruit-forward, gold medal-winning new make whisky has been fully matured in none other than the savoury elegance and darling of Australian red wine, Coonawarra Cabernet – one of which recently took out best Cabernet in the world at London’s International Wine Challenge this year. This single cask release is luscious and refined; a kindred spirit to The Balvenie’s Red Rose but at a quarter of the price.
At an indulgent 53.2% ABV, non-chill filtered with natural colour, this’ll no doubt join the race for your new Lowland favourite with its religiously good flavour profile of warm orange tart, light plum and sweet dough, with a raspberry jam, thick honeyed malt and cinnamon finish.
You’ll be unlikely to see another scrupulous, full maturation single cask from Lindores like this any time soon. Not yet a Member? Join free today to grab our next exclusive release.
The Specs
- Price
- $190.00
- Age
- No Age Statement (NAS)
- ABV
- 53.2%
- Maturation
- Fully matured in an Australian Coonawarra Cabernet Sauvignon Cask
- Country
- United Kingdom
Lindores Abbey’s History
Lindores Abbey Distillery, acclaimed as the spiritual home of Scotch whisky, boasts a rich history dating back to its founding in 1191 by David Earl of Huntingdon. Nestled on land overlooking the Estuary of the River Tay, the Abbey hosted monarchs like David II, Edward I, and Robert the Bruce. Even Scotland's national hero, William Wallace, sought respite within its hallowed grounds.
The distillation legacy of Lindores Abbey began at least as early as 1494, when the first recorded distillation of Scotch whisky took place – although it was probably happening long before then. The earliest written reference to Scotch whisky appears in the Exchequer Roll of 1494, naming Brother John Cor, a Lindores monk, who was commissioned by King James IV to turn eight ‘bolls’ of malt into Aqua Vitae (as Scotch whisky was known then). That equates to about 400 bottles.
Fast-forward to the modern era, and the fires in Lindores Abbey Distillery have been well and truly rekindled in 2017. Lindores is now not only a custodian of history but a beacon of innovation in whisky-making. Meticulously studying the techniques of Scottish distillers past and present, Lindores brings a modern approach to their ancient site, marrying centuries-old traditions with contemporary expertise.
The distillery's commitment to quality is evident in their production, as they were awarded Best New Make Spirit at the World Whiskies Awards in 2020, followed by a Gold Outstanding (98 points) at the International Wine and Spirits Challenge 2022 and a Double Gold at the World Spirits Competition 2022 for their first publicly released single malt, the Lindores MCDXCIV.
Each expression from Lindores Abbey Distillery is a testament to the distillery's dedication to excellence, drawing on the legacy of Brother John Cor and the Tironensian monks. From the self-evident quality of their whole range, from their New Make to the brilliant MCDXCIV to the Aqua Vita made in the same way as it was over 500 years ago, this little distillery’s modern story has only just begun.
Distillery Facts
- Region
- Lowland
- Origin
- Lindores Abbey House, Abbey Road, Newburgh, Fife, KY14 6HH, United Kingdom
- Founded
- 2017
- Water source
- Borehole
- Washbacks
- 4, Douglas fir
- Stills
- 3 (1 wash, 2 spirit)
- Capacity
- 260,000 litres per annum
Member reviews
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