TBWC EXCLUSIVE RELEASES
Over the years, we have had the pleasure of bottling numerous exclusive releases tailored for our wonderful partners. While you might have spotted the odd Master of Malt or Hedonism Wines exclusive gracing the shelves here in the UK, as an independent bottler, we’ve tended to be quite modest about these projects. Typically, the process involves our friends requesting a unique single cask for their specific locale; we’ll dispatch a selection of samples, and they’ll hand-pick their favourite, deciding on the bottling ABV and their own bespoke label art. However, a recent request to craft a bespoke Blended Scotch Whisky for our French distributors, La Maison du Whisky, proved to be an especially exciting endeavour for the team.
La Maison du Whisky (LMDW)
For over six decades, our friends at La Maison du Whisky have been championing the cause for spirits enthusiasts. Driven by an insatiable curiosity and a genuine passion for the craft, they share their expertise through their beautiful boutiques and online presence. They’re also the masterminds behind Whisky Live Paris, which, if you ask me, is easily one of the finest whisky and spirits showcases on the planet.
LMDW have been fantastic supporters of our work here at TBWC. They reached out to us with the idea of creating an exclusive French release that would sit perfectly alongside our core range—a permanent addition designed specifically for their local market.
The Brief
Once the vision for their exclusive Blended Scotch Whisky was shared, we set to work meeting their specific requirements for a small-batch run of at least 600 bottles. Our mission was to craft a profile that married the smoke of peat with the richness of sherry, intentionally eschewing a fixed age statement to let the liquid’s character lead the way. To ensure it felt right at home within our core range, we settled on a strength of 45.8% ABV—a charming nod to the traditional 80° proof that was once the standard for Scotch whisky in years gone by.
The Label Design
The creative spark for this label came from our French partners, who envisioned a local deer inspired by prehistoric artistry. They shared images of ancient charcoal stags from the Salon Noir in the French Pyrenees' Niaux Cave. These incredible works, dating back roughly 13,000 to 14,000 years, were crafted by Upper Palaeolithic hunter-gatherers and showcase stunning, intricate black silhouettes of deer alongside bison and horses.
The inspiration, and some initial ideas for the label..
Dubbed the Black Stag, the vision for this label was entrusted to our long-time creative collaborator, Emily Chappell. We invited her to translate the ancient spirit of the cave paintings into a series of conceptual designs for the team to pore over. Following the exchange of various conceptual illustrations, the team ultimately chose to align the visual identity of the 'Black Stag' label with our established core range.
Should you find yourself captivated by these prehistoric masterpieces, I can heartily recommend exploring their official site. It offers a gripping account of the 1940 discovery and the decades of scholarly devotion that followed—it truly is a marvellous piece of history! Lascaux Cave
The Blend
Armed with the brief, we scoured our inventory to secure the specific whiskies required to bring this profile to life. Over the past few years, we have been consistently acquiring Sherry-seasoned casks through a long-standing partnership with a Bodega. Our very own Head of Whisky—and 2024 Blender of the Year—the self-confessed whisky nerd Dr Sam Simmons (widely known as Dr Whisky), began the meticulous task of constructing blends that would perfectly satisfy the requirements.
A variety of potential blend profiles, each balancing different intensities of peat and sherry character, were carefully developed and dispatched to our partners for their consideration.
Sam Simmons, Head of Whisky at ATOM Brands, said, “Reflecting on my early days in the whisky world some twenty-five years ago (la vache!), La Maison du Whisky was already a veritable Mecca for enthusiasts. It was a destination I’d always seek out during my Parisian visits, constantly keeping an eye on their bottling lists. Our paths crossed frequently throughout my tenure with Balvenie in both France and Singapore, fostering a deep professional respect. It has been a moment of genuine pride for me to finally collaborate on a bespoke liquid with them—and the fact that they are truly enamoured with the result is the icing on the cake!”
When asked about what has gone into the blend, Sam was a little more guarded, with just Scotch Whisky regions for the malts- Speyside, Islay, and Highland, Lowland Grain Whiskies, alongside Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez for the Sherry, and the finest hand-picked oak casks, of course!
The Result
Chef de Produit - Embouteilleurs Indépendants, Jean-Baptiste Castelain says, “We wanted to create a peated blend that would be lively, accessible, and easy to enjoy, allowing as many people as possible to discover, or rediscover, the buffet (CORE) range. The idea was to develop a new expression, exclusive to France, combining peat and sherry influence, two elements our customers are particularly looking for. And what better way to illustrate a typically French deer than by drawing inspiration from an ancient symbol such as the Lascaux cave paintings ?”
This blended Scotch Whisky made exclusively for France has been meticulously married in small, 500L batches and is non-chill filtered and 100% natural colour, so you may notice subtle changes over time.
Tasting notes (from LMDW):
Nose: The initial nose is defined by a vibrant aromatic exuberance, led by a basket of ripe tropical fruits (pineapple, mango). As it opens up, a deeper, more textured dimension emerges, revealing singular notes of tarry rope that provide an authentic, maritime character.
Palate: The palate entry is smooth and well-structured. The mid-palate is dominated by the influence of sherried oak, offering indulgent flavours of dried fruits and sweet spices. The texture is rich—preserved by the lack of chill-filtration—giving the whisky a beautiful fullness and mouthfeel.
Overall: The finish is long and elegant. It lingers on pastry notes of freshly baked treats and caramelised brown sugar, leaving a persistent and warm impression of sweetness.
If you’re eager to secure a bottle for your own collection, you can find it via their online boutique right here: TBWC Blended Scotch Whisky—an exclusive for La Maison du Whisky. Do take a moment to explore the complete Boutique-y Whisky Core range while you’re visiting; there’s a veritable buffet of drams to delve into, so feel free to browse until you’ve truly had your fill!
Much love
Boutiquey-Dave x