Distell has introduced a range of sherry cask-finished whiskies from Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky exclusively into travel retail.
The Bain’s 18yo range contains three whiskies finished in a different sherry cask: Fino, Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez (PX). They are all exclusively available at Big Five Duty Free stores in Cape Town International Airport and Johannesburg’s O.R. Tambo International Airport throughout September.
Supporting promotions, including a nosing experience and substantial digital advertising, are taking place across both the Cape Town and Johannesburg airports for the four weeks from 2 September.
Distell Global Travel Retail Managing Director Luke Maga said: “Travel retail plays a key role in raising awareness of local South African brands such as Bain’s by putting them on a global stage. We’re confident that this new trio – from Africa’s only commercial whisky distillery – will be popular with travellers wanting to try something different.”
The 50.5% ABV single grain whiskies spent three years in first-fill casks previously used for bourbon before being re-vatted in fresh bourbon casks for a further two years. They then spent 10 years in American oak to develop hints of butterscotch, raisins and banana loaf before being finished in one of the three sherry casks for three years.
Ditstell said the three different sherry casks have given the whiskies differing tastes. The Fino-finished whisky is the lightest and driest of the three, the Oloroso-finished has a range of flavours and the PX has a dark colour and rich, red fruit flavours.
Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky Founder Andy Watts commented: “With Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky being proudly South African and unique to world whisky, I realised that its style would offer me the freedom to be innovative with a range of casks. Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso and Fino are my three favourite sherries so it felt natural to me to explore the combinations of the grain and sherry casks.”
