Stronger Wash Could Cut Distillery Emissions by 16%, Raasay Unveils The Full Monti, and Kilchoman and Nikka Launch New Releases

12 hours ago

3 min read

Welcome back to the Clan. We missed yesterday, so today's post catches up on the last few days. Scotch production gets a closer look from a Scottish university, Raasay and Kilchoman have new bottlings out, and Nikka adds a new name to its core range.

Stronger wash could cut distillery emissions by 16%

Researchers at Heriot-Watt University in Edinburgh have studied what happens when Scotch malt whisky distilleries make a stronger wash. The wash is the beer-like liquid produced when yeast ferments the wort, and it goes into the wash still for the first distillation. The industry standard is around 8% ABV.

The study, led by Dr Shiwen Zhuang of the International Centre for Brewing and Distilling, is the first to measure the effect of raising wash strength to between 10% and 14% ABV. At 14% ABV, the model showed energy use and carbon emissions falling by around 16% for every litre of pure alcohol produced. Pot ale volumes dropped by 55% and spent lees by more than 30%.

The authors say challenges remain, including new approaches to mashing and the effects on yeast performance and flavour development. Heriot-Watt is now running a new PhD project to test the predicted savings. The research was published in the Journal of the Institute of Brewing. Read the university's announcement for the full details.

Isle of Raasay releases The Full Monti

Isle of Raasay Distillery has launched The Full Monti, an unpeated single malt that departs from its lightly peated signature style. It is a six-year-old, limited to 5,000 bottles worldwide, on sale from 14 October at £80.

The spirit spent its first three years in 190-litre ex-Woodford Reserve Rye barrels, then moved to 250-litre North American oak hogsheads that previously held Amontillado sherry for a further three years. It is bottled at 100 Proof UK, which is 57.1% ABV, a strength historically used to prove spirit was at full strength. Co-founder and Master Distiller Alasdair Day says the idea came from a visit to Jerez. Larder Magazine has the full story.

Kilchoman launches Sanaig Cask Strength 2026

Islay's Kilchoman Distillery has announced its latest annual Sanaig Cask Strength release. The 2026 edition is a non-age-stated single malt bottled at 57.5% ABV. It combines Oloroso sherry hogshead finishes with fully matured casks sourced from Bodega José Miguel Martín in Jerez.

It is available now from selected specialist retailers at an RRP of £76.90. The Whisky Wire has the announcement.

Nikka introduces Nikka Frontier

Nikka Whisky has announced Nikka Frontier, a new core range expression created as a tribute to founder Masataka Taketsuru. It is a peated blended whisky at 48% ABV, made with 51% malt whisky, with an emphasis on heavily peated malts from Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido, plus Nikka's Coffey grain whisky.

The packaging features an embossed motif of a shimenawa, the twisted rice straw rope placed at shrine entrances, which also nods to Taketsuru's family roots in sake brewing. In the UK it will be available later this month exclusively from Majestic stores, at an RRP of £33.00 for 50cl. Read the announcement at The Whisky Wire.