WHISKY industry veteran Jim McEwan is celebrating his tenure as Bruichladdich master distiller with the release of a new series of independent bottlings.
The Jim McEwan Signature Collection has been launched by McEwan and independent bottler Dramfool and includes single cask releases of Bruichladdich, Port Charlotte and Octomore – all of which were distilled when McEwan was master distiller at Bruichladdich, between 2001 and 2015.
The first releases – 50 bottles of each expression – were all matured in select first-fill French wine casks and will be auctioned on the Whisky Auctioneer website between 11th and 15th March. As part of the auction, bidders will have the chance to secure second-edition bottles before they have officially launched. There will also be the opportunity to bid on an exclusive private tasting with McEwan, with 100% of the proceeds from the tasting going to Scotland’s Charity Air Ambulance.
McEwan said: “It’s wonderful to see this collection of my final casks bottled and ready to be enjoyed. From starting in the whisky industry aged 15, I can see no better way to mark the ending of a career than to release my own personal collection.
“As my last casks come to market and I look back on 58 years of making whisky, it still excites me to see what is happening.
“From apprentice cooper, to blender and then to master distiller, my journey has always been about education as well as passion, and it’s been a pleasure to share this with the world. Single malt whisky is the blood of Scotland and it’s our job to look after it, cherish it and do a good job with it. It’s so important to our country as a whole, but particularly to the island of Islay that I call home.
“This collection really speaks for itself in terms of quality, just like each of the whiskies I’ve ever produced. I’m very excited to unveil these casks with Dramfool, and in partnership with Whisky Auctioneer I am sure they will be enjoyed across all corners of the globe.”
