New on-line store

We, Highfern Ltd, the proprietors of Angels' Nectar Whisky, and UK importers of Langatun Swiss Single Malt Whisky, Smögen Swedish Single Malt Whisky, Strane Gin, Kinghaven Rum, and Seven Seals Whisky, now have our own on-line cellar door shop. You will find it at www.highfern.co.uk. Do please take a look, and let the Angels deliver your next bottle. (Yes, that is the address formerly used for this blog, which will continue but at the direct address https://highfern.blogspot.com).

Cheers!

Introducing Strane Ultra Uncut Gin 82.5% - the world's new strongest gin?

As readers of our blog will no doubt be aware, Strane Uncut at 76% previously held the record for the strongest commercially available gin. Uncut's high strength was not a deliberate attempt to create the strongest gin, more a consequence of Pär Caldenby's pursuit of flavour intensity by introducing a blending stage in the creation of Strane Merchant Strength 47.4% and Strane Navy Strength 57.1%. With Strane Uncut 76% you could say Pär took the concept of cask strength whisky to gin, i.e. if we don't add water there will be more flavour. As it was, when we launched Strane Uncut 76% we assumed someone somewhere would have a similar gin on the market of similar strength or higher, but as we spoke to gin bars and gin gurus it became clear that Strane Uncut 76% was a new concept and was certainly the strongest gin in Sweden and the UK, if not further afield. Unwittingly Pär had created a new category of gin. 

Having eventually claimed that Strane Uncut 76% to be the strongest available, it was inevitable that someone at some point would try to create a stronger gin, and thus after three years we saw three contenders at the start of this year unseat Strane Uncut 76% from the strongest gin podium. 

Whilst Pär never set out to create the strongest gin, nor start a strength race, having been challenged, he could not resist responding, which leads us to our new release: Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5%. This is a deliberate attempt to push the boundaries of gin distilling to the extreme, as far as intensity of flavour and strength goes, using a traditional copper pot still. With Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5%, Pär has tweaked the production process to take the intensity and strength to a new level. This was done with a much stronger charge of the still than usual and also by doubling the volume of botanicals, to maximise flavour. 

Given the high strength Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% is only to be enjoyed in the smallest of measures, hence it will only be available in 200ml bottles. Exercising due care, it can be savoured neat, ideally chilled, in very small sips (with a glass of water on the side). This delivers an intensive juniper-led flavour impact, with great complexity from the other botanicals, including coriander seeds, almonds, liquorice root, lime and fresh herbs. In Pär’s words, 'This leaves the palate clean as a whistle'. For a longer serve do try one part Ultra Uncut 82.5% to two parts of Fentiman's tonic water, on plenty of large ice cubes. Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% also makes an interesting base for creating your own cocktails, fruit liqueurs and infusions. Commenting on the new release Pär said 'Strongest gin or not, we believe gin enthusiasts will enjoy and cherish the incredible intensity of flavour that our Strane Ultra Uncut delivers'. Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% certainly gives a new meaning to flavour-led. 

For the first chance to try, I will present a Strane masterclass, to include Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5%, at the Just Gin Show on the 28th of July 2018. Amongst others Strane Ultra Uncut 82.5% is now available from Nickolls & Perks and Master of Malt with an RRP of £33.00 per 200ml. 

Strane Ultra Uncut Gin 82.5%

Strane Gin matures

We are excited to release the new Limited edition Strane Oaked Gin.

Based on Strane London Dry Navy Strength Gin, Strane Oaked Gin has then been matured for eighteen months in a former Sherry butt, which has also previously matured heavily peated Smögen Whisky, and then bottled at 55% vol.. The sherry cask has added flavour and structure, and the result is a wonderfully fragrant sipping gin. Or for a long serve, Pär Caldenby, Distiller/Proprietor at the Smögen distillery, suggests replacing the whisky in your Whisky & Soda with Strane Oaked.

Strane Oaked Gin offers an astonishing crossover between Gin, Whisky and Sherry, which we are sure will delight fans of craft spirits.

Amongst others Strane Oaked Gin is now available from Hedonism Wines, Nickolls & Perks, Master of Malt, Robertsons of Pitlochry and Shop4whisky. 

Strane Oaked Gin

Join us for a Dram - Whisky Festivals and tastings

Do come and join us for a dram!

Friday 8th July 2016
Sampling at The Storehouse, Foulis Ferry, Dingwall, from Noon to 4pm. Alongside Angels' Nectar we will also be sampling Strane London Dry Gin.
www.thestorehouseathome.com

Saturday 9th July 2016
Sampling at DeliMair, Aviemore, from Noon to 4pm. On taste will be the First Edition and Rich Peat Editions of Angels' Nectar.
www.delimairaviemore.co.uk

Join us for a Dram - Whisky Festivals and tastings

Do come and join us for a dram!

Friday 8th July 2016
Sampling at The Storehouse, Foulis Ferry, Dingwall, from Noon to 4pm. Alongside Angels' Nectar we will also be sampling Strane London Dry Gin.
www.thestorehouseathome.com

Saturday 9th July 2016
Sampling at DeliMair, Aviemore, from Noon to 4pm. On taste will be the First Edition and Rich Peat Editions of Angels' Nectar.
www.delimairaviemore.co.uk

Join us for a Dram - Whisky Festivals and tastings

Do come and join us for a dram!

Friday 8th July 2016
Sampling at The Storehouse, Foulis Ferry, Dingwall, from Noon to 4pm. Alongside Angels' Nectar we will also be sampling Strane London Dry Gin.
www.thestorehouseathome.com

Saturday 9th July 2016
Sampling at DeliMair, Aviemore, from Noon to 4pm. On taste will be the First Edition and Rich Peat Editions of Angels' Nectar.
www.delimairaviemore.co.uk

Strane "Uncut" is the strongest Gin*

We have recently launched Strane "Uncut" in the UK. At 75.3% vol., Strane "Uncut" is the strongest commercially available gin.

How do we know Strane "Uncut" is the strongest gin? Well first of all we are not aware of another gin which is stronger.

Secondly, David T Smith of Summer Fruit Cup, who has reviewed over 300 gins, is also not aware of a stronger commercially available gin. Interestingly David notes in his review of Strane "Uncut" that the previous holders of the title would be Blackwoods and Finsbury, both at 60% Vol. for unaged gin, and for aged gin, an Alambic bottling.  

Thirdly, Strane "Uncut" is the strongest gin available at The Feathers Hotel, a hotel which offers a choice of 264 different gins.  

Fourthly we have enjoyed some coverage of Strane "Uncut" in the drinks press over the last couple of days, and so far no one has come forward to say another brand is stronger!

So Strane "Uncut" would appear to be the strongest available gin in the UK, if not the world. I doubt we will hold the title for long. Someone somewhere is probably working on something as I type. It has not been our intention to start a ‘strength race’, "Uncut"’s release has led from the unusual way Strane gin is created; three differently balanced base gins; junipery, citrusy and herbal, are distilled and then blended to create different expressions in bottle; Merchant Strength 47.4% vol., Navy Strength 57.1% vol. and now “Uncut”. With the blending taking place before the addition of water, the distiller Pär Caldenby, regularly samples and noses Strane gin at receiver strength.  Pär simply felt Strane in its uncut form was ‘too good to hold back’. With an increasingly crowded gin shelf we need to shout about what is different, and with Strane "Uncut", it is the strength.

Strane Uncut will only be produced in limited quantities. Intriguingly as it is over 70% alcohol, our order was shipped from Sweden as Dangerous Goods, or to be more precise as ‘UN3065 / Alcoholic Beverage / Class 3/ PG (packaging group) II in limited quantities'. This, as you probably guessed, costs extra.

Whilst exceptionally strong, Pär suggests trying Strane “Uncut” neat, ice cold, in very small sips, with a glass of water on the side. At first it will be (relatively) discreet due to the ice, then progressively increase in strength of character and power, until it simply goes into gin overdrive. With “Uncut” there is a mighty surge of power and strength of character, and it is rich in juniper, lemon peel, sage and mint. Strane “Uncut” is not an everyday gin, but a remarkable experience for gin lovers. Of course you are also welcome to experiment with Strane "Uncut" in your favourite cocktail.

Strane “Uncut” is now available to try at The Feathers Hotel in Oxford, the first bar outside Sweden to offer this extraordinary gin. A limited number of bottles are also available to purchase from Drinkfinder (Constantine Stores), Gauntleys of Nottingham and Master of Malt.

*possibly

Strane at The Feathers

Smögen Svensk Single Malt Whisky and Strane London Dry Gin arrive in the UK

Smögen Primör, the first chance to taste single malt whisky from Sweden’s Smögen distillery, and Strane London Dry Gin, also produced at the Smögen distillery, are now available in the UK.

The Smögen distillery was designed and built in 2010 by pioneering distiller Pär Caldenby, on the west coast of Sweden, north of Gothenburg. With a production capacity of just 35000 litres, the comparatively small size of the distillery allows for an attention to detail not seen elsewhere. Until now every drop of Smögen Whisky has been distilled and blended by Pär Caldenby personally.

Smögen Primör is produced from optic barley of 45ppm and distilled by hand in small batches in a 600 litre spirit pot still. The spirit has then been matured in a combination of new European oak casks and former Bordeaux casks. Smögen Primör is heavily peated, powerful and rich for its age, and is bottled at natural colour and cask strength of 63.7% vol.. Primör is the first chance to taste Smögen, and indicates that the distillery has a exciting future. In Pär’s words ‘When I set out to build a distillery I was aiming to take inspiration from the best that Scotland, France and Japan could offer and make a very distinctive malt whisky, in fully traditional pot stills. The decidedly coastal location and use of heavily peated malt alongside virgin or first fill casks means a fast maturing whisky. Our first bottling, Primör, shows part of our progress to date and I am quite delighted with the result’.

Released alongside Primör is Strane London Dry Gin, Smögen’s handcrafted small batch gin. Twelve botanicals are used to produce three base gin styles; juniper, citrus and herbal, in batches of 45 litres. The base gins are then blended to produce the three expressions; Merchant, Navy and Uncut. Strane Merchant, the core expression is bottled at 47.4% Vol., and is blended to emphasize the smoothness that the high copper contact in the tiny whisky pot still gives to the spirit, while also providing depth and strength of character. Strane Merchant’s flavour is led by juniper, coriander and mint. Strane Navy is bottled at 57.1% Vol., or “100 proof”, is powerful and blended to highlight citrusy notes. Strane Uncut, at 75.3% is one of the strongest gins on the market, and will only be available in very limited quantities. Explaining his approach to Gin creation, Pär said ‘As a whisky man, it struck me that the art of blending should work very well with gin, as a good gin is about character and also – most importantly – about balance. To create the massive depth of character while retaining balance, the tiny pot still with its worm tub is important, but the blending makes it whole. Eminently sippable and makes for an enticing G&T’.

Smögen Primör is available from The Green Welly Stop, Single Malts Direct and The Whisky Exchange, whilst Strane is available at The Good Spirits Co., The Green Welly Stop, and The Whisky Exchange.

Strane & Tonic with Brambles

Welcome to the Highfern Blog

This is our story of the launch of a new drinks company and a new whisky brand. You will notice things look quite sparse around here. Apologies for that, but it is very early days, and brand design is one part of the process which is still very much under development. Without some nice fancy graphics, perhaps it is a bit early to start telling the story, but hey, here we go.

So where are we? To sum up as I type we have sampled and selected some very nice whisky, and after a less than smooth journey, we now have a trademark, but more of that later... We have a team of talented designers beavering away to create the label. We have a WOWGR, a what I hear you ask, well dear reader, it is the mysterious number issued by customs which allows us to trade in alcohol under bond. 

We are also working to introduce a selection of fine craft spirits from overseas to British drinkers. The first two are lined up; Smögen Whisky and Strane Gin, from Sweden. We will be bringing them to the UK soon (there is some bureaucracy to deal with, the details of which I won’t bore you with), but in the meantime, please follow @SmogenWhiskyUK and @StraneGinUK on twitter.

Cheers,

Robert Ransom