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

'Whisky for the Gods' arrives in the UK

Langatun Single Malt Whisky, from Switzerland, of which the Old Bear Cask Proof expression has been described by Jim Murray in his renowned guide The Whisky Bible, as ‘Whisky for the gods…’, is now available in the UK for the first time.

With a history dating back to the 1860s, Hans Baumberger, grandson of the original founder Jakob Baumberger, reopened the Langatun Distillery in 2007.  Initially we are offering four triple distilled single malt bottlings from Langatun.  

Old Deer is the distillery’s classic single malt, distilled from un-peated barley, fermented with an English stout yeast, and matured in sherry and chardonnay casks. Bottled after six years maturation, Old Deer is offered at sipping strength of 40% and cask proof of ~62% Vol.

Old Bear, named as a tribute to the family’s former brewery, which had a bear as its emblem, is the distillery’s smoky offering. Distilled from peated malted barley and intriguingly matured in former Chateauneuf-du-Pape casks, again for six years. Like Old Deer, Old Bear is offered at 40%, and cask proof of ~62.5% Vol.

For a chance to taste Langatun (and Angels' Nectar Rich Peat), join Robert Ransom, at The Whisky Exchange’s Covent Garden store on the afternoon of Friday the 13^th of May, for a drop in tasting. Langatun is also available from Drinkfinder, Hedonism Wines, Lincoln Whisky Shop, Master of Malt, and Shop4Whisky. For more on Langatun, please also visit www.langatun.ch.

Strane "Uncut" just got Stronger

The second batch of the exceptionally strong Strane “Uncut” London Dry Gin, bottled at 76% vol., from pioneering Swedish distiller Smögen Whisky AB is now available in the UK. At 76% vol., Batch 2 is stronger than the 75.3% vol. of Batch 1, and thus we believe this is strongest gin available in the UK.

Strane is created in a 100 litre copper pot still with worm tub condensers, at the Smögen Distillery. Established in 2010, Smögen was one of the first distilleries in Sweden to produce Single Malt Whisky.  Unusually Strane is created by distilling three differently balanced base gins; junipery, citrusy and herbal, and then blending to create different expressions in bottle; Merchant Strength 47.4% vol., Navy Strength 57.1% vol. and “Uncut”.  With the blending taking place before the addition of water, the distiller and proprietor Pär Caldenby, regularly tastes ‘uncut’ gin, and felt ‘it is too good to hold back’, which led to this unusually high strength bottling.

Whilst exceptionally strong, Pär suggests savouring Strane “Uncut” neat, ice cold, in very small sips, with a glass of water on the side. At first it will be discreet due to the ice, then progressively increase in strength of character and power, until it simply goes into juniper overdrive.

Smögen have not set out to start a 'strength race', more the exceptional strength of Strane “Uncut” reflects the unusual way Strane Gin is produced, borrowing techniques from whisky production. Blending is common practice in whisky, and in some ways Strane “Uncut” is a similar concept to Cask Strength whisky. The result is exceptional, and an experience for gin enthusiasts to savour with care and respect. 

Strane “Uncut” Batch 2 is available to try at bars including the Old Bridge Inn in Aviemore, the Greenroom in Perth, the Jolly Botanist in Edinburgh and the Lazy Lounge in Leeds. Or for a bottle amongst others visit J.L. Gill of Crieff, Gauntleys of Nottingham, Master of Malt and Shop4Whisky. 

Strane Uncut - The Strongest Gin