Lindores Abbey Aqua Vitae
$58.49
Lindores Abbey, now in ruins, is the site of the first reference to whisk(e)y. What exactly constituted whisky, or aqua vitae in the late 1400s is hard to ascertain, but it almost certainly involved the addition of botanicals and possibly fruit. Lindores Abbey Distillery's Aqua Vitaeis is an homage to this proto-whisky. This product is bottled at 40% and is made to be sipped neat or enjoyed with ginger ale.
Producer Description
"The earliest Aqua Vitae was made at Lindores as long ago as 1494, and we’ve authentically recreated that recipe and reimagined it as an inquisitively versatile spirit. Today, our own spirit is distilled in pot stills and then infused with a blend of spices and herbs, including cleavers, and sweet cicely, which grow in our gardens, amidst the grounds of the ancient Abbey. It is entirely natural, with no added sugars."
Lindores Abbey 1494 Single Malt
$71.99
Lindores Abbey is one of the baby Lowland distilleries, only founded in 2017, but rich in history stretching back hundreds of years. We've told the tale a few times, so won't bore you again, but trust that this young'un is producing some great spirit already. The future looks bright. We've done a couple of tastings involving Lindores Abbey now, and the affection 'round here is only growing. This flagship expression - matured in Bourbon, Sherry, and Wine Barriques - is a real cracker for such a babe.
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 46% abv.
Lindores Abbey Casks of Lindores Bourbon
$85.49
Bottled at 49.4% from a parcel of whisky made from Fife Barley and matured exclusively in ex-Bourbon Casks from Old Forester & Woodford Reserve.
Producer Description
"The first “Casks of Lindores” bottling featured exclusively bourbon barrels, one of the three core cask types used at Lindores, and was limited to 11,000 bottles. These bottlings are bottled at the distillery without chill filtration and at an ABV strength of 49.4%. The Lindores spirit goes extremely well with bourbon casks and helps showcase its early maturing characteristic. The very long wash fermentation period in Douglas fir washbacks, coupled with the “Sister Spirit stills distillation” helps create a spirit that matures early but will continue to develop over time."
Lindores Abbey Bourbon Cask II
$59.99
This whisky was featured on Day 12 of our 2024 KWM Not An Advent Calendar Tastings! You can read more about the whisky here.
KWM Exclusive!
The second edition of one of the three core Lindores Abbey expressions. This Ex-Bourbon style is maybe the truest expression we've seen from Lindores. It allows more of the distillery's intrinsic character to shine through. Good young whisky from a distillery with so much potential.
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 49.4% ABV.
Lindores Abbey Red Wine Cask II
$50.00
KWM Exclusive!
STR casks (shaved, toasted, recharred) have been a godsend for the whisky world. The concept has helped restore faith in the institution of wine cask maturation. Those of us with a bit of reticence when it comes to malts matured in casks that once held that grapey goodness have found STRing to be the panacea to all of those sour, funky, fermenty whiskies of the past.
This is the second edition of this core Lindores Abbey expression that was matured in former red wine barriques. Rather dessertish. One dram isn't quite enough. Nor is two.
Natural colour, non-chill filtered, and bottled at 49.4% abv.
Lindores Abbey Thiron Single Malt
$88.19
Bottled at 49.4%, this limited edition from Lindores Abbey Distillery was mature in a mix of ex-Bourbon, ex-Red Wine Barriques, and Virgin French Oak Casks from Thiron-Gardais (more on that below).
Producer Description
"In 1191, a group of Tironesian monks from the town of Thiron-Gardais in France founded Lindores Abbey. In 2016, wood was harvested from the forests of Thiron-Gardais, with some destined to reconnect Lindores Abbey with its roots. In 2018, the first bespoke cask was filled, handcrafted using wood sourced from the forests of Thiron-Gardais. In 2024, THIRON was proudly introduced, the first in an annual series of Scotch whisky that embodies the connection between Lindores’ rich heritage and innovative process."
Lindores Abbey Commemorative Single Malt
$79.99
The first release from the new Lowland Lindores Abbey Distillery was matured in ex-Bourbon, Sherry, & Wine Casks before bottling at 46%. Though just 3-4 years of age, the whisky shows a lot of promise.
This first release is a nod to the first-ever reference of whisky making, which took place at Lindores Abbey, now in ruins, in 1494. A letter to Friar John Cor was instructed by King James IV to make "auqa vitae, VIII bolls of malt." The ruins sit on lands owned by Drew and Helen McKenzie Smith. In 2017 they opened the Lindores Abbey Distillery with the intent of making it an estate distillery. Beginning in 2020, all of the barley used by the distillery was sourced from the surrounding fields.
Lindores Abbey Friar John Cor Chapter II
$104.99
Chapter II of Lindores Abbey's Friar John Cor range, is "Cask Strength Congregation." The whisky was made from Fife barley, matured in a mix of STR, ex-Bourbon, and Peated Rum Casks. 60.9%