Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky targets travel retail with new 21 Year Old Double Cask

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky, which is owned by Distell International, has released a new 21 Year Old Double Cask expression. The limited edition is the first cask strength whisky to be released in South Africa and is exclusive to travel retail.

The grain whisky, which is seasoned in ex-sherry casks, has Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky as its base. It is matured an additional ten years in older American oak casks before being transferred to seasoned Amontillado and Manzanilla sherry casks for a final six years of maturation.

The 21 Year Old boasts a rich amber colour and offers notes of fruit and spice which blend with the sweeter notes of the single grain whisky. It is non-chilled and with a 46.8%ABV is available now in travel retail in a 1-litre bottle.

“Exciting innovations from New World whisky producers such as Bain’s have driven growing interest in the category and we’re confident that Bain’s 21 Year Old Double Cask will appeal to global travel retail consumers who are increasingly seeking innovation, exclusivity and new flavours” – Distell International Managing Director Travel Retail Luke Maga

Distell Head of Whisky Intrinsic Excellence and Bain’s Founder Andy Watts said: “Innovation is vital in our industry and although I have crafted many cask finishes, the combination of two different cask finishes is a first for me.

“This coupled with the fact that the whisky is the oldest Bain’s release to date makes for an exciting product launch. I hope that Bain’s 21 Year Old Double Cask brings as much enjoyment to our consumers as it has to me over the years since I first envisioned the project.”

Distell International Managing Director Travel Retail Luke Maga added: “A flourishing cocktail culture and whisky’s aspirational image have helped recruit new consumers into the whisky category which in turn has inspired a wave of New World whiskies from emerging distillers.

“Exciting innovations from New World whisky producers such as Bain’s have driven growing interest in the category and we’re confident that Bain’s 21 Year Old Double Cask will appeal to global travel retail consumers who are increasingly seeking innovation, exclusivity and new flavours.”

Bain’s Cape Mountain Whisky is crafted at the James Sedgwick Distillery, near the foothills of the Bainskloof Pass, the road that carves through South Africa’s striking Cape Mountains.

Sustainability is an integral part of its production process. As the only commercial whisky distillery in Africa – and one of only a few in the world where both grain and malt whisky is distilled – the James Sedgwick team said protecting natural resources is central to every decision taken.

Sustainability initiatives include the recycling of spent grains, which are high in protein, for animal feed, and collecting the CO² created during fermentation for use in carbonated drinks.

Waste water is also treated on-site. The first part of the water treatment process recovers methane gas which is re-used in the whisky making process to reduce coal usage, whilst the second treatment results in approximately 35% of the water being re-used for cooling and in boilers.