Hinch launches Craft & Casks collection
Hinch Distillery’s Craft & Casks collection is a trio of fine Irish whiskeys that ups the flavour game in the segment, having been finished using craft beer casks.
Craft & Casks includes an Imperial Stout Finish, an Irish Red Rye Finish and a Rye Export Stout Finish “which are disrupting the taste profile of the whiskey scene,” according to Hinch.
Using casks from two Ulster breweries – Whitewater Brewery in County Down and Kinnegar Brewery in County Donegal – the three aged whiskeys have their own distinct flavours.
Kreme de la Kremlin Imperial Stout Finish hails from County Down while the Irish Red Rye Finish and Rye Export Stout Finish are finished in Kinnegar Brewery beer casks boasting their own unique flavour profiles. This brings Hinch’s collection of whiskeys to nine variants and follows on from the distillery’s release of an 18 Year-Old Single Malt finished in Château de la Ligne Grand Reserve wine casks ahead of Christmas 2020.
“The union of whiskey with craft beer barrels is an emerging trend within the distilling industry and demand is surging,” said Head Distiller Aaron Flaherty, “While Hinch is a relatively new name to the drinks’ fraternity, we’ve quickly risen to a par with the best around, beckoning prestigious awards in our two years of operation.
“It’s not news to those in the whiskey business that beer and whiskey are a natural fit and the boilermaker is a classic bar order. Our Craft & Casks take that trend one step further.”
The launch comes as Hinch prepares to open its visitors centre which includes a Brasserie Bar and Restaurant, outside courtyard space and multi-purpose events space for everything from weddings to corporate events at its 30,000 sq ft site on Killaney Estate between Belfast and Ballynahinch.
The retail outlet is open and the distillery team will also be offering behind-the-scenes guided tours of the distilling operation once it’s safe to do so.
The opening day has been postponed many times due to consecutive lockdowns and social restrictions.
“Despite not being able to open our public offering fully at the distillery, we’ve continued to develop our offering, expand our portfolio, win awards and sign major deals with distributors worldwide in the shadows of what has been a very challenging economic climate and our Craft & Casks collection is just a part of this,” said Hinch Distillery Chairman Dr Terry Cross OBE.
Hinch Distillery also recently signed a deal with one of the largest independent alcohol drinks distributors on the island of Ireland, the Musgrave Group.
For more information on Hinch Distillery log onto https://hinchdistillery.com or follow on https://twitter.com/hinchdistillery