Ultima Series Release 05 

Kelvin Cooperage – Virgin Oak

ABV – 66.3%

Distillation – October 2020

Bottling  - October 2025

A virgin oak barrel, shipped straight from Kelvin Cooperage to us. Made to our specifications, that American Oak charred with a deep #4 char, the surface cracked and scored, deep fissures reaching deep into the wood. This gives access to flavours and colour that most barrels don’t provide.

What to put into this barrel? At Shelter Point this is normally the home for single malt destined to become our award winning Ripple Rock. This barrel received something a little different, a 50/50 combination of Barley and Malt, bringing a new flavour and texture. New make spirit, potent and rich, searches deep into the fibres of the wood, consuming flavour and colour. Another unusual element for this barrel, was the storage location, it featured as a display barrel within our distillery building, kept in a warmer, drier location than normal for our barrels, it maturation was a little different, leading to a higher evaporation of water, resulting in a higher than normal ABV and a richer more intense flavour. The end result, 5 years of marinading in all that the wood can give it, at cask strength? Something special. This barrel was picked by Trenny & C (@TrennyandC), after tasting a few barrels this was their instant favourite.

Tasting notes:

The nose has the sweetness of a chocolate chip cookie, fresh from the oven, a rich fruity forest berry note adds an acidic hint.  The fresh oak adds a hint sneaks onto the palate as you take a first sip. The palate is deep salted caramel, peach cobbler and honey on burnt toast. This finish is vanilla custard, burnt sugar and maple BBQ sauce and hangs around long after the delicious nectar has been swallowed.