Highland whisky brand Cù Bòcan has released its oldest expression to date, drawing inspiration from the familiar sweet and salty flavours of cinema popcorn.
Creation #9 is the latest release in the brand’s limited-edition Creations series and combines whisky matured in American virgin oak with spirit finished in Manzanilla sherry casks.
The expression is more than 17 years old, with the larger proportion spending its full maturation in American virgin oak. Rarely used for such an extended period, the casks have created layers of vanilla, honey and caramel sweetness.
The remaining spirit was matured for 13 years in refill hogsheads before being finished for four-and-a-half years in Manzanilla sherry casks.
Produced using Palomino grapes in Sanlúcar de Barrameda on Spain’s Cádiz coast, Manzanilla is a pale, dry fortified wine known for its distinctive coastal salinity. Its influence introduces notes of salted caramel, toasted almonds and maritime freshness to the whisky.
Together, the two cask types create the sweet and salted popcorn character that defines Creation #9.
Jamie Muir, distillery manager at Tomatin, said: “Creation #9 set out to prove that patience pays off in the most unexpected ways.
“The American virgin oak has given the single malt its deep, sweet backbone, but it’s the Manzanilla sherry cask that elevates the expression, bringing in the salty, savoury edge that balances all the sweetness.
“The result is one of the most unexpected flavours we’ve crafted. It’s exactly the kind of discovery that makes the Creations series so exciting, and the perfect excuse for a movie night.”
Its cinema inspiration also extends to the packaging, with Creation #9 presented in a red-and-white carton featuring diagonal detailing reminiscent of a traditional popcorn box. Engraved contours reference both the brand’s signature smoke and the wooden staves of the casks used during maturation.
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On the nose, the whisky offers vanilla, honey and caramel alongside salted popcorn, toasted almonds, cinnamon, nutmeg and cocoa. Lemon zest, orchard fruit, toasted oak and gentle spice follow on the palate, leading to a long finish with dry oak and subtle maritime notes.
Bottled at 46% ABV, the whisky is natural in colour and non-chill filtered. Only 3,800 bottles will be available globally through specialist whisky retailers and the Tomatin Distillery website.
Further information about Cù Bòcan and Creation #9 is available online.
