The Distillery at Coleburn is celebrating a strong start for its inaugural Local Heros whisky collection, with all three expressions receiving a one-star Great Taste Award and further recognition at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC).
Launched as a celebration of the people, places and craftsmanship behind Scotch whisky, the Local Heros collection comprises three blended malts: Sherry Bomb, Sweet Peat and Big Smoke, each showcasing a distinct style and flavour profile.
Sherry Bomb and Big Smoke expressions were both awarded Silver medals at the IWSC, scoring 92 and 91 respectively, while Sweet Peat received a Bronze medal with 88 points, marking a significant achievement for the first releases from the historic Speyside distillery’s revival.
Owned by D&M Winchester Ltd since 2004, the site of Coleburn Distillery has a long-standing presence within the Scotch whisky industry. Based in Speyside, D&M Winchester has established itself as a trusted partner for whisky businesses, specialising in the sourcing, storage, management, maturation and bottling of malt and grain whisky. The company currently manages around 20,000 casks across three HMRC-compliant bonded warehousing sites, alongside offering end-to-end solutions for independent brands and bottlers.
Dale Winchester, co-owner of D&M Winchester commented:
“Seeing all three Local Heros expressions recognised by Great Taste, alongside our IWSC medals, is a fantastic achievement and a testament to the quality and character we wanted to capture with this first collection.
“These awards mark a further milestone as we continue to bring The Distillery at Coleburn back to life, with new visitor experiences and hospitality offerings helping to create a destination that celebrates whisky, food and the community that surrounds it, right here in the heart of Speyside.”
The recognition comes as development continues across the Coleburn site. Planning has been submitted for a new warehouse tasting area, creating a unique visitor experience within the distillery’s historic former stillhouse, while construction has begun on The Kitchery, Coleburn’s new on-site bistro, with an opening targeted before the end of the year.
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The developments form part of the wider vision to establish the first ‘whisky resort’, a one-stop destination for whisky, food and hospitality, building on D&M Winchester’s existing expertise in the industry.
The Local Heros collection is available now, with bottles retailing from £50 to £55. More information can be found here.
