CRAFTY Distillery, based in SW Scotland, are well known in the craft gin world for their innovative approach and award-winning spirits. Only last month they celebrated winning the ‘Scottish Gin Distillery of the Year’, but are showing no signs of stopping there, having just announced their Crafty plans to create some truly special Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
Many new Scotch Whisky distilleries offer ‘Founder Clubs’ which see members spending around £400-500 on first bottlings which they will receive in 3-10 years time. Crafty on the other hand have an innovative new approach that offers whisky fans the chance to play a meaningful role in the actual development. Anyone can join the club and begin nosing, tasting and sampling a host of unique aged new make spirit samples from as early as Spring 2021.
The membership is limited to 695 and costs only £189. This includes, 17 x 5cl unique aged new make spirit samples, which are sent out in 6x separate boxes, over the course of many months. You also receive gilded membership card and importantly members get exclusive access to first bottling and cask releases. The really exciting part of the club is that members will have regular interaction with the team at Crafty, sharing their views and as each round is complete the feedback goes forward to dialling in the next round until they get to the final sample. Sample 17 will be a product of hundreds of hours of research, analysis, distilling, nosing and tasting done by hundreds of people. A great experiential offering for any whisky fan, that is also great value.
Craig Rankin, Master Distiller & Distillery Manager explained their approach. “Prior to maturation, we all know that the unique tastes and aromas found in Single Malt Scotch Whisky originate from the only three permitted ingredients; barley, yeast and water. Our goal is to better understand the science and performance of varieties of barley, explore unique yeasts, the flavours they produce and the effects of all the processes and their influences. What better way to do this than explore a range of unique new make spirit samples for our Founders to feedback on.”
Crafty Distillery will also work with Dublin University to analyse samples and create focus groups.
The friendly new whisky brand is called Billy&Co. Named in tribute to the founder’s late father Billy, who not only built their distillery, but was also a big fan of Single Malt Scotch and it’s ability to bring people together. The tag line is ‘Whisky for Sharing’ which gives an insight into the passion Crafty has for inviting us all along on their new journey.
Graham Taylor, MD & Founder said “We have a reputation for innovation and for inviting our customers along on the journey, as this gives us valuable insight. We used a similar approach for our Hills & Harbour Gin, and have no doubt that this played a part in it’s continued success. Similarly, our Founders Club members will helps us uncover a formula for Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky production that not only delivers on the traditions of what Scotch Whisky deserves to be, but also takes it to another level of regionality, quality and taste.”
To join Billy&Co Founders Club. Check out www.craftydsitillery.com/billyandco to find out more.
