In a release that bridges centuries of distilling heritage with the palates of today’s collectors, Littlemill, Scotland’s first licensed distillery, has unveiled Echoes of the Past Release Number One, a 34-year-old single malt and the inaugural expression in a rare new four-part collection.
Drawing from one of the final remaining casks laid down before the distillery’s closure, this series is a tribute to the lost craftsmanship of Littlemill and an invitation to witness the evolution of a single cask over time. Just 50 bottles will be drawn annually from a single Oloroso sherry barrel over four years, revealing the changing personality of the spirit as it matures and deepens in complexity.
Originally distilled in 1990 during the distillery’s final production years, the whisky was first aged in a refill American oak hogshead for 25 years before being re-casked into an Oloroso sherry barrel in 2015. The result is a sophisticated single malt that weaves together the distillery’s hallmark orchard fruit profile with layers of honeyed spice and citrus vibrancy.
Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Group, owner of Littlemill, said: “Each sip of Littlemill presents a remarkable opportunity to experience a taste of the distillery’s history and opens a window to its extraordinary past. The Echoes of the Past Collection offers a new and unique opportunity for whisky connoisseurs to take a different kind of journey back to the final years of the distillery’s production, allowing them to experience an Oloroso finishing on a Littlemill malt at different ages.
Though Littlemill distillery is lost to history, this cask carries its legacy forward, evolving with time. To witness its continuing journey of maturation and flavour over four releases is to glimpse a past that still lives on. Littlemill Echoes of the Past Release Number One is a 34-year-old single malt which has rewarded us with the discovery of a new flavour dimension that enhances the distillery’s character, resulting in a wonderfully sweet, citrus and softly spicy dram.”
Presented in a sculptural solid oak case with a stone interior inscribed with a message from Master Blender Michael Henry, each decanter is a collector’s item. The whisky is housed in an engraved Glencairn crystal bottle, accompanied by a 50ml miniature and certificate of ownership.
Founded in 1772 in Bowling, West Dunbartonshire, Littlemill has long held a place at the forefront of whisky innovation from its pioneering still design in the 1930s to its distinctive triple-distilled style. The distillery closed in 1994 and was tragically destroyed by fire a decade later. Since then, its surviving casks have been preserved under the watchful eye of the Loch Lomond Group.
Littlemill Echoes of the Past Release Number One is bottled at cask strength (48.5% ABV), natural in colour, and priced at £3,900. For further information or purchasing enquiries, visit: www.littlemilldistillery.com
