Berry Brothers & Rudd Blue Hanger: A World Exclusive Tasting
Posted by Scott Fitzsimons on 12th Apr 2019
We had the great pleasure this March to host a very special tastings of some very special whiskies – a vertical of Berry Brothers & Rudd’s Blue Hanger series.
As a family owned independent business since 1956, we like to celebrate the rich history of The Oak Barrel. Our story is, however, a spec in the hourglass of the iconic Berry Brothers & Rudd name, the wine and spirits merchants who’ve been similarly family owned since 1698. They’ve traded at the same 3 St James Street, London, store since that date and have a couple of royals warrants to their name as well.
The Blue Hanger series of blended malts was first introduced in 2003 as a way to showcase some exceptional mid-70s casks the company owned and has since become a mark of excellence and elegance in whisky.
Thanks to the extreme generosity of long-time Berry Brothers Australian Ambassador Daniel Hutchins-Read, we were able to put together this remarkable event with bottles from his personal collection, which he’d scoured the world for. Also joined by the company’s Asia Pacific Regional Sales Manager Luigi Barzini, we believe this is the first time a tasting like this has occurred publicly anywhere in the world.
Most of these releases are now resigned to the archive, but we’ve managed to secure a small allocation of the 11th release, which we’re excited to offer at a very good price: $169 and $152.10 for members. (Usually retails for $200).
Thanks to May Lawrence for capturing the night.
Blue Hanger 3rd Release
Bottled 2007, named World Whiskies Awards Best Blended Malt 2008
Glenlivet 1975, sherry butt
Glenlivet 1974, hogshead (3)
Glenlivet 1973, hogshead
Glen Grant 1973, hogshead
1,485 bottles produced
30-year-old
Blue Hanger 5th Release
Democratically selected at Whisky Live Paris 2010, consisting of:
Clynelish 1997, hogshead #4704
Dufftown 1982, hogshead #18584
Glenlivet 1978, hogshead #13510
Mortlach 1991, sherry butt #5141
1155 bottles produced
Blue Hanger 6th Release
Bottled 2012, consisting of:
Glenrothes 1990, sherry butt
Bunnahabhain 1990, sherry Butt
Bowmore 1980, hogshead
Bowmore 1987, hogshead
2223 bottles produced
Blue Hanger 7th Release
US exclusive, bottled 2013
1992 Bruichladdich, hogshead)
1990 Bunnahabhain, sherry butt
1997 Miltonduff, hogsheads (4)
2006 Bunnahabhain (peated), hogsheads (2)
3,088 bottles produced
Blue Hanger 8th Release
21-year-old age statement, bottled exclusively for The Whisky Shop (UK) in 2013
Make-up unknown
810 bottles
Blue Hanger 9th Release
Bottled 2013
1997 Clynelish, hogshead
1995 Glen Elgin, hogshead (2)
1990 Bunnahabhain, sherry butt
1996 Clynelish, hogshead
2006 Bunnahabhain (peated), hogshead
1999 Linkwood, hogshead
Blue Hanger 11th Release
Bottled 2015
1990 Bunnahabhain, puncheon #3544
2007 Bunnahabhain (peated), hogshead #800085
2000 Glengoyne, sherry butt #1072
1997 Aultmore, hogsheads #9700, 3588
1998 Dailuaine, hogsheads #10478 10479
2007 Blended Malt sherry butt #4
4712 bottles
Blue Hanger 13th Release
Exclusive to Taiwan, bottled 2016
Rumoured to include Glenrothes and Laphroaig
Approximately 3,000 bottles produced