Cù Bòcan, the lightly peated, experimental single malt brand produced at Tomatin Distillery each winter, has announced the launch of the eighth release in its Creation Series: the first known peated Scotch whisky to be matured in ice wine casks.

Cù Bòcan Creation #8 (46% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky matured using a never-before-seen dual cask maturation of Canadian ice wine casks from family-owned Canadian winery Pillitteri Estates Winery and Spanish Verdejo white wine casks from renowned French-owned winery Belondrade.

Crafted annually at Tomatin Distillery in the Scottish Highlands during the cold winter months, Cù Bòcan’s limited-edition Creation Series celebrates exclusively peated whiskies with unique cask combinations, inspired by the lightly peated spirit historically produced at the distillery more than 100 years ago.

Ice wine is a sweet dessert wine made from grapes left to freeze on the vine before harvesting. The grapes are pressed at around –7°C, when the water inside has crystallised, leaving a small amount of highly concentrated sugary juice. Verdejo, a white wine from Spain’s Rueda region, is known for its fresh, zesty and herbal character.

Cù Bòcan Creation #8 is said to deliver notes of baked apple, poached pear, apricot jam, golden raisin, candied peach, orange blossom, honey syrup, citrus zest, a hint of fennel, herbs, heather, flamed lemon peel, almond pastry, light spice and gentle smoke on the nose. These are followed by notes of honeycomb, peach, apricot, candied citrus peel, pineapple syrup, marmalade, lime zest, green grape, grass and a whisper of earthy smoke on the palate.

Commenting on the launch, Jamie Muir, Distillery Manager at Tomatin, said: “Our Cù Bòcan Creations Series is all about going beyond convention, creating genuinely distinctive whiskies that excite and intrigue. Marking the oldest release in the series to date, Cù Bòcan Creation #8 is a pioneering single malt, marrying our gently peated spirit with the bold sweetness of Canadian ice wine casks — something we believe has never been done before with a peated Scotch. Equally, the Verdejo casks and the experimental decision to fill them shortly after emptying have introduced a vibrant citrus and herbal dimension. The combination of these two cask types makes Creation #8 a truly surprising dram.”

Cù Bòcan Creation #8 is now available from the Tomatin website and selected specialist retailers, for a RRP of £45.00.