Introducing the Ralph Steadman X Cask 88 collection.
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The Whisky Correspondence Course

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Cask 88 invites you to embark on a multisensory journey, retracing the footsteps of one of Britain’s most legendary illustrators -
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A unique collection of rare single cask single malt Scotch whisky, each bottle adorned with a legendary Steadman print showcasing whisky craft.
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The extensive set of luxuriant single malts will be released in four semesters, recreating the correspondence course that Ralph Steadman undertook when honing his craft.
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This series takes you on some truly incredible journeys. Not only on Ralph Steadman’s fateful journey through the correspondence course but also the journey of discovery he undertook touring the distilleries of Scotland for 'Still Life with Bottle'.
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An Exquisite Collection

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Bruichladdich 31 Years Old

Distilled: 1991
Cask Type: Refill Hogshead
Cask Number: 2258
ABV: 50.6%

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Arran 24 Years Old

Distilled: 1996
Cask Type: Oloroso Hogshead
Cask Number: 1556
ABV: 44.7%

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Glenburgie 24 Years Old

Distilled: 1997
Cask Type: 1st Fill Sherry Butt
Cask Number: 9318
ABV: 55.2%

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5cl Inkwell Presentation Bottles

A taster of all three 70cl bottles, accompanied by 'coursework' to teach you all about whisky engineering.

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The Man Himself…Ralph Steadman

Discover more about Ralph Steadman by clicking on the tabs.

A world renowned and legendary British artist, with a provocative and eccentric style, Ralph Steadman has enjoyed an illustrious career.
Collaborating with the likes of Private Eye and Rolling Stone, developing ‘Gonzo’ journalism with Hunter S. Thompson and travelling the vineyards of the world to illustrate for Oddbins are just a few of his adventures.
In the 50s, Ralph Steadman undertook the Percy V. Bradshaw Press Art School’s postal correspondence course, a fundamental part of his artistic education. This unique whisky series is themed around that correspondence course with the artistic material replaced with knowledge of whisky craft.
Next, in the 90s, Steadman and his wife toured distilleries of Scotland, gathering knowledge about the whisky creation process and inspiration for incredible illustrations that fill his book 'Still Life with Bottle'. The irreverent and detailed illustrations in this book feature on the bottles of this collaborative series as a celebration of Steadman and the art of whisky.

Semester One: The Engineering of Whisky

Explore some of the most dramatic moments of Ralph Steadman’s tour of Scotland’s distilleries played out at the edge of the furnace of whisky engineering.

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Glenburgie 24 Years Old

Full bodied and delightfully sweet - this gives notes of baked bananas, milk chocolate raisins & wholemeal toast. Lavender topped plum tatin and ginger beer notes develop, finishing with citrus rind, soft leather and pecan pie fighting for the final word.
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The Art of Whisky – Coopering

An essential part of the coopering process, cask firing is arguably the most spectacularly dramatic part of the whisky making process. The incredible intensity of the flames captured by Ralph Steadman in his arresting illustration mirrors the intense richness and unrelentingly long finish of this hand-selected cask.
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Arran 24 Years Old

Rich & sweet. Lashings of dark chocolate ganache and medjool dates give way to candied orange peel and liquorice honeycomb. Evolves relentlessly with spiced coffee, gentle tobacco and vinous tannins.
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The Art of Whisky – Distillation

The application of intense heat to a complex chemical concoction is an indispensable process essential to whisky making. A critical moment in its history in Scotland was the introduction of spirit safes, a physical lock to protect against widespread excise avoidance.

The remote Isle of Arran was unable to transition and whisky making stopped there for over a century.

This whisky was distilled in the 90’s, when Ralph Steadman made his journey across Scotland and when distillation first recommenced on the fair Isle.
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Bruichladdich 31 Years Old

Extremely varied and complex. Greek yoghurt blended with guava and lemon zest, dry Alsatian Riesling and a cooling triptych of menthol, eucalyptus & black cardamom. Blanched almonds and sherbet to finish.
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The Art of Whisky – Malting

A practice almost entirely lost to the annals of time, the by-hand floor malting process captured by Ralph Steadman’s illustration is being recommissioned at Bruichladdich distillery. This cask was selected for its incredible complexity and remarkable balance.
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The Whisky Correspondence Course – Miniature Set

A set of three truly special 5cl inkwell presentation bottles give you a chance to taste all three exquisite single malts in one. Greatly aged and unique, these whiskies hail from some of the finest distilleries in Scotland.
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Whisky Coursework

In homage to Steadman’s undertaking of the postal correspondence course, accompanying ‘coursework’ will teach you all about the engineering process behind whisky making.

Step back in time with us, pick up your pens and experience the quintessential marriage of two of Scotland’s finest art forms.
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