Hi-Spirits releases whiskeys into UK

UK distributor Hi-Spirits has released five limited-edition Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskeys into the UK market.

Available on a first-come-first-served basis, the 2011 Antique Collection includes an 18-year-old Sazerac Rye, which was given a Liquid Gold award and a 97.5 rating in Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2011.

The other drinks are: 17-year-old Eagle Rare; George T Stagg — distilled in 1993; 13-year-old William Larue Weller, and Thomas H Handy Sazerac Rye, which was distilled in 2005.

The Antique Collection was introduced more than a decade ago and has become a cult favourite among connoisseurs of the drink.

Jeremy Hill, chairman of Hi-Spirits, said: “There’s always strong demand for the UK allocations of the Antique Collection from

top-end whiskey bars, together with specialist off-trade retailers.

“Once the whiskeys start to win some awards, orders tend to increase and supplies become very scarce.”