Outlander Star Sam Heughan Bids Farewell to the Show with Unique Whisky Release
Without sounding like too much of a miserable old man, TV these days just isn’t as good as it was when I was a kid. I don’t know if it’s just because I was spoilt growing up in the 90s, which as we all know, is when life peaked, but TV back then was far more entertaining than it is now. That’s why, when you do come across a real gem of a show these days, it’s even more special. Outlander is a prime example of this.
Outlander, which released in 2014, became a surprise hit when it first came out and has 7 seasons under its belt. In early March, the 8th and final season began, and promises to go out with a real bang. The plot revolves around Claire, a combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously transported back in time to 18th century Scotland. While there, she falls in love with a Scottish warrior named Jamie Fraser, who is played by Scottish actor, author, entrepreneur, and whisky aficionado Sam Heughan.
Having worked on the show for more than a decade, it’s clear that Sam has a real soft spot for his character and decided to honour him and the show with a new, special-edition whisky. Here are my thoughts.
A Whisky Lover Through and Through
Everybody knows that in order to be considered a true Scotsman, you must be born with an affinity for haggis, Tunnocks tea cakes, and IRN-BRU. On your 18th birthday, you must also develop a passion for whisky. It’s the law!
Okay, none of that is actually true, but we all know just how passionate about whisky the Scots actually are, and rightly so. As a true Scot, Sam Heughan is also a whisky lover through and through. So much so in fact, that the actor has penned not one, but two whisky books, and has released his own blended Scotch known as The Sassenach. Am I forgetting anything? Oh yes, he also recently purchased a distillery. Yes, really.
Sam, along with his business partner, Alex Norouzi, purchased the Crafty Distillery in Dumfries and Galloway. One of the first changes they made was to rename it, cutting straight to the chase and calling it Galloway Distillery, which sounds far more fitting in my opinion.
The Galloway Distillery is clearly in good company, as other distilleries in this stunning region of the Lowlands include Bladnoch Distillery, Moffat, and Annandale. Sam is of course passionate about his homeland, and the glorious Scottish countryside and hopes that his distillery will help introduce more people to the rugged and scenic surroundings. He has also been granted permits to expand the distillery and repurpose it so that it is also able to produce both malt and grain whisky. Thus far, the distillery only has the capacity to produce gin and vodka. While both delicious tipples, to have a distillery in such a stunning and quintessentially Scottish location and not produce whisky would be a crying shame, so hats off to him.
The Sassenach Jamie Fraser Collection
Outlander, which began in 2014, will shortly be drawing to a close after 8 seasons. As a way of bidding the show, and the character of Jamie Fraser a fond farewell, Sam Heughan will be releasing a limited-edition blended whisky, which he’s called The Sassenach: Jamie Fraser Collection (despite being a single release).
Now, much like many of the plot points of Outlander, there’s a lot of mystery surrounding what actually went into this dram. We know it’s blended and retails for £139.99. We also know it features an ABV of 46%. Other than that, however, it remains a mystery.
Having played the character for more than two decades, it’s clear that Sam has a real affinity for Jamie. He has stated that the whisky is deeply personal to him and that he wanted the whisky to resonate with fans just like his character did.
The Sassenach is not a brand-new release, as it was previously released in America in 2020. The name is a nod to the nickname his character Jamie has for his love interest Claire in the show. It has also won numerous awards over the years.
This dram, however, is something entirely different. It features stunning artwork depicting his character, along with a personalised letter inside the box, that Sam wrote to his character Jamie, thanking him for the company he gave and for allowing him the privilege to call him a friend for more than a decade. I really do love this as it shows the impression that Jamie has had on Sam after all these years.
Tasting Notes
Okay, so, let’s get down to business. How does it taste?
On the nose, you can expect fruity and floral aromas, in the form of ripe apricots, vanilla beans, Scottish heather, and orange blossom honey. These are joined by scents of orange marmalade, toffee, and creamy porridge oats topped with toasted almonds.
On the palate, more honey, along with tinned peaches and nectarines, drizzled in Carnation milk. There’s also a creamy, rich, butterscotch flavour to it, along with clotted cream vanilla fudge, Bakewell pudding, and lemon curd.
The finish is smooth and lengthy, with a rich and slightly oily mouthfeel. There’s a touch of toasted oak here, along with cloves, nutmeg, and cinnamon. Finally, sugared almonds enter the fold, with a hint of sea-salted golden caramel and dark chocolate.
As mentioned, it’s likely to be a one-time only deal here, so once it’s gone it’s gone. My advice would be to grab one sooner rather than later.
If you’d like to learn more about your favourite whiskies, or simply treat yourself to a dram or two in the process, head on over to GreatDrams.com and take a look at the diverse selection of unique whiskies we currently have in stock.
With an impressive selection of limited-edition, rare, and award-winning whisky, as well as heaps of whisky info on our blog, it’s the perfect spot for any whisky lovers out there.
Greg
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