William Grant & Sons (WG&S) Korea announced on the 15th that it will officially launch the blended Scotch whiskey "Wildmoor" in the country.

William Grant & Sons is a historic whiskey manufacturer that opened its doors in 1886 in Scotland's Speyside. It produces Glenfiddich, the world's best-selling single malt whiskey brand, and Balvenie, which is also popular in Korea.

Wildmoor is a new whiskey brand introduced by William Grant & Sons. The name "Wildmoor" is a combination of the English words for wild and moor.

On the 15th, a launch event for Wildmoor is held at the headquarters of William Grant & Sons Korea located in Seongsu-dong, Seoul. From left, Wildmoor 30 Year Rugged Coast, Wildmoor 23 Year Dark Moorland, and Wildmoor 40 Year Black Mountain are displayed. /Courtesy of William Grant & Sons Korea

William Grant & Sons reported that Wildmoor was created by blending some of the ancient reserve whiskey that the William Grant & Sons family had collected for personal use over 60 years. The ancient reserve refers to rare whiskey stocks that have been aged for a long time.

Wildmoor uses whiskey sourced from long-gone distilleries in Scotland. In the whiskey industry, these closed distilleries are referred to as "ghost distilleries." Typically, ghost distilleries sell their remaining stocks to nearby distilleries at low prices just before they close. Whiskey enthusiasts tend to favor the limited quantities and hard-to-find stocks from these ghost distilleries.

William Grant & Sons has launched three variants: Wildmoor 23-Year Dark Moorland, Wildmoor 30-Year Rugged Coast, and Wildmoor Black Mountain. In the liquor industry, whiskeys aged for about 12 to 18 years are considered flagship products, while those aged for over 20 years are treated as premium products.

Kim Jeonghoon, Wildmoor brand manager, stated, "The domestic whiskey market has rapidly grown during the COVID-19 period, and is currently stabilizing. At present, the blended whiskey brands are limited, but Wildmoor has the potential to become an alternative in the premium blended whiskey market.”

Scotch whiskey has distinct taste and aroma differences depending on the district in Scotland where the distillery is located. Each region, including Speyside, Highlands, Islay, and Lowlands, has its unique characteristics.

Wildmoor has boldly blended whiskey stocks from various regions, breaking away from typical whiskey conventions, even as a new brand. Wildmoor 23-Year Dark Moorland is made by mixing Highland malt whiskey with Lowland and Highland grain whiskeys. It is then initially aged in American and European oak barrels, followed by finishing in Spanish Oloroso sherry casks. William Grant & Sons claims it evokes images of the thick wilderness swept by the Scottish wind.

At the launch event for Wildmoor, mixed martial artist Choo Sung-hoon poses with a glass next to Wildmoor. /Courtesy of William Grant & Sons Korea

Wildmoor 30-Year Rugged Coast was inspired by Scotland's rugged western coastline, incorporating elements like sea breeze, wave sounds, and the scent of peat. Peat is a type of coal formed by the accumulation of wet moss or grass. Seaweed and wildflowers have decomposed underground for thousands of years in an oxygen-poor environment. Whiskeys emphasizing the peat aroma can have unique salty scents resembling slight odors or burnt fragrances.

Wildmoor 40 Black Mountain emphasizes its uniqueness by incorporating stocks from vanished ghost distilleries. It is finished in oak barrels aged with Pedro Ximénez from Spain, producing a deep and rich flavor, as reported by William Grant & Sons.

The retail prices are approximately 300,000 won for Wildmoor 23-Year, 700,000 won for 30-Year, and 1.4 million won for 40-Year.

Brian Kinsman, malt master at William Grant & Sons, said, "Wildmoor is a product born out of respect for the grandeur and awe-inspiring nature of the Scottish wilderness, crafted from rare ancient reserve stocks explored and blended meticulously, resulting in a whiskey with intense and deep flavors."