MacDuff reveals RyeLaw and puts Fife on the map

MacDuff International has plans to raise the profile of both rye whisky and Fife in Scotland with its launch of RyeLaw whisky.

Speaking exclusively to the drinks business, MacDuff export sales director John Scott said: “Our amazing new thing is RyeLaw which is the first official bottling from our Inchdairnie Distillery.”

Scott told db: “TFWA Asia Pacific is the first show anywhere in the world that this whisky has been. It is a Scottish rye whisky. But it can’t say that on the label because rye whisky doesn’t exist in Scotland. If we made this anywhere else in the world we could call it single rye whisky, but we have to call it single grain because that is the only category we fit into in Scotland.”

He revealed that the grain bill is made up “from just over 50% malted rye and the other half is malt barley” indicating that “it is really a meeting of rye whisky and single malt whisky”.

In terms of its demographic, Scott insisted that “whisky lovers will love it” but also “anyone who wants to try something unique”.

He explained: “We have split our audience into two areas – whisky connoisseurs or collectors and then there is the luxury audience which are being called knowledgeable hedonists and it’s suitable for both.”

However, he revealed that there is still work to be done to put Fife on the map, but said “this is a start” and added: “We are trying to convince the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to give Fife its own denomination.”