A new limited-edition whisky has been released by Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Northumberland. The Tácnbora Limited Edition: Cognac Cask Finish is a small-batch cask strength blend, finished in ex-Cognac oak.
This release marks the next step in Ad Gefrin’s journey toward its first Northumbrian Single Malt, which is due in 2026. The name Tácnbora, taken from Old English, refers to the ceremonial ‘standard bearer’ who would lead royal processions, a symbolic nod to the blend’s role in leading the distillery’s whisky development.
The Tácnbora blend combines selected Scottish and Irish whiskies, brought together and finished in Northumberland. This latest edition has been matured a further six months in ex-Cognac oak casks, enhancing the whisky’s signature sweetness with added structure, fruit and spice.
Just six casks have been bottled, making for a limited release of between 1,800 and 2,000 individually numbered bottles. The whisky is presented at natural cask strength of 58.6% ABV and is non-chill filtered and naturally coloured.
The Tácnbora blend combines selected Scottish and Irish whiskies, brought together and finished in Northumberland…
Official tasting notes for the Cognac Cask Finish describe a complex and expressive dram. The nose opens with honey, raisins and sandalwood, rounded with clover and sweet custard. On the palate, fudge and dried fruit lead into resin and gentle spice, before finishing long with notes of gorse flower, soft honey and freshly sawn wood.
Ben Murphy, Director of Distilling at Ad Gefrin, said: “The Cognac finish adds a dry fruit character and gentle spice that enhances the signature sweetness of Tácnbora. It’s a wonderful example of how different casks can elevate a whisky while still retaining its heart.”
The Cognac Cask Finish follows the sell-out success of the Tácnbora Peated Islay Cask edition, launched in 2023, and is expected to attract similar interest. Bottles are priced at £57.
The release complements the distillery’s ongoing Corenkyn Blends programme, an exclusive four-part whisky series for founding members, which includes previous expressions matured in ex-Bourbon, Rum and Madeira casks.
The Cognac Cask Finish is available from the Ad Gefrin visitor centre and online at www.adgefrin.co.uk.
Welcome to The Luxe Review podcast — where the whisky is limited, the Chardonnay has opinions about geography, and the listening bar is apparently a lifestyle now. Anne: The team has been covering a lot of ground this week — cask innovation, distilling heritage, a global wine competition, and a collaboration that pairs high-fidelity audio…
The world’s finest Chardonnay has been named, and this year the title has travelled a long way from Burgundy. At the recent London Wine Fair, one of the UK wine trade’s most closely watched tastings brought together some of the globe’s leading examples of the grape for a rigorous blind assessment. The result was a…
A new limited-edition Scotch whisky collection has launched exclusively through Master of Malt, celebrating distilleries that still use traditional worm tub condensers. Fewer than 20 distilleries in Scotland continue to craft whiskies using this historic production method. The range comprises five sherry-matured expressions: Knockdhu 10 Year Old, Glen Elgin 11 Year Old, Mortlach 12 Year…
The Luxe Review 
A new limited-edition whisky has been released by Ad Gefrin, the Anglo-Saxon museum and distillery in Northumberland. The Tácnbora Limited Edition: Cognac Cask Finish is a small-batch cask strength blend, finished in ex-Cognac oak.
This release marks the next step in Ad Gefrin’s journey toward its first Northumbrian Single Malt, which is due in 2026. The name Tácnbora, taken from Old English, refers to the ceremonial ‘standard bearer’ who would lead royal processions, a symbolic nod to the blend’s role in leading the distillery’s whisky development.
The Tácnbora blend combines selected Scottish and Irish whiskies, brought together and finished in Northumberland. This latest edition has been matured a further six months in ex-Cognac oak casks, enhancing the whisky’s signature sweetness with added structure, fruit and spice.
Just six casks have been bottled, making for a limited release of between 1,800 and 2,000 individually numbered bottles. The whisky is presented at natural cask strength of 58.6% ABV and is non-chill filtered and naturally coloured.
Official tasting notes for the Cognac Cask Finish describe a complex and expressive dram. The nose opens with honey, raisins and sandalwood, rounded with clover and sweet custard. On the palate, fudge and dried fruit lead into resin and gentle spice, before finishing long with notes of gorse flower, soft honey and freshly sawn wood.
Ben Murphy, Director of Distilling at Ad Gefrin, said: “The Cognac finish adds a dry fruit character and gentle spice that enhances the signature sweetness of Tácnbora. It’s a wonderful example of how different casks can elevate a whisky while still retaining its heart.”
The Cognac Cask Finish follows the sell-out success of the Tácnbora Peated Islay Cask edition, launched in 2023, and is expected to attract similar interest. Bottles are priced at £57.
The release complements the distillery’s ongoing Corenkyn Blends programme, an exclusive four-part whisky series for founding members, which includes previous expressions matured in ex-Bourbon, Rum and Madeira casks.
The Cognac Cask Finish is available from the Ad Gefrin visitor centre and online at www.adgefrin.co.uk.
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Welcome to The Luxe Review podcast — where the whisky is limited, the Chardonnay has opinions about geography, and the listening bar is apparently a lifestyle now. Anne: The team has been covering a lot of ground this week — cask innovation, distilling heritage, a global wine competition, and a collaboration that pairs high-fidelity audio…
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The world’s finest Chardonnay has been named, and this year the title has travelled a long way from Burgundy. At the recent London Wine Fair, one of the UK wine trade’s most closely watched tastings brought together some of the globe’s leading examples of the grape for a rigorous blind assessment. The result was a…
This new sherry matured Single Cask whisky series celebrates a dying distilling art
A new limited-edition Scotch whisky collection has launched exclusively through Master of Malt, celebrating distilleries that still use traditional worm tub condensers. Fewer than 20 distilleries in Scotland continue to craft whiskies using this historic production method. The range comprises five sherry-matured expressions: Knockdhu 10 Year Old, Glen Elgin 11 Year Old, Mortlach 12 Year…
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