Exciting news from the premium spirits circuit as whisky expert George Koutsakis and Formula One racing star Jenson Button have united to create Coachbuilt – their impressive and delicious blended Scotch whisky.
The fortuitous meeting of this duo, both masters of their respective crafts, led them to discover a mutual appreciation of the similarities between coachbuilding and the blending of the best whiskies – each requires knowledge born of experience, great talent, and exceptional expertise.
Coachbuilt whisky is made in collaboration with Formula One racing star Jenson Button
The Coachbuilt name refers to the craft and engineering of luxury coachbuilding: the highly precise design and manufacture of the external body of a racing car, which global brand ambassador Button is passionate about. Indeed, the elegant Coachbuilt bottle reflects this, with the forms of car panels and a steering wheel etched into the glass. Button comments: ‘The timing was brilliant – I was in the middle of launching our coachbuilding company Radford [with designer Mark Stubbs and TV mechanic Ant Anstead] when I got introduced to George as he was on a mission to create the ultimate blended whisky.
‘I’ve always loved whisky but didn’t know a huge amount about the blending world. However, the more we talked, the parallels between blending and coachbuilding became pretty apparent. George then sent me an early sample of what he was working on and that was that; I asked how I could get involved and two years later here we are!’
On the international whisky circuit, it could be said that blended whiskies have taken a back seat, or even sat in the side-car of the more exalted single malts (each of which is the product of one single distillery) – but a skilful blend is a pinnacle of the whisky-making craft, requiring expert understanding of its different elements to achieve a perfectly tuned result.
As the brand’s founder and CEO, Koutsakis, says, ‘Coachbuilt began from a realisation that blended Scotch whisky does not receive the praise it deserves worldwide. With our whisky we cast the spotlight on the immense skill required to take components from dozens of distilleries across the country, and piece them together, to create a liquid defined by balance and complexity.
Coachbuilt founder and CEO George Koutsakis
‘From sourcing liquid from each region of Scotch whisky, to the final touch added by the sherry cask finish, craftsmanship is the core of our blend,’ he adds. Coachbuilt is a blend of spirits from the five whisky-producing regions of Scotland – Islay, Speyside, Campbeltown, Highlands and Lowlands – each showcasing very different flavour attributes. The result is a beautifully balanced whisky with a depth and complexity of flavour that offers character beyond its years, and rivals some of the best ultra-premiums in the category.
The Coachbuilt blend is smooth, rich and creamy; full bodied and intricate on the nose and palate, with notes of summer fruits and subtle spice, followed by toffee, chocolate and a touch of citrus. The finish is long and soft, with fruit, toffee, and a hint of smoke leading the way.
Koutsakis and Button are genuinely excited and justifiably proud of the whisky, and we may look forward to further triumphs from the duo; this first release stands tall as the brand’s flagship expression before the ultra-rare, aged and limited-edition releases that will be coming round the track.
INFORMATION
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekIt was a jam-packed week for the Wallpaper* staff, entailing furniture, tech and music launches and lots of good food – from afternoon tea to omakase
-
Peugeot brings back a classic performance badge for the electric era: meet the E-208 GTiPeugeot has unveiled the new E-208 GTi, a performance EV designed to hark back to a golden age of compact sports cars
-
This 18th-century Puglian villa has been restored with contemporary touchesThe updated stonemason's workshop is a haven of centuries-old brick and sophisticated made-in-Italy design
-
Raider of the lost cask: Harrison Ford dons a kilt for new collaboration with Glenmorangie whiskyHollywood legend, Harrison Ford has teamed up with the well-known Highland single malt, Glenmorangie, in a new global campaign.
-
The new dawn of Japanese whiskyJapanese whisky has long been the pinnacle of sophistication for connoisseurs. Our spirits writer Neil Ridley looks at this year’s best releases, and a new breed of distillers bringing innovation into the mix
-
New Glenmorangie whisky nods to nature, with botanical artist Azuma MakotoGlenmorangie unveils ‘Glenmorangie Dr Bill Lumsden x Azuma Makoto 23 Years Old’, an extraordinarily rare limited-edition whisky that embodies the wonder of the natural world
-
The Dalmore and Zaha Hadid Architects’ whisky collaboration up for auctionThe Dalmore 49 Year Old Luminary No.2 The Rare, a collaboration with Zaha Hadid Architects is on auction at Sotheby’s (until 31 May)
-
Reborn distillery Port Ellen welcomes Islay whisky pilgrims with smoky delightsThe resurrection of Islay whisky distillery Port Ellen has been hailed by connoisseurs, among them Neil Ridley, who explored the smoky delights of this Scottish west coast gem
-
The Macallan Horizon with Bentley Motors is a decadent whisky with a luxurious twistThe Macallan and Bentley Motors release ‘The Macallan Horizon’, a single malt whisky with a 180-degree twisted presentation
-
Mortlach and Suchi Reddy’s whisky coasters double as incense holders‘Rare’ whisky coasters by Mortlach and architect and designer Suchi Reddy double as incense holders to create a fragrant drinking experience
-
The Glenrothes presents Philos, a sculptural, no-spills design for drinking whisky at seaPhilos by The Glenrothes, Studio Indigo and Little Halstock is a world-first luxury object at the intersection of yachting, whisky and design
