A SINGLE cask whisky selected by renowned Scottish author Ian Rankin is set to be released to mark this year's Bloody Scotland crime writing festival.
The festival will be taking place from September 12 to 14 in Stirling and the programme is set to feature authors such as Kate Atkinson, Kathy Reichs, Jo Nesbo and Terry Deary.
To celebrate the 2025 event, an exclusive whisky is now available for fans to pre-order, with only 100 bottles available.
It is understood to be the first time a whisky has been exclusively bottled especially for the event.
In collaboration with Fife-based independent bottlers Fib Whisky, Rankin selected an 11-year-old Mannochmore, finished in a first fill Palo Cortado sherry barrique from Jerez, which has conveniently given the dram a spooky deep red tinge.
Fib Whisky co-director Iain Mundy said it was great Mannochmore had been chosen by Rankin as a whisky to share with crime-writing fans, as it is usually used in blends and not released as a single malt.
He told The National: "When we were approached to be the official whisky supplier for the Bloody Scotland Festival this year, saying yes was an absolute no-brainer.
"It was really exciting meeting Ian Rankin at the festival launch, and as a fellow Fifer originally from Cardenden, and a lover of Scotch whisky, we thought we'd give him a few casks samples and let him choose his favourite, as the guest programmer for the festival this year.
"We're really pleased he selected this Mannochmore Palo Cortado cask, as it's a wonderful distillery that the public don't get to try much whisky from, with it being primarily used for blending by Diageo, so it's an excellent chance to let the public get their mitts on and try this vasty underrated single malt".
The whisky is set to be officially launched at The Whisky Knight: Featuring Ian Rankin, James Yorkstone , Natalie Jayne Clark and Colin Macintyre taking place on Friday, September 12, at the Golden Lion Hotel in Stirling at 10pm.
However, people looking to purchase a bottle can now do a pre-order by clicking here.
Pre-orders will be posted out on Monday, September 15.
