Woven Whisky launches Collection Two

The indie Scottish whisky brand has launched its new collection after initial sell-out success

Having launched their brand less than a year ago, Edinburgh-based whisky blenders, Woven, announce their second collection of small-batch blended whiskies following the sell-out success of their inaugural release.

Collection Two comprises of four brand-new limited edition blends, each exploring a different concept and flavour. Ranging from £45 - £150 in price, they’ve been honed in the brand’s tiny blending studio in Leith over a period of 6 months. To meet demand, Woven have more than doubled production since Collection One which, when launched, the founders say “felt like it was the fastest selling whisky in the world for a precious few minutes!”

From initial inspiration, through development and technique, Woven celebrate ‘modern Scotland’ - something they believe is not embraced by an industrialised category that places importance on efficiency and consistency rather than expression of flavour and creativity.

When creating blends, Woven (unusually) disregard every factor relating to the whiskies they’re working with – distillery name, cask type, cost – and focus only on flavour. This allows any preconceptions to be ignored and each liquid to speak for itself.

With three of the founders having started their drinks industry careers behind Edinburgh’s top cocktail bars, they believe that flavour is intrinsically linked with emotion – a core value for Woven. Their experimental ethos sees them prioritise “experience above all else”.

Co-founder Peter Allison says, “When we blend, we’re often thinking of particular occasions or memories and moods, and the atmosphere around them. We are exploring flavours within whiskies, seeking to create the ideal profile to sit alongside these moments.”

The four new blends in Collection Two – Chardonyay, Pete vs Peat, The Elixir of Leith and Midnight Oil – lean into different emotions, from upbeat and high energy to more contemplative and low tempo, giving each a unique experience to enjoy.

Despite being based in what was once the heart of Scotland’s blending industry, Woven’s approach to the world of blending is anything but traditional. In fact, the founders say that there’s more to take inspiration from outside Scotch: the New World of whisky and the natural wine movement.

Whilst Woven are not only inspired by but seek to promote the proud history of blended whisky (especially that of Leith where they are based), they are also looking beyond Scotch for exciting new flavours and techniques. By balancing the old and new, Woven are not beholden to outdated and elitist ideals but instead break the ceiling on what blended whisky can be.

Peter Allison continues, “Ultimately, whisky is about the experience of flavour and that’s our obsessive focus. We’re happy to experiment outside what’s ‘normal’ in the world of Scotch blending as we believe some of the accepted methods, practices or rules aren’t in the best interest of the end user’s overall taste experience.

“Innovation is a buzzword in Scotch, but in truth it’s quite recent and has been limited to only a handful of techniques. The word has transitioned in meaning from being about cutting costs, saving money and becoming more efficient to now being about heightening experience, bringing something new or creating ever more luxurious expressions of single malt.

The problem is – the entire blending category, which still makes up 91% of all the Scotch produced each year, didn’t get that memo. We see limitless opportunity to re-imagine the world of blending by employing the very best whisky making techniques from here and around the world, as well as other (provided they’re legal) techniques from categories as far afield as Cognac production, wine making or Japanese Whisky.”

With their export markets increasing in number, Woven are planning for impressive growth which includes opening blending studios in other emerging whisky producing countries. France, Germany, and Australia are in the planning stages, whilst Woven’s Leith location is scaling up over the next 3 years to meet demand. In each location the team will collaborate with local whisky producers to create unique offerings as well as bring the experiences conceived in Leith, which they’re becoming known for to a wider audience.”

Tasting Notes

EXPERIENCE N.7 / CHARDONYAY! (£45, 500ml)

We heard of New World winemakers re-imagining the planet’s most prevalent grape variety to create something new. Seeing them prove that something as ubiquitous as Chardonnay could have many faces struck a chord.

So when the classy, elegant tones of N.7 graced our studio we freed ourselves from the ABC (anything but chardonnay) mindset and quickly became obsessed with finding those notes in whiskies. Think steely, oyster-inflected tones of Chablis and the oak-soaked butter bombs of California. We let something vibrant, uplifting, and herbal take shape – it’s ripe with zest, balance, and viscosity.

Drink N.7 long, with water. Wine style.

EXPERIENCE N.8 / PETE VS. PEAT (£55, 500ml)

How did Scotland’s smouldering, elemental dirt come to define our whisky in such a delicious way? We put our best man on the scent and dispatched him across to the Isles, through fumes and folklore in search of new flavours.

What did he discover? That behind the bonfires and charring, there’s a world of smoke that’s altogether more welcoming. One of delicate incense and soft candy floss, of toffee apple and spilled coffee, of dark chocolate and steaming bowls of lapsang souchong, if that’s your cup of tea.

This study in smokiness is all layers and wisps. Drifting this way and that. Rising and falling on breaths between sips. Slowly evolving and effortlessly suave – who’d have thought this humble fuel of the Highlands, in the very moment of its destruction, could leave such a lasting impression?

EXPERIENCE N.9 / THE ELIXIR OF LEITH (£50, 500ml)

Our love letter to Leith does not follow convention. The people’s republic. Our home and our muse. No carnival town, but proudly twinned with Rio in spirit. Home to storytellers, seafarers, and the next big thing. And the last big thing.

We tracked down as many of the great but sadly lost blends from Leith and set about paying homage to them in liquid form. N.9 is contrasts, citrus, and depth. Tough and eccentric, with a sunny disposition. A stormy brightness, in tune with itself. Banana Flats. Concrete and rain. Spice and tropical fruits.

Leith's motto: persevere.

EXPERIENCE N.10 / MIDNIGHT OIL (£150, 500ml)

An opulent, deep, and herbal homage to special moments shared in good company. N.10 is Complex and comforting.

A resinous and fragrant expression reminiscent of conversation-rich dark evenings that unravel into the night, ending nowhere in particular.

For our tenth Experience, we set out to create a whisky ideal for quietly marking in memory those rare and precious moments we’d all bottle if we could. Liquorice, soft smoke, and beeswax notes combine on the palate before giving way to more subtle tannins and fruit.

The result is a low-tempo, atmospheric blend with a captivating finish.

Provided by Woven Whisky