The Story Behind Mythical Beasts Whisky: A Tale of Passion and Boldness

In the world of independent bottlers, some brands truly stand out. One such brand is Mythical Beasts whisky. But what is the story behind this whisky label? We delve into a tale steeped in passion, courage, and love for the ambrosia of the gods.

The tale of Mythical Beasts whisky begins with two individuals who share a love for whisky. They are Ross Archer and Russell Spratley, founders of Spiritfilled. For the latter, whisky has been a staple of family gatherings for years.

This tradition stems from the past of Spiritfilled’s co-founder. Whenever Spratley's uncle visited, he invariably brought a bottle of whisky with him, accompanied by captivating tales about the divine drink.

Spratley learned all facets of whisky and eventually pursued it as a profession. At one point, he teamed up with Archer to further exploit this passion.

When Asian clients express interest in Scottish whisky, an idea crystallizes. They start visiting distilleries, engaging with folks in the industry, and conducting extensive research on Scotland's "water of life".

This research marks the initial phase of Spiritfilled, their own enterprise revolving around investing in whisky barrels. From day one, Spratley and Archer also intended to explore independent bottling.

The pair sought to produce their own whisky to share with their family and, by extension, the rest of the world.

Archer and Spratley searched for a name for their unique whisky, but they didn't have to look far. They amalgamated the origin story of their business (the demand from Asia) with Scotland's national animal: the unicorn.

The Chinese version of this mythical creature is the Qilin, the name they initially intended to use. But they soon faced a hurdle. The name was already taken by a brewery in Asia. Hence the name could work in the United Kingdom but not in Asia.

However, their intention was to cater to a larger market as many of Spiritfilled's customers reside in Asia. They coordinated with the team that had already designed an awe-inspiring design for the whisky bottles.

They changed the name to Mythical Beasts, and the Qilin took on a role in one of the whisky regions. By then, Archer and Spratley had found a remarkable 11-year-old Caol Ila barrel destined for a Pedro Ximénez finish.

Once that was accomplished, the first Mythical Beasts whisky emerged, with the Qilin gracing one of the bottles. This time, the creature represented the Islay whisky region. On different bottles, various mythical creatures feature alongside stunning graphics and their own tales.

Not all whisky barrels they discover meet their expectations. At one point, they consider buying a barrel of Tormore whisky from Speyside. Archer and Spratley don't hesitate and purchase the whisky without sampling. But upon arrival, it proves to be no more than average.

The pair contemplate how they can elevate this whisky since its quality is adequate. They decide to age it in a PX barrel to see what influence it will have on the whisky.

The gamble pays off. The PX barrel has a magical effect on the 13-year-old Tormore in 18 months. The resulting drink is flavorful and rich, with a beautiful color.

The men behind Mythical Beasts continue to apply the knowledge they've amassed throughout their journey.

The wood can have remarkable effects on whisky, and the spirit itself can sometimes be truly extraordinary after a few years. They're eager to share their wisdom with those seeking something a bit special.

The team at Spiritfilled dedicates its time every day to aiding those interested in buying whisky barrels. They provide advice and guidance to help make informed decisions.

Their new warehouse in Scotland is one of the most accessible and safe places for investing in whisky barrels. And it doesn't stop there as they also offer advice on bottling, labeling, and other facets of whisky production.

For more information about Spiritfilled and Braeside Bond and your own whisky barrels, you can fill out this contact form.