A new release from Innis & Gunn is almost as exciting as Christmas. Every year, the Scottish craft brewer brings out a new product from its Vanishing Point range.

The company describes the series as its “apex. It’s the point at which the passion, skill and ambition of our brewers all converge.”

Vanishing Point 07 is 2023’s offering. In collaboration with The Glenlivet, it’s an 11% imperial stout that has been double cask matured. It spent its first nine months in rare The Glenlivet 18-year-old whisky casks, then finished for three months in port casks.

A bit out there, in the absolute best way, Vanishing Point 07 is a seriously flavoursome sip with a delightful caramelly, nutty, mocha note that’s like your favourite limited-edition festive coffee. It’s rich, mellow, warming, a little bit fruity, and just has so much going on.

Dougal Gunn Sharp, founder and master brewer at Innis & Gunn, said, “Our first edition of Vanishing Point was in 2016 and since then each annual release of the beer has been an evolution of the last. A ‘vanishing point’ is something always slightly beyond reach and this name perfectly fits this beer and our quest for continual progression in brewing, evolving year by year.”

These beers are incredibly limited-edition, with just 1,500 bottles produced. At the time of writing, Vanishing Point 07 is still available to buy from Innis & Gunn for £15 for a 500ml bottle — with a smart gift carton.

Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point Series

The Innis & Gunn Vanishing Point series represents a journey of maturation and flavour development across its releases. Starting with Vanishing Point 01, the series introduced a beer matured for six months in first-fill bourbon barrels, setting the tone for innovative ageing processes. This was followed by Vanishing Point 02, which saw a maturation period of 300 days in first-fill bourbon casks, with 03 and 04 extending the ageing to 420 and 450 days, respectively.

The series took a distinctive turn with Vanishing Point 05, matured for 365 days in hand-selected 15-year-old Speyside single malt whisky casks, introducing a different flavour profile. Finally, Vanishing Point 06, a collaboration with The Glenlivet, featured an 11% imperial stout aged for a year in oak casks that had previously housed The Glenlivet 18-year-old single malt whisky, culminating the series in a rich and complex flavour experience. Each release in the Vanishing Point series showcases Innis & Gunn’s commitment to exploring the depths of barrel ageing and its impact on beer flavour.

Innis & Gunn’s Limited-Edition Beers Are Still Available

Although you may have missed out on the excitement of the previous Vanishing Point releases, all is not lost if you like your hops limited-edition and interesting.

Innis & Gunn has been celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2023 and says it reveres the effect time can have on beer. That’s what led to its 12 Moons lager (£10, 750ml), a lager beer that’s been aged (or stored, or lagered) for a whole year, aka 12 moons, which is rather unusual when it comes to lager. The result is a smooth, refreshing and complex beer. Or say cheers to Innis & Gunn’s 20th birthday with The Original: XX (£5, 330ml). This golden drop is created by filling Speyside casks from 2003 (the whisky was bottled at the start of this year) with Innis & Gunn’s Original beer for three months.

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