The Sassenach is Heughan’s award-winning, Outlander-inspired whiskey
On Dec. 16, 2021, Heughan revealed in a social media video that the whiskey won a gold European Wine and Spirits Trophy, roughly three months after Heughan announced in mid-September that Spirit of Home won a Double Gold Medal at the 2021 New York World Wine and Spirits Competition—which, he also noted, is “our first win while The Sassenach is in stock.” That followed the second consecutive double gold that Sassenach captured back in April at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. As he also noted in that video announcement, Heughan was ready to help fans toast the holidays with a “Dram with Sam” on Instagram Live! He’d originally planned to join fans online for a virtual tasting event right before Christmas, but later had to postpone those plans due to travel commitments. The good news? He’s hoping to reschedule the event soon after the start of 2022. Meanwhile, keep reading below to learn more about Outlander star Sam Heughan’s award-winning The Sassenach whisky, plus his picks for the best whisky sips, what to pair them with, and what to gift the whisky lover in your life.
Where to buy Sam Heughan’s whiskey
Heughan’s social media posts have been pointing fans toward ReserveBar.com, where they can order the limited-edition Sassenach for $99. In October 2021, Heughan revealed on his Instagram that he’s also driving a Sassenach truck (that has his mug plastered all over it!) around the U.S. to promote the whisky, as well as to “visit some of the great retailers and restaurants who are going to stock @sassenachspirits”—so maybe you’ll see him soon at a bar near you!
Why Sam Heughan’s whisky brand, The Sassenach, is different
For starters, The Sassenach is different because it was an award-winning liquor straight out of the gate, winning double gold at the 2020 San Francisco World Spirits competition in its first year in release. “It’s unheard of actually,” Heughan said of winning the award. “I am really, really proud of it. We knew we had something great, but it’s so rewarding to see when that happens. I was so excited." He continues, “We were not supposed to reveal it straightaway. We had to wait for them to announce it, so I was waiting for a couple of months.” Heughan loves hearing what people think of it. “I just want people to try it and tell me what they think of it. I know a lot of people don’t like whisky or a lot of people haven’t tried it and I think this they will really enjoy because we wanted to make something that is accessible that everyone will enjoy.”
What is Sam Heughan’s favorite whisky?
Besides his own (of course), Heughan told Parade.com, “I love so many different kinds of whiskies and there are so many different ones. We have five different regions and they all have different characteristics and there are so many varieties within that. In the TV show, we do look at whisky quite a lot. And, for me, the Islay whisky, they are traditionally smoky, and not everyone loves those, but I do love them. I have to say, there is nothing better than sitting in front of a log fire on a cold winter’s evening. It is amazing.” Ahead of the release of his November 2020 book Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other,Heughan likewise told Parade.com that whisky is “not just an alcoholic drink. There is an emotional attachment to whisky and it takes you somewhere. There’s something about a good whisky that is really transportive.” With that thought in mind, Heughan and his friend and Outlander costar Graham McTavish (Dougal Mackenzie) took a road trip last year driving around the Highlands that was filmed for Men in Kilts, which aired on Starz in 2021. In a beat up camper van, they searched for the perfect whisky and some Scottish history in the bargain.
Sam Heughan’s gift picks (Scotland-themed, of course)
Because it is such a unique blend, only limited amounts of The Sassenach have been available to purchase as the distillers wait for the ingredients to age. So, while you may not be able to get your hands on a bottle of Heughan’s whisky, a nice bottle of whisky can still make an excellent holiday gift. And to go along with it, Heughan suggests, “A good Scottish salmon or some shortbread. We have some of the best seafood in the world in Scotland. And Scottish desserts. We have something called tablet, which is practically just sugar that has been solidified. Scots love it. You can’t go wrong.” Suffering from Droughtlander? These shows like Outlander will tide you over until Season 6, where you can watch every episode as it drops on starz.com.
