Whisky Focus - Whisky News Reviews Interviews Events New Releases

• 16th June 2021
  Glen Moray 2005 Tokaji Finish Review
  The Glen Moray 2005 Tokaji Finish is the second release in the distillery's ‘Warehouse 1 Collection’ and the first of three whiskies they plan to release over the course of 2021 from the new look Warehouse 1 Collection. A deliciously rich sweet Glen Moray, packed full of flavour at cask strength, a great pour for the summer weather.
   
• 15th June 2021
  Glencairn Crystal Launch A New Glencairn Pipette
  Scottish crystal company, Glencairn Crystal Studio, who I am sure you will recognise as the creator of the world’s favourite whisky glass, the Glencairn Glass, has launched a new Glencairn Pipette this week for whisky-lovers to add a wee splash of water to their dram.
   
• 11th June 2021
  Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 Review
  Following its launch at on Sunday I had the pleasure of tasting the Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 bottling a 18 year old single cask, single malt matured in a single refill sherry butt.
   
• 11th June 2021
  Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2019 Review
  Review of the Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2019 release which I tasted alongside the latest Jura Fèis Ìle 2021 release. I have said it before, Jura simply gets better with age and Jura and peat for me has always made the best bedfellows and this is a stunning big peated example of that and an interesting comparison to the latest unpeated Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 release.
   
• 11th June 2021
  Jura 21 Year Old Tide Review
  Review of the Jura 21 Year Old Tide, one of a pair of 21 year old single malt whiskies from the island distillery, it is no surprise this is a little bourbon like given the casks used to mature it, some lovely sugars, caramel and almond which becomes more Turkish delight on the finish.
   
• 10th May 2021
  Glen Scotia Virtual Malts Festival 2021 Photographic Exhibition
  Glen Scotia Distillery has collaborated with Document Scotland photography collective to capture the history and heritage of Campbeltown, these images from the past and present have been unveiled in an interactive online photographic exhibition as part of the Glen Scotia Virtual Malts Festival 2021.
   
• 10th May 2021
  Imbibe Live Set To Welcome Back Drinks Industry This September
  As the UK continues to take tentative steps back to a new normality the UK’s leading drinks industry event, Imbibe Live, has announced that it will be returning to London’s Olympia this September. This year’s event, which will take place in accordance with strict standards of health and safety, will welcome visitors from across the drinks industry.
   
• 10th May 2021
  Black Tartan Batch 21 A blend of Highland & Speyside Whiskies
  Black Tartan Batch 21 is a blend of five component Scotch single malt whiskies from Highland & Speyside distilleries. The five whiskies are: Inchgower 2008; Teaninich 2008; Benrinnes 2010; Blair Athol 2012; and Tormore 2016. The vatting of the five single malts produced a total of 2,990 70cl bottles.
   
• 9th May 2021
  Ardbeg Scorch Review
  My review of the recently released 57.1% ABV Ardbeg Scorch Committee bottling, matured in heavily charred ex-bourbon American oak casks. This is all about the sweet peaty bonfire smoke which reverberates from the nose to the finish, an absolutely outstanding example of peaty Ardbeg whisky.
   
• 8th June 2021
  New Look Sustainable Packaging For Talisker 10 Year Old
  Diageo has given its classic Scotch single malt whisky Talisker 10 Year Old a sustainable packaging makeover, but don't worry they haven't changed the whisky you will find in the bottle it is still the same classic sweet malty, seaweedy, peppery, spicy, smoky dram that you will be familiar with.
   
• 7th June 2021
  X by Glenmorangie Review
  Review of X by Glenmorangie which has been made for mixing but as it turns out it is also good on its own. created using a combination of whisky aged in bourbon casks, and some finished in new char oak casks. This may have the X factor for mixing but it also has the G factor for drinking neat, unmistakably Glenmorangie, and quite a good one at that.
   
• 4th June 2021
  Old Pulteney Collaboration With SeaTrees Kelp Restoration Project
  Ahead of World Ocean Day on 8th June 2021), Old Pulteney, The Maritime Malt, has announced a collaboration with kelp restoration non-profit, SeaTrees, making a commitment to plant more than 4,000 mangrove trees globally, and restore 2,665 square-feet of kelp forest. As well as the financial donation, Old Pulteney has collaborated with Pritesh Mody of World of Zing to create a limited-edition seaweed cocktail in celebration of World Ocean Day, with 10% of sales being donated to SeaTrees.
   
• 4th June 2021
  William Grant Appoint New Global Travel Retail Managing Director
  Perhaps a sign of a brighter future ahead for travellers and the badly hit whisky travel retail sector which is a big part of William Grant & Sons business model, the company has announced the appointment of David Wilson as Managing Director Global Travel Retail.
   
• 2nd June 2021
  Official Scotland National Football Team Whiskies
  Ahead of the delayed Euro 2020 competition here is the official Scotland Football Team Whisky line-up - Bowmore 22 Year Old, Glen Elgin 20 Year Old, Scottish National Team Scotch Blended Malt Whisky and Blended Whisky.
   
• 1st June 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - Join The Virtual Festival This Thursday
  Fèis Ìle 2021 has gone virtual once again this year and this Thursday Kilchoman will be doing their best to make whisky fans feel that they are at the distillery with their 360° FÈIS ÌLE! A packed schedule of tours, tastings and live Q&As which will kick off from 12 Noon (Islay Time) this Thursday 3rd June. Pour yourself a dram and enjoy the day from the comfort of your own home.
   
• 28th May 2021
  Old Particular 'Cheers to Better Days' Mini Series
  Douglas Laing unveils Old Particular 'Cheers to Better Days' mini-series, four single cask whiskies: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, Linkwood 12 Year Old, Jura 12 Year Old single malts and Port Dundas 16 Year Old single grain whisky.
   
• 26th May 2021
  Brora Distillery Reopens After 38 Years
  After 38 years of silence Brora distillery has reopened and has gone back into production of what was once known as one of the peatiest Highland single malts. With a 800,000 litres of spirit each year production capacity Brora is among Diageo's smallest distilleries and I am pleased to say will be welcoming visitors in small numbers on a by-appointment basis, bookable via Brora.com from July.
   
• 26th May 2021
  Over 11,000 Sign Up For The Redbreast Dream Cask 2021 Release
  Over 11,000 Redbreast Irish whiskey fans sign up for the chance to buy 1 of 924 bottles of the latest instalment of the Redbreast Dream Cask series, the Oloroso Sherry Edition, a 29 Year Old Irish single pot still whiskey.
   
• 21st May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 30 Year Old Batch 1
  The GlenAllachie distillery has launched Batch 1 of its oldest ongoing core range expression to date, The GlenAllachie 30 Year Old. The Cask Strength sherried dram is the first in a series of annual small-batch releases at this age, which launches with only 2,000 bottles available worldwide in this first batch.
   
• 20th May 2021
  Heaven's Door Redbreast Master Blenders Edition
  Redbreast Irish single pot still whiskey has got together with Heaven’s Door Whiskey, Bob Dylan’s evolving collection of American whiskeys and the result is a limited edition 10 Year Aged Bourbon finished in Redbreast Irish pot still whiskey casks.
   
• 19th May 2021
  Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021
  Jura unveil their Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 bottling a 18 year old single cask, single malt matured in a single refill sherry butt and this year for the first time the distillery will donate £25 from the sale of each bottle to the Jura Music Festival.
   
• 19th May 2021
  Timorous Beastie Meet the Beast Cask Strength Limited Edition
  Douglas Laing have unveiled a new limited release cask strength expression of their Highland blended malt whisky Timorous Beastie. Timorous Beastie Meet the Beast has been 100% matured in ex-American Bourbon barrels and has been bottled at a natural cask strength of 54.9% ABV which should amplify the flavour experience for fans of this sleekit, cowrin, Highland dram.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie Launch Wine Cask Finish Series
  The GlenAllachie has launched the first instalment of a new Wine Cask Finish Series, the creative work of award-winning Master Distiller, Billy Walker, the series launches with three single malts, The GlenAllachie 11 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish, 12 Year Old Sauternes Wine Cask Finish and 13 Year Old Rioja Wine Cask Finish.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 11 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish Review
  Review of The GlenAllachie 11 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish, it was inititially matured in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, the whisky was then finished for almost another two years in certified Organic Super Tuscan barriques made of French oak from the Grattamacco winery, it is simply a delicious moreish Glenallachie.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Wine Cask Finish Review
  Review of The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Wine Cask Finish, inititially matured in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, it was then finished for almost another two years in French oak casks which previously held Sauternes, a dessert wine originating from Bordeaux in South-West France. Put simply this is the quality whisky they produce at Glenallachie enhanced by all the rich deliciously sweet flavours you would enjoy in a glass of Sauternes.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 13 Year Old Rioja Wine Cask Finish Review
  Review of The GlenAllachie 13 Year Old Rioja Wine Cask Finish, inititially matured in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in medium-toasted Spanish oak Rioja wine casks which have certainly added their influence to the whisky, it is another delicious, quality easy drinking moreish dram from the creative Master Distiller, Billy Walker.
   
• 14th May 2021
  Redbreast Dream Cask IV 29 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Edition 2021
  Redbreast unveils the next instalment in its Birdhouse members only Dream Cask series with the release of a 29 year old Redbreast Dream Cask Oloroso Sherry Edition which will be available to purchase via a ballot which goes live live from 17th to 25th May.
   
• 14th May 2021
  Naked Grouse Rebranded As Naked Malt
  Edrington rebrands Naked Grouse as Naked Malt but it is still the same sherry rich blended malt whisky in the bottle.
   
• 13th May 2021
  Kilchoman PX Sherry Cask Matured 2021 Edition Review
  Kilchoman has launched their first general ongoing PX (Pedro Ximénez) sherry cask matured single malt release, the Kilchoman PX Sherry Cask Matured 2021 Edition, it is simply a delicious balance of Kilchoman's earthy peat and PX sherry.
   
• 13th May 2021
  Bimber The Spirit of the Underground Collection
  London’s Bimber Distillery today unveiled 'The Spirit of the Underground' which will be an ongoing collection of single cask, single malt whiskies that celebrate the distillery’s home city's network of underground stations.
   
• 8th May 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - The Kilchoman DNA Tasting Pack Review
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 Kilchoman DNA pack is the first of three specially bottled tasting packs for this years virtual Kilchoman Islay Festival tastings, it contains four whiskies from the Kilchoman core range of single malts, but with a twist! Before reducing batches of their signature peated single malts of Machir Bay and Sanaig to their regular bottling strength of 46%, they have bottled them at their natural cask strength to appreciate the full power and character of their core range whisky. This pack also contains the latest edition of Loch Gorm and a preview of the yet to be released 100% Islay 11th Edition.
   
• 8th May 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - Through the Ages Tasting Pack Review
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 Kilchoman Through the Ages pack is the second of three specially bottled tasting packs for this years virtual Kilchoman Islay Festival tastings, it contains four whiskies which will take you through 15 years of Kilchoman maturation. Starting with Kilchoman's New Make Spirit before following the journey of maturation in ex-bourbon barrels through 2006, 2011 and 2016, this should be a fascinating journey giving you the and insight of how wood and time impact the final character and colour of the Kilchoman whisky over the years.
   
• 8th May 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - Experimental Casks Tasting Pack Review
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 Kilchoman Experimental Casks pack is the third of three specially bottled tasting packs for this years virtual Kilchoman Islay Festival tastings, it contains four whiskies including Calvados Cask 356 2018, STR Cask 207 2018, Cognac Cask 737 2016.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Compass Box Artist & Glasgow Blend A Tale Of Two Cities
  The creative whisky makers at Compass Box have revamped their Great King Street Scotch blended whisky collection, namely the Artist Blend and the Glasgow Blend. They have dropped the 'Great King Street' title from the name of each of the two whiskies giving each whisky a new more individual look and feel and I am pleased to say are now presented in a 70cl bottle for just a few pound more.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Compass Box Artist Blend Review
  Review of the single malt rich Compass Box Artist Blend which is now presented in a 70cl bottle, the Artist Blend (formally Great King Street Artist’s Blend) is a tribute to the city of Edinburgh and is still a cracking very well constructed, enjoyable, easy to drink blend that could rival most single malts in its price range for quality and pleasure.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Compass Box Glasgow Blend Review
  Review of the single malt rich, peaty, Compass Box Glasgow Blend which is now presented in a 70cl bottle, conceived as a contrast to the Artist Blend, it is said to represent the bold, fearless and humorous personality of the Glaswegians. The whisky  brings a deliciously sweet, slightly earthy. peaty delivery.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Gold Rush For SMWS At San Francisco World Spirits Competition
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) have picked up another gold haul of awards at the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition including taking home a ‘Best in show’ award along with a host of ‘Double Gold’ and ‘Gold’ awards.
   
• 6th May 2021
  The Macallan Supports Conservation Work In The River Spey
  The Macallan supports vital conservation work in the River Spey as Phase Two of The Moray Firth Tracking Project is launched by The Atlantic Salmon Trust.
   
• 4th May 2021
  Gordon & MacPhail Mr George Legacy First Edition Glen Grant 1953
  Gordon & MacPhail launch Mr George Legacy series with a rare Glen Grant 1953 67 Year Old, a first fill sherry butt matured, single cask, single malt whisky and incredibly bottled at a cask strength of 59.4% ABV.
   
• 30th April 2021
  Isle of Arran Lochranza & Lagg Distillery's Now Open For Visitors
  As lock down restrictions gradually ease I am pleased to tell you that Isle of Arran’s two Scotch Whisky distilleries will be re-opening their visitor centres in line with Scottish Government guidance, as Scotland’s islands begin to welcome back visitors from the mainland. They have unveiled a new programme of daily tastings to come at their Lochranza and Lagg Distilleries.
   
• 29th April 2021
  Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 004 and Tamdhu Club Single Cask
  Tamdhu has unveiled two limited edition releases for this year's Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival, albeit a virtual festival once again this year. They have announced the release of the next instalment of their popular Dalbeallie series the Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 004 and their other festival release it the Tamdhu Club Single Cask N0. 7196.
   
• 29th April 2021
  Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Named SFWFC Best Whisky In The World
  Glen Scotia 25 Year Old named The Best Whisky In The World at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2021.
   
• 28th April 2021
  Loch Lomond 45 Year Old Unveiled
  Loch Lomond Whiskies has just unveiled a Loch Lomond 45 Year Old Oloroso sherry finished expression which is the first of three releases from the Loch Lomond distillery's new 'Remarkable Stills Series'.
   
• 26th April 2021
  Glasgow Whisky Announces Purchase Of Tromie Mills Distillery
  Glasgow Whisky purchases a distillery site at Drumguish, Kingussie, which is currently occupied by the Speyside Distillery, they plan to build a new distillery on the site when the current tenant vacates in Spring 2025.
   
• 23rd April 2021
  Jameson Crested Finished in Devil’s Ladder Belgian Tripel Barrels
  Irish Distillers has teamed up with Cork based craft beer maker Eight Degrees to create a limited edition Jameson Crested Finished In Devil’s Ladder Belgian Tripel Barrels.
   
• 23rd April 2021
  Oxford Rye Whisky Batch 1
  The Oxford Artisan Distillery, a new small English micro distillery, which to date has turned out some vodka and gins like many new small distilleries has unveiled its inaugural whisky release, and it is something a little different for whisky enthusiasts to explore, not a single malt as you may have expected but an English Rye Whisky  - Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #1.
   
• 22nd April 2021
  Old Pulteney Coastal Boulevardier
  To mark World Earth Day, today April 22, Old Pulteney has teamed up with bottled cocktail innovators, World of Zing, to create a unique cocktail for a cause. 10% of proceeds will go to Old Pulteney’s new sustainability partner, SeaTrees, a kelp-restoration non-profit with a mission to help combat climate change.
   
• 22nd April 2021
  Diageo's World Class Competition GB Bartender of the Year 2021
  Mark McClintock, has been awarded the title of Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year 2021. Mark will now go on to represent GB in the first ever fully virtual World Class Global Final taking place from 4th-8th July 2021.
   
• 21st April 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 bottling and Fèis Ìle tasting packs are now available for you to join virtual tastings online and they will only be available from the Kilchoman website but don't hang around or you may miss out.
   
• 19th April 2021
  Ardbeg Scorch Launching On Ardbeg Day 2021
  Ardbeg Distillery invites you to join them for an online Ardbeg Day extravaganza and uncover the ‘lairs’ of flavour in their latest limited edition Ardbeg Scorch. Matured in heavily charred ex-bourbon American oak casks it will come in two forms, the 57.1% ABV Ardbeg Scorch Committee bottling and the 46% Ardbeg Day Edition bottling.
   
• 16th April 2021
  Jura Rum Cask Finish Review
  Review of the Jura Rum Cask Finish, the third release in a new cask finish series from the island distillery, simply a delicious very enjoyable easy to drink unpeated Jura single malt with a lovely gentle rum cask influence and at a fantastic price for a 1 litre bottle.
   
• 15th April 2021
  Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish
  The Laphroaig 10 Year Old Sherry Oak Finish is said to be a new take on the flagship 10 Year Old which Laphroaig fans will be very familiar with. The new Laphroaig 10 Year Old was initially matured in a combination of American Oak ex-Bourbon and Refill Oloroso Sherry casks then finished for between 12 - 18 months in Oloroso sherry casks before being bottled at 48% ABV.
   
• 15th April 2021
  Woodford Reserve Distillery Expansion Plans To Meet Demand
  Brown-Forman Corporation owners of the Woodford Reserve Kentucky Straight Bourbon whiskey brand has unveiled plans to double its production at its Woodford Reserve Distillery in Versailles, Kentucky, to meet the growing demand for Woodford Reserve, the world’s top-selling super-premium American whiskey. The expansion plans will see the addition of three new copper pot stills which will double its production capacity.
   
• 15th April 2021
  Trial To Produce The Most Sustainable Glass Whisky Bottle Ever
  A successful pilot project has pioneered the lowest carbon footprint glass bottles ever produced for a Scotch whisky brand. The collaboration between Diageo, glass manufacturer Encirc and leading industry research and technology body Glass Futures, used waste-based biofuel-powered furnaces to reduce the carbon footprint of the bottle-making process by up to 90%. The trial produced 173,000 Black & White whisky bottles, also using 100% recycled glass.
   
• 15th April 2021
  Two New Scotch Single Cask Whiskies From Indie Bottler Skene
  Edinburgh based independent bottler Skene whisky release two Speyside region, American oak matured, single cask, single malt whiskies, Skene Glenrothes 11 Year Old and Braeval 6 Year Old.
   
• 14th April 2021
  Bacardi Appoints New Global Malts Ambassador
  Bacardi appoints Matthew Cordiner as Global Malts Ambassador for their portfolio of single malt Scotch whiskies - Aberfeldy, Aultmore, Craigellachie, The Deveron (Macduff Distillery) and Royal Brackla.
   
• 9th April 2021
  Collection Of Over 50 Rare Bottles Of Brora Up For Grabs At Auction
  As the reopening of the restored Brora distillery approaches specialist whisky auction website Whisky Auctioneer offers whisky enthusiasts the chance to grab some of the rarest single malt whiskies produced at the 'old' Brora distillery.
   
• 8th April 2021
  Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2021 Review
  Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2021 Edition is the latest instalment of the exclusively Oloroso sherry butt matured limited edition annual release from the Kilchoman farm distillery on the Isle of Islay. As always a delicious balance of Kilchoman's earthy peat and sherry.
   
• 7th April 2021
  Brora Triptych Elusive Legacy, Age of Peat and Timeless Original
  Brora Triptych Elusive Legacy, Age of Peat and Timeless Original is a rare set of three single malts released to mark the restoration of the small Highland distillery, each of the bottles in the set represents one of Brora's distinct styles.
   

See earlier Whisky News from 2020 >>>

• Whisky News 2021
   
• Whisky News 2020
   
• Whisky News 2019
   
• Whisky News 2018
   
• Whisky News 2017
   
• Whisky News 2016
   
• Whisky News 2015
   
• Whisky News 2014
   
• Whisky News 2013
   
• Whisky News 2012
   
• Whisky News 2011
   
• Whisky News 2010
   
• Whisky News 2009