Whisky Focus - Whisky News Reviews Interviews Events New Releases

• 9th August 2020
  Douglas Laing Rock Island Sherry Edition
  Independent Glasgow based whisky distiller and bottler Douglas Laing & Co has unveiled a limited edition expression of their Island blended malt Scotch Whisky range, the Rock Island Sherry Edition.
   
• 7th August 2020
  Glenury Royal 1953 Fetches Record Price At Auction
  Even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic whisky auction prices are continuing to reach news highs, in a recent auction hosted by the online whisky auction specialist, Whisky Auctioneer, a bottle of Glenury Royal 50 Year Old 1953 Vintage achieved a price of £14,000, which was a new record price for the sadly now lost Highland distillery.
   
• 5th August 2020
  Talisker & Loch Fyne Oysters Partner To Support Coastal Charities
  Talisker has launched a global initiative to support local coastal communities following the impact of the pandemic, by tapping into the growing trend towards delivery and fine-dining at home, they have teamed up with Scotland’s finest seafood provider, Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd, to offer a new at home whisky and oyster pairing experience. This will raise funds for The Fishermen's Mission, a charity which provides practical and financial support to coastal fishing communities across Great Britain.
   
• 3rd August 2020
  Jameson Connects The Stay Inn With Rap Star Bas
  Jameson Irish whiskey is rekindling its collaboration with international rap artist Bas to mentor two emerging artists to create new tracks virtually during COVID-19.
   
• 30th July 2020
  Four Johnnie Walker 200th Anniversary Whisky Releases
  Johnnie Walker announces the launch of four new exclusive releases that celebrate 200 years since the whisky maker’s founder, John Walker, first threw open the doors to a small grocery store in Kilmarnock Scotland. The four whiskies includes one a new bottle design and three newly crafted whiskies.
   
• 30th July 2020
  Sliabh Liag Distillers Distill First Donegal Irish Whiskey Since1841
  Sliabh Liag Distillers lay down the first legally produced single malt whiskey in Donegal since 1841, and it will be one for peated whiskey fans to look out for when it comes of age.
   
• 29th July 2020
  Glen Moray Explores Cask Flavours With Chef Ben Tish
  Explore the taste of the Glen Moray whisky range with some cask flavour influenced restaurant quality summer food and drinks created by award winning chef Ben Tish sommelier Julien Hennebelle which you can make yourself at home.
   
• 23rd July 2020
  Jura 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Exclusive To Taiwanese Market
  Jura whisky has released a new sherry finished 12 Year Old single malt which will be exclusively available in the Taiwanese market, the new Jura 12 Year Old Sherry Cask whisky has been produced using only unpeated spirit and this is where it differs from the Jura 12 year old from the Jura core range which we are familiar with already, which is produced using some peated spirit.
   
• 23rd July 2020
  Tamdhu Edinburgh Airport Single Cask Now Available Online
  Tamdhu has announced that its Tamdhu European Sherry Oak Single Cask No. 6192 limited edition 2002 Vintage whisky which was exclusively available from Edinburgh airport will now be available from the Tamdhu website.
   
• 21st July 2020
  Ardbeg Teams Up With DJ BBQ For Ardbeg Smoke Sessions
  Ardbeg & DJ BBQ turn up the heat to launch Ardbeg Smoke Sessions, a series of online guides to cooking mouth-watering BBQ and creating smoky cocktails to sip alongside the delicious smoky dishes.
   
• 20th July 2020
  Ardbeg Named Distillery Of The Year For Third Year In A Row
  Ardbeg Distillery named 'Distillery of the Year' at the International Whisky Competition and the recently released Ardbeg Wee Beastie named 'Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old'.
   
• 16th July 2020
  Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996
  Glenmorangie unveil the 6th release in their Bond House No.1 vintage series, the Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996, a 23 year old single malt whisky which has been matured solely in first fill ex-American Bourbon casks.
   
• 13th July 2020
  Diageo Unveils Paper Based Spirits Bottle
  Diageo announces the creation of world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle which will debut in 2021 with Johnnie Walker.
   
• 10th July 2020
  Kavalan Takes Top Slots At Whisky Competition In Japan
  Kavalan Taiwanese single malt whisky has raised a few eyebrows in Japan at the by taking 4 of the Top 10 slots at the recent Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2020 including Best of the Best for Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique.
   
• 8th July 2020
  Whyte & Mackay Cares - Virtual Globetrotting Challenge For Charity
  Inspired by the heroic feats of Captain Tom Moore in the UK, employees of Glasgow based whisky maker Whyte & Mackay have begun a virtual adventure, #WhyteandMackayCares which will see them clock up enough combined miles to travel around the world while raising funds for their nominated charities.
   
• 7th July 2020
  Tamdhu Live Virtual Tasting Presentation Of Latest Bottlings
  Tamdhu distillery continues to lighten up the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions for their whisky fans around the world by once again presenting them with a live streamed virtual tasting. During the tasting, they will sample a couple of their latest drams, the Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 3 and the Tamdhu Iain Whitecross Single Cask Vintage 2003. They will also sample a final, mystery dram that will be revealed during the stream.
   
• 6th July 2020
  Diageo Prima & Ultima whisky Collection
  Diageo has unveiled the Prima & Ultima Whisky Collection, a new premium series of single malt whiskies which will launch with eight new vintage, cask strength single malts from eight of Diageo's distilleries including Caol Ila, Clynelish, Lagavulin, Mortlach, Port Ellen, Singleton of Dufftown and Talisker.
   
• 3rd July 2020
  Macallan Extends Double Cask Range With A 15 and 18 Year Old
  The Macallan has extended their Double Cask range with the addition of two new age statement expressions, The Macallan 15 Year Old Double Cask and The Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask which now sits at the top of the range.
   
• 2nd July 2020
  Bimber Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish Selfridges Exclusive
  Bimber Distillery in London has announced its first retail partnership with the forthcoming release of a new single malt which will be exclusively available from Selfridges department store, the Bimber González Byass Oloroso Sherry Finish.
   
• 2nd July 2020
  Dewar's Stephanie Macleod Wins The Whisky of the Year Award
  Quite surprisingly given the number of skilful female Master Blenders in the Scotch whisky industry today who are creating some outstanding whiskies it is only now for the first time in the history of the 'International Whisky Competition' that a woman has ever blended a Whisky of the Year. That woman is Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for John Dewar and Sons, and the Whisky of the Year which Stephanie has created is the John Dewar and Sons Double Double 32 Year Old Blended Scotch.
   
• 2nd July 2020
  New Bulleit Kentucky Bourbon Distillery To Be Carbon Neutral
  Diageo has announced that its new Kentucky whiskey distillery, which will distil Bulleit whiskey, is expected to be carbon neutral – one of the largest in North America, and a first for Diageo.
   
• 29th June 2020
  Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition 2020
  Loch Lomond Whiskies, the Official Spirit of The Open, has unveiled a new Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition 2020 single malt to mark the 149th Championship that was due to take place in July this year.
   
• 24th June 2020
  Arran Distillers Lay Down A Blend Of Arran & Lagg New Make Spirit
  The creative folks at Isle of Arran Distillers have revealed that they have laid down to mature a blend of their unpeated Arran and peated Lagg distilleries new make whisky spirit.
   
• 24th June 2020
  Diageo $100 Million Fund To Help Pubs Welcome Back Customers
  Diageo launches 'Raising the Bar' $100million recovery fund to help pubs and bars around the world welcome back customers after lockdown including nearly £30million being made available for pubs and bars across the UK, with £4million of that targeted at Scotland.
   
• 23rd June 2020
  Katherine Condon Appointed Distiller At Midleton Distillery
  Irish Distillers, producer of some of the world’s most popular Irish whiskeys such as Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare and Spot range has announced the appointment of Katherine Condon as Distiller at their Midleton Distillery in Co. Cork.
   
• 19th June 2020
  Raise A Glass Of Glenmorangie This World Giraffe Day
  To help raise awareness of World Giraffe Day this coming Sunday 21 June, the longest day of the year of course, why not raise a very high toast to celebrate the tallest animal of all with I have to say a rather delicious cocktail created with Glenmorangie Original, the Glenmorangie’s Journey of Giraffes.
   
• 18th June 2020
  Ardbeg An Oa Island Highball
  Unfortunately this year you wont be able to take your Dad out to a up-market bar and spoil him with a whisky or two on Father's Day but not to worry Ardbeg have a great alternative for you if you fancy getting creative and making your whisky loving Dad a smoky dark fruit Ardbeg An Oa Island Highball.
   
• 18th June 2020
  Glen Moray Launches Virtual Whisky Series
  Glen Moray distillery has announced the launch of a Virtual Whisky Series to encourage flavour exploration and they have some free Tasting Kits up for grabs. Glen Moray’s monthly ‘Whisky Surgeries’ will be hosted on Zoom by the company’s very own doctor and Head of Whisky Creation, Dr Kirstie McCallum
   
• 16th June 2020
  Loch Lomond Whisky Partners With The European Tour
  The European Tour which will return to action behind closed doors in July will be teeing off with a new partner, independent Scotch whisky distiller Loch Lomond Whiskies has agreed an exciting new partnership with The European Tour, becoming the first Official Partner of the innovative new UK Swing.
   
• 12th June 2020
  The Epicurean Cask Strength Edinburgh Edition
  Edinburgh bartenders collaborate with Douglas Laing to select a blend of Lowland single malt whiskies to create The Epicurean Cask Strength Edinburgh Edition which they describe as a fresh and zesty Lowland Malt.
   
• 11th June 2020
  Irish Distillers Appoint New Master Distiller At Midleton
  It doesn't happen often but Irish Distillers has appointed a new Master Distiller at their Midleton Distillery down in Cork, Ireland. Taking over the reigns from Brian Nation, who has served as Master Distiller at Midleton since 2013 and is set to take on the role of Master Distiller at a start-up distillery in the US, is Kevin O’Gorman who himself started his career at Midleton over 20 years ago.
   
• 9th June 2020
  1000's Enter Ballot For Redbreast Dream Cask Ruby Port Edition
  With 912 bottles of the new Redbreast Dream Cask 28 Year Old Ruby Port Edition up for grabs even Irish Distillers were taken aback with the amount of interest in the latest Dream Cask expression which received a staggering 7,400 entries into the ballot from whiskey fans from around the world, and the fact that it carries a price tag of €490 for the 50cl bottle also tells you just how highly whiskey fans and no doubt collectors and sadly flippers rate the Dream Cask expressions.
   
• 8th June 2020
  Glenglassaugh Explores Whisky & Nature In Coast To Cask Event
  Join Glenglassaugh brand ambassador Stewart Buchanan and award-wining wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan on Instagram on Wednesday 24 June for a live whisky tasting where they will explore the links between whisky and nature in the 'From Coast To Cask' event.
   
• 4th June 2020
  London's Bimber Distillery Unveils Seven New Expressions
  London’s Bimber Distillery today announced the upcoming release of seven new expressions, their latest Small Batch release will be joined by six cask strength, single cask releases for both UK and export markets.
   
• 4th June 2020
  Glen Scotia Campbeltown Festival Dunnage Tasting Box
  The Glen Scotia dunnage tasting is usually a highlight for attendees at the annual Campbeltown Festival but due to Covid-19 the distillery has made a Glen Scotia dunnage tasting box available to whisky fans to sample at home which includes a cask strength sample of Glen Scotia Victoriana and four specially selected single cask samples.
   
• 3rd June 2020
  Glen Moray Madeira Cask Project Review
  Glen Moray has just released the next instalment of their Curiosity Range of experimental limited editions, the Glen Moray Madeira Cask Project, which has been fully matured in ex-sweet Madeira wine casks for 13 years and 10 months.
   
• 3rd June 2020
  Glen Moray Classic Review
  With Father's Day on the horizon and with the Glen Moray Classic now on offer for around £20 in most high street supermarkets and online whisky shops I thought that there would be a few gift buyers interested in knowing if this whisky would make a welcome gift.
   
• 2nd June 2020
  Big Peat 8 Year Old A846 Feis Ile 2020
  Douglas Laing today unveiled Big Peat 8 Year Old A846 Feis Ile 2020 edition, those of you who have ever travelled around Islay will recognise 'A846' as the road that takes whisky fans around the whisky island from one distillery to the next.
   
• 28th May 2020
  Bunnahabhain Virtual Feis Ile 2020 Bottlings Fly's Off The Shelf
  Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2020 bottlings, the peated Bunnahabhain 2010 Moine Amontillado Finish and the unpeated Bunnahabhain 2002 Madeira Finish sells out in under 24 hours after going on pre-sale ahead of tomorrows virtual Bunnahabhain day, ‘Feis at Home’.
   
• 27th May 2020
  Irish Distillers Named Importer Of The Year At SFWSC Competition
  Irish Distillers, makers of some of the world’s most enjoyed Irish whiskeys such as Jameson and Redbreast, has been named Importer of the Year honour at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020.
   
• 22nd May 2020
  Virtual Ardbeg Day Online Feis Ile 2020
  In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic Ardbeg one of the peatiest Islay whiskies of them all is taking its Feis Ile Ardbeg Day celebrations online and inviting peated malt whisky lovers everywhere to join them as they toast two incredible decades of the Ardbeg Committee with the new limited edition Ardbeg Blaaack.
   
• 20th May 2020
  Waterford Single Farm Origin
  Waterford Distillery today unveiled its first commercial whisky release since it went into production in January 2016, the Waterford Single Farm Origin Ballykilcavan, Bannow Island and Ratheadon Edition 1.1
   
• 18th May 2020
  Glen Scotia Online Campbeltown Malts Festival Experience
  Following the cancellation of the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2020 which had been scheduled to run from 19-21 May 2020, the Glen Scotia Distillery has unveiled plans to offer its programme of events online for the first time.
   
• 17th May 2020
  Bunnahabhain Virtual ‘Feis at Home’ Feis Ile 2020
  Bunnahabhain Virtual ‘Feis at Home’ celebration set to keep the Feis Ile 2020 festival spirit thriving with tasting kits priced at £16.50 now available to allow whisky fans to join in from the comfort of their own home.
   
• 16th May 2020
  #PassTheDram This World Whisky Day
  Raise a glass and #PassTheDram this World Whisky Day to a friend, family member or loved one who you cannot meet up with at the moment or indeed if you would like to raise a toast and #PassTheDram as a Thank You to front line workers such as NHS workers and Care workers.
   
• 16th May 2020
  Redbreast Dream Cask 28 Year Old Ruby Port Edition
  Irish Distillers today announced the release of its third limited edition expression of Redbreast Dream Cask to mark World Whisky Day, this time the creative folks at Midleton have unveiled a Redbreast Dream Cask 28 Year Old Ruby Port Edition, a combination of four whiskeys which were aged for a minimum of 28 years and then vatted together and left to marry in the ruby port pipe cask.
   
• 15th May 2020
  Raise A Glass With Whyte & Mackay On World Whisky Day
  Whilst restrictions remain in place around the world, the annual World Whisky Day will return tomorrow Saturday 16th May, as an online celebration of the whisky community. A series of events will take place online, featuring Jura Single Malt Whisky, and key figures from across the industry including World Whisky Day Founder, Blair Bowman, and special guests.
   
• 14th May 2020
  Jura Red Wine Cask Finish
  Jura launches first whisky in a new Cask Editions series, the Jura Red Wine Cask Finish will be available exclusively from Sainsbury's here in the UK.
   
• 14th May 2020
  Douglas Laing The Epicurean Cognac Cask Finished Limited Edition
  Douglas Laing announce a limited edition Cognac Finished expression of their Epicurean blended malt whisky.
   
• 14th May 2020
  Whisky Leaders Celebrate Industry's Resilient Spirit
  Leading lights across the Scotch sector have come together for World Whisky Day, this coming Saturday 16th May, to affirm their confidence in Scotland’s iconic whisky industry and resilient spirit demonstrated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone from whisky makers to festival organisers and marketeers behind putting Scotch on the map, have rallied together since the start of pandemic. Initiatives have included fundraising drives for the hospitality sector, making hand sanitiser and holding virtual tastings and events.
   
• 13th May 2020
  Bimber Distillery Launch The Bimber Klub
  Bimber Distillery in London today announced the launch of the Bimber Klub, a new membership option that provides a lifetime of whisky experiences for the growing number of Bimber enthusiasts.
   
• 13th May 2020
  Tamdhu Iain Whitecross Single Cask Vintage 2003
  Tamdhu has announced the release of a single cask whisky which has been hand picked by Tamdhu Assistant Distillery Manager, Iain Whitecross. The Tamdhu Iain Whitecross Single Cask 5892 Vintage 2003 expression is a First Fill European sherry butt matured whisky which will be available exclusively from the distillery via their online shop.
   
• 6th May 2020
  Kavalan Distillery Select No. 2
  Kavalan distillery has announced the launch of Kavalan Select No.2, the second release in their entry level Distillery Series, which is described as deeply aromatic with an irresistible floral and herbal complexity, blending woody and spicy notes in rich layers.
   
• 5th May 2020
  Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 3
  Despite the COVID-19 pandemic Tamdhu distillery has revealed the next instalment of their big sherried cask strength Collectors Journey series, the Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 3, which was scheduled for release during the Spirit of Speyside festival.
   
• 1st May 2020
  International Beverage Holdings Ambitious US Growth Plan
  In whisky business news International Beverage announce ambitious US growth plan for the future with the announcement of a new US partnership with artisanal spirits importer and distiller Hotaling & Co.
   

See earlier Whisky News from 2020 >>>
 

• 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