 Welcome to Whisky Focus where you can
catch up with the latest
whisky news from the
world of whisky.
You will find news of the latest new
whisky releases, reviews, events,
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- 14th
January 2025
The SMWS Cask No. 88.31 Supper
Sipper For Burns Night
With the anniversary of
Scotland's National Bards Burns birth
less than a couple of weeks away, 25 January, an
event which is celebrated the world over
with a Burns Supper I thought this new
release today from the world's biggest
whisky club, The Scotch Malt Whisky
Society (SMWS) may be of interest to
you, The SMWS Cask N0. 88.31 Supper
Sipper.
- 10th
January 2025
The SMWS Skooshy Stroopwaffel Small
Batch Heresy Range
Happy New Year all and our first
foot in the Whisky News section for
2025 is a new release from The
Scotch Malt Whisky Society and as
always from The SMWS the whisky's
name is as creative as the whisky
itself. Skooshy Stroopwaffel, the
30th release in the Scotch Malt
Whisky Society's experimental
small-batch Heresy range, an
undisclosed 10 Year Old Speyside
single malt which was initially
matured for 8 years in American
Bourbon Hogshead casks then finished
for 2 years in four fresh European
oak sherry butts from Spain’s
renowned Juan Pino cooperage.
- 23rd
December 2024
Independent Bottler ACEO Appoints
CEO To Target Growth
Independent bottler ACEO who you may
know for their Murray McDavid range
of premium Scotch whisky has
appointed a CEO to Target growth.
Founder and Managing Director Edward
Odim is stepping into the role of
Chairman, making way for George
McNeil, one of Scotland's foremost
luxury brand experts, to become the
company’s first Chief Executive
Officer.
- 16th
December 2024
The Glendronach The Master’s
Anthology
The Glendronach launch The Master's
Anthology series with three
no-age-statement single malts with
each celebrating a distinct facet of
Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky,
they are Ode to The Valley, Ode to
The Embers, and Ode to The Dark.
- 13th
December 2024
Loch Lomond's Michael Henry Awarded
Keeper Of The Quaich
Michael Henry, Master Blender for the
Loch Lomond Group, has been honoured
with the prestigious title of Keeper of
the Quaich, the Scottish distiller
announced.
- 13th
December 2024
Gleann Mòr Spirits Reawaken The
London Distillery Company
Gleann Mòr Spirits, a family-owned
spirits producer, has announced the
appointment of Matt McKay as
Managing Director and Whisky Maker
for The London Distillery Company.
Once renowned as London’s first
whisky distillery since the closure
of the Lea Valley Distillery in
1903. His initial focus will be on
crafting expressions from the
distillery’s remaining single malt
whisky stocks.
- 10th
December 2024
Pre-Book A Dewar's Aberfeldy
Distillery Visit And Get 20% Off
Dewar’s Aberfeldy Distillery are warmly
welcoming visitors to immerse themselves
in the rich traditions of whisky-making
this festive season, offering a variety
of special deals and holiday
experiences.
- 10th
December 2024
Andrew Lennie Named Scotch Whisky
Brand Ambassador of the Year
Whyte and Mackay is celebrating a major
achievement as their Fettercairn Scotch
single malt whisky Brand Ambassador
Andrew Lennie has been named the Scotch
Whisky Brand Ambassador of the Year
at the 2025 Icons of Whisky Awards.
- 9th
December 2024
Ballantine’s 40 Year Old Masterclass
Collection Chapter Two
Ballantine’s proudly continues its
tradition of craftsmanship with the
release of Chapter Two, The Waiting,
from its esteemed Ballantine’s 40
Year Old Masterclass Collection.
- 9th
December 2024
Bimber Cask Lottery & Bimber Santa
Edition 2024
Bimber Distillery in London is
spreading holiday cheer this
Christmas with Bimber Cask Lottery
and and the release of a Bimber
Santa Edition 2024.
- 6th
December 2024
Bowmore Opens Travel Retail Boutique
At Heathrow Terminal 5
Suntory Global Spirits, the parent
company of Bowmore Islay Scotch single
malt whisky, has launched its
first-ever Bowmore boutique in the
travel retail sector at Heathrow
Airport’s Terminal 5. Travellers
will have the chance to taste the
new Bowmore Appellations 14 Year Old
and 16 Year Old whiskies, sample
Bowmore’s permanent collection, and
explore its rare and vintage
offerings.
- 4th
December 2024
Bimber Harmony of Eight and Bimber 8
Year Old Single Cask
Bimber Distillery in London has unveiled
a historic addition to its collection of
English single malt whiskies with the
release of its first-ever age statement
expressions. The launch of ‘Harmony of
Eight’ and ‘Bimber 8 Year Old Single
Cask Edition’ signifies a pivotal moment
for the distillery, celebrating eight
years of dedication to traditional
whisky-making and craftsmanship.
- 29th
November 2024
Waterford Irish Whiskey Goes Into
Administration
Waterford Distillery, the Irish
whiskey producer known for its focus
on terroir-driven, single-origin
whiskeys, has entered
administration. The distillery had
been a notable player in the
industry, producing innovative,
biodynamic, and organic whiskeys,
and aiming to stand out with
transparency in its production
process. Its recent challenges may
reflect broader market pressures or
specific financial management
issues, although the exact reasons
for its administration are still
being clarified.
- 29th
November 2024
Douglas Laing Old Particular Girvan
16 Year Old Single Grain
Douglas Laing & Co. has unveiled the
latest addition to its Old Particular
Red Wine Cask collection: a 16 Year Old
Single Grain Scotch Whisky from the
Girvan Distillery. This limited-edition
release has been finished in a
single Merlot Red Wine Cask, marking the
fourth expression in this exclusive
series.
- 29th
November 2024
Wire Works Whisky English Oak
Derbyshire Distillery White Peak is
embracing a touch of nostalgia for its
final release of the year. The debut of
Wire Works Whisky English Oak marks a
new chapter, as the distillery opts for
an offline-only launch, urging whisky
enthusiasts to champion local retailers
and support the high street in the run
up to Christmas during challenging
times.
- 22nd
November 2024
New Bowmore Appellations Collection
Launches In Travel Retail
Suntory Global Spirits has introduced
the Bowmore Appellations Collection, a
new travel retail exclusive Scotch
single malt whisky range, with prominent
activations at Singapore Changi Airport
and London Heathrow Airport. The range
includes a Bowmore 14, 16, 19 and 22
Year Old whiskies.
- 20th
November 2024
SMWS A Dram Good Festive Tasting
Pack & Peat Plants Collection
The SMWS is closing out 2024 with a
festive line-up of exciting
releases. Highlights include a
Christmas-themed A Dram Good Festive
Tasting Pack, the debut of a premium
series called The Creators Peat
Plants Collection featuring
limited-edition aged peated
whiskies, and an expansion of its
50th Anniversary Cask Club
programme.
- 20th
November 2024
Lochlea Stout Cask Finish
Lochlea, the farm-to-cask distillery in
Ayrshire, has unveiled its first-ever
single malt whisky matured in stout beer
casks: the Lochlea Stout Cask Finish.
This UK-exclusive limited edition is the
result of a creative collaboration with
Glasgow-based craft brewery Overtone,
known for its seasonal beers inspired by
music and various musical genres.
- 19th
November 2024
Kilchoman Sanaig Cask Strength
Review
With the dark, colder months now
upon us I am sure more than a few of
you would appreciate a winter
warmer, well Kilchoman has just the
thing for you, they have just
released a Kilchoman Sanaig Cask
Strength limited edition and it
really is a deliciously
Oloroso sherry rich, sweet, peaty
dram.
- 19th
November 2024
Glenturret Announces It Will Stop
Producing Peated Whisky
The Glenturret, Scotland’s oldest
working distillery, has announced a
significant transition in its
production, with plans to phase out
the use of peated malt starting in
2025 and remove peated expressions
from its core range by 2026.
- 19th
November 2024
Loch Lomond Whiskies IWSC Scotch
Whisky Producer of the Year
Loch Lomond Whiskies has claimed the
coveted Scotch Whisky Producer of
the Year title at the 2024
International Wine & Spirit
Competition, marking a milestone as
the Loch Lomond Group surpasses 100
prestigious awards in the past year
alone.
- 14th
November 2024
The Balvenie 12 Year Old Golden Cask
Travel Retail Exclusive
The Balvenie has introduced the latest
addition to its renowned Cask Finishes
Range: The Balvenie 12 Year Old Golden
Cask, a tropical-inspired single malt
shaped by two unique climates. Available
exclusively in Global Travel Retail from
November 2024, this whisky is said to
have been crafted for those seeking a
vibrant and exotic expression.
- 14th
November 2024
The Dalmore Vintage 2006 & 2009
The Dalmore has unveiled the fourth
annual instalment in their Vintage
Collection, The 2024 Vintage
releases are a Dalmore 18 Year Old
Vintage 2006 and a Dalmore 15 Year
Old Vintage 2009, each is non chill
filtered, naturally coloured and
bottled at what should be a
flavoursome strength.
- 13th
November 2024
Introducing 'Living Souls' A New
Scottish Spirit Brand
Introducing Living Souls, a new
independent Scottish spirits brand,
the brainchild of three whisky
industry veterans, their maiden
collection, Batch #1, launches with
a 15 Year Old Blended Scotch, 18
Year Old Ledaig Single Malt, 19 Year
Old Islay Blended Malt and 40 Year
Old Blended Scotch.
- 11th
November 2024
Glasgow 1770 The Original & Peated
Cask Strength Editions Batch 2
The Glasgow Distillery has released
a second batch of cask strength
editions of two of its most
celebrated single malts, the Glasgow
1770 The Original Cask Strength
Batch 02 and Glasgow 1770 Peated
Cask Strength Batch 02 both comprise
the contents of three casks that
showcase the distillery’s signature
styles across unpeated and peated
single malt production.
- 7th
November 2024
The World Whisky Experience - A New
Whisky Event In London
Presented by the renowned IWSC
(International Wine and Spirits
Competition), ‘The World Whisky
Experience’ is an exciting new whisky
event arriving in London on 15 November
2024, set in the vibrant Spitalfields
area of East London, UK. This immersive
experience will showcase award-winning
distilleries from around the globe.
- 4th
November 2024
Douglas Laing Releases Big Peat
Boulevardier Ready Made Cocktail
Douglas
Laing has unveiled their latest creation: the
‘Big Peat Boulevardier,’ a handcrafted,
small-batch, cask-aged cocktail. Drawing
from the popularity of their iconic Big
Peat Islay Blended Malt, this release is
said to blend the rich, smoky flavours
of Islay whisky with the classic
cocktail’s sweet and bitter notes,
offering a distinct twist on the
traditional Boulevardier.
- 31st
October 2024
Glencairn
Launches The Last Dram Anthology
Book Of Crime Fiction
The Glencairn Glass launches 'The
Last Dram' crime fiction anthology,
a collection of short stories from
some of the best up and coming crime
authors around the world and money
raised from the book sale will go to
Maggie’s - a cancer care charity
that provides free expert care and
support in centres across the UK and
online.
- 29th
October 2024
New House of Suntory Shop At
Singapore Changi T4
The House of Suntory, recognised as the
pioneer of Japanese whisky, has joined
forces with Changi Airport Group and
Lotte Duty Free Singapore to launch an
immersive shop-in-shop boutique at
Singapore Changi Airport T4.
- 29th
October 2024
The Cabrach Distillery Goes Into
Production
After nearly two
centuries, whisky production has
returned to the historic Cabrach
area of Speyside with the first
distillation at The Cabrach Distillery,
rekindling the time-honoured craft of
whisky making in this distinctive part
of Scotland.
- 29th
October 2024
White Peak Wire Works Caduro Cask
Strength
White Peak Distillery in Derbyshire
has unveiled a limited edition
cask-strength version of one of its
flagship whiskies this autumn - Wire
Works Caduro Cask Strength.
- 24th
October 2024
Claxton's Dalswinton Series Autumn
Releases 2024 Reviews
Claxton's Spirits announce the
release of a 2nd instalment of 5
whiskies in the their Dalswinton
Series, each has been sourced from a
renowned coastal Scotch whisky
distillery, namely - Bowmore,
Bunnahabhain, Springbank, Clynelish
and Highland Park and all are over
30 Year Old.
- 24th
October 2024
Claxton's Dalswinton Series Highland
Park 35 Year Old Review
Review of Claxton's Dalswinton
Series Highland 35 Year Old, A
deliciously different, mature,
Oloroso sherry influenced Highland
Park, just what you want from an
independent bottling. It does have a
lovely, very gentle, thread of
Highland Park peat running through
it, but it is the age and quality
sherry cask that have made this an
outstanding whisky.
- 24th
October 2024
Claxton's Dalswinton Series
Bunnahabhain 33 Year Old Review
Review of Claxton's Dalswinton
Series Bunnahabhain 33 Year Old.
There really is a fantastic nose on
this lovely sherry oak mature
Bunnahabhain and the deliciously
juicy sherry and mature oak on the
palate does not disappoint. An
elegant, full bodied, sumptuousness
mature sherry rich dram.
- 24th
October 2024
Claxton's Dalswinton Series Bowmore
30 Year Old Review
Review of Claxton's Dalswinton
Series Bowmore 30 Year Old, an
absolutely delicious example of just
how well Bowmore does in a quality
sherry cask. The classic Bowmore
sea-salt peatiness becomes more
apparent with each mouthful and
combined with the sherry it makes
for a outstanding dram.
- 24th
October 2024
Claxton's Dalswinton Series
Clynelish 30 Year Old Review
Review of Claxton's Dalswinton
Series Clynelish 30 Year Old, it
offers a mix of waxed lemon citrus,
grapefruit and melon with a oaky
edge, a very gentle touch of vanilla
and heather honey. A little like a
Highland Park with the peat removed,
brine gives it a coastal feel.
- 24th
October 2024
Claxton's Dalswinton Series
Springbank 30 Year Old Review
Review of Claxton's Dalswinton
Series Springbank 30 Year Old, a
silky smooth delivery where the
barley sugars, vanilla and vibrant
sweet oak spices lead, followed by a
touch of apple and a combination of
zesty orange and lemon, pineapple. A
wee touch of pepper and a lovely
touch of peat hanging around the
background.
- 23rd
October 2024
Young Spirits Appoints New Managing
Director
In whisky business news
Edinburgh based 'Young Spirits', a
next-generation spirits bottling and
brand development company, has
promoted Barbara Russell Scott, its
former Director of Operations, to
Managing Director.
- 22nd
October 2024
Littlemill 47 Year Old The Vanguards
Collection Chapter 2
Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery,
Littlemill, has unveiled its oldest age
statement yet, a remarkable Littlemill
47 Year Old single malt, marking the
second release from its Vanguards
Collection.
- 22nd
October 2024
The Distillers One of One Charity
Auction 2024
The Distillers One of One Charity
Auction is set to return to Hopetoun
House in Scotland for its third edition
in partnership with Sotheby’s on 10th
October 2025.
Unlike other auctions in the rare
spirits category, 100% of the proceeds
go directly to charity, primarily
benefiting the Youth Action Fund. To
date, £4.3 million has been raised to
support disadvantaged young people in
Scotland.
- 16th
October 2024
Malt Whisky Yearbook 2025 Review
Review of the Malt Whisky Yearbook
2024 which covers no less than 874
malt whisky distilleries around the
world with all the facts updated. A
must-have for any whisky enthusiast
looking to stay current with the
rapidly evolving world of whisky.
With the rise of new distilleries in
Scotland and beyond, along with the
continuous development and expansion
of existing distilleries and their
ever-changing whisky ranges, it
really is an invaluable resource for
keeping up with the latest trends.
- 16th
October 2024
Bladnoch New Peated Collection
Bladnoch, Scotland's southernmost
distillery, has unveiled its 2024
Peated Collection of Lowland single
malt whiskies. This release includes
the Bladnoch Alinta Reserve and
three exclusive Peated Single Cask
whiskies, each offering unique
flavours for those who appreciate a
dram with depth and fire.
- 16th
October 2024
Douglas Laing Double Barrel India &
Scotland
Douglas Laing has unveiled their
first-ever fusion of Indian and Scottish
Single Malts under their Double Barrel
brand—a blend that combines chosen
whiskies from two distinct continents.
This unique Blended Malt Whisky is said
to deliver a flavour profile unlike
anything experienced before.
- 15th
October 2024
The GlenAllachie 17 Year Old
Mizunara & Oloroso Cask Finish
Independent Scotch whisky distillery,
The GlenAllachie has introduced the
first single malt in its new Master of
Wood series: a 17 Year Old Mizunara &
Oloroso Sherry Cask Finish.
- 15th
October 2024
Glasgow Distillery Unveils 3 Small
Batch Peated Whiskies
Glasgow Distillery today unveiled three
new limited-edition peated whiskies in
its renowned Small Batch Series: Glasgow
1770 Islay Cask Finish, Glasgow 1770
Madeira Cask Finish, and Glasgow 1770
Marsala Wine Cask Matured.
- 15th
October 2024
Turntable Unveils Scots-Irish Blend
Collaboration Drop 02: Dingle
Small-batch whisky blender Turntable
Spirits has unveiled Collaboration
Drop 02: Dingle, the second release
in its collaboration series.
For Collaboration Drop 02: Dingle, they
focused on the spice notes from Dingle’s
single pot still whiskey aged in Oloroso
casks, enhancing them with Scotch whisky
matured in a mix of ex-rye barrels, PX
sherry puncheons, and first-fill
bourbon barrels. It has been bottled
at 52% ABV to preserve the vibrancy
of flavours.
- 11th
October 2024
Loch Lomond Still The Fastest
Growing Scotch Single Malt Whisky
Loch Lomond Distillery has
reinforced its global expansion in
the Scotch whisky market following
outstanding success at prestigious
international awards. The
independent distillery has earned
worldwide acclaim for its whiskies,
highlighted by its impressive
performances at the 2024 San
Francisco World Spirits Competition
and IWSC 2024.
- 11th
October 2024
Kilchoman Port Cask Matured 2024
Review
Review of the 3rd fully Port Cask
Matured single malt release from
Kilchoman and it is another stunning
port cask matured Kilchoman with yet
again a perfect, absolutely
delicious, balanced mix of
Kilchoman's ashy peat smoke and the
fruit and toffee contributed by the
port casks, from nose to long
finish.
- 10th
October 2024
Loch Lomond Waypoint Series Launches
With 16 Year Old Expression
Loch Lomond launches the Waypoint
Series with a 16 Year Old expression
which has been finished in Cognac
casks. The Waypoint Series
celebrates the distillery's passion
for flavour and its rich heritage in
Loch Lomond and the Trossachs. Each
whisky in the collection represents
a significant "waypoint" in the
National Park, capturing the
emotions of discovery through unique
expressions.
- 10th
October 2024
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society
Launches Special Winter Series
Christmas is coming early at The
Scotch Malt Whisky Society as
members of the worlds biggest whisky
club have the chance to get a hold
of four special bottling's in their
new Winter Series, one each from
Caol Ila, Arran, Linkwood and
Speyburn.
- 10th
October 2024
Ian Macleod Distillers Releases
First ESG Report
Independent family distillers, Ian
Macleod Distillers, reveals
operational net zero ambition as
part of its ‘Doing the Right Thing’
sustainability plan.
- 10th
October 2024
Scallywag Winter Edition 2024
Finished In Orange Wine Casks
Christmas must be on the way as
Douglas Laing unveils Scallywag
Winter Edition 2024 Finished In
Orange Wine Casks. Bottled at its
natural cask strength of 53.9% ABV,
this edition stays authentic with no
added colouring or chill-filtration,
preserving its full depth of flavour
and texture.
- 9th
October 2024
Caskshare Collective Series Whisky
Reviews
Review of five whiskies from the
Caskshare Collective Series: Caol
Ila 8 Year Old, Benrinnes 12 Year
Old, Craigellachie 21 Year Old and
two Swedish whiskies from the
Agitator distillery a Four Grain
White Port Wine Single Cask and a
Peated Sauternes Cask matured single
malt.
- 7th
October 2024
Glenmorangie The Original 12 Year
Old Review
Review of the new Glenmorangie The
Original 12 Year Old which has now
replaced the the Original 10 Year
Old. The extra 2 years maturation
has given the whisky a slightly more
bourbon like edge, a touch more oak
and gentle spice, still full of
Glenmorangie's signature orange
citrus and vanilla, every bit as
good and more as the 10 year old it
replaces.
- 7th
October 2024
Glenmorangie A Tale Of Ice Cream
Review
Review of the 5th instalment of the
Glenmorangie 'A Tale Of...' series,
Glenmorangie A Tale Of Ice Cream. I
was expecting sweeter and more
vanilla'd, the oak and fruit are the
stars but not in the sweet and
vanilla'd way I was expecting, a
little more savoury than sweet but
still a cracking dram with a lovely
long finish.
- 2nd
October 2024
Meet Edinburgh's Makers A Toast To
The City's Distillers And Brewers
Forever Edinburgh launches Meet
Edinburgh’s Makers, a toast to the
city’s distillers and brewers.
Download a brand-new
Brewers and Distillers Map
to discover the
spirit of Edinburgh, featuring bars,
pubs, pop-ups, retailers and
distilleries, all easily accessible
by foot or sustainable travel
options, including bus and tram.
- 1st
October 2024
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series
Port Edition
Introducing the second chapter in
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series,
The Port Edition, a set of 3 rare
aged Dalmore whiskies, a 27, 30 and
43 Year Old with each having been
finished in different premium
Graham's port casks.
See
earlier Whisky News from 2024 >>>
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