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,
interviews, distillery news and much
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- 7th
December 2023
The SMWS Release New Christmas 2023
Gift Membership & Bottle
New for Christmas 2023 from The
Scotch Malt Whisky Society, the
world’s biggest whisky club, Gift
Membership and a Bottle tailored to
the recipient’s personal taste for
£129.
- 7th
December 2023
Berry Bros & Rudd 2023 Winter
Release
Berry Bros & Rudd conclude their
325th anniversary year with their
final seasonal release of 2023, 4
Scotch Single Malts, a Scotch Single
Grain, a English Single Malt and a
Jamaican Rum.
- 6th
December 2023
The Macallan A Night on Earth - The
Journey
The Macallan A Night on Earth - The
Journey, the second limited edition
annual release in the Night on Earth
series, a balanced combination of
first-fill American ex-bourbon
barrels, along with European and
American sherry-seasoned oak casks.
- 6th
December 2023
White Peak Wire Works Full Port
Christmas Release
Derbyshire's White Peak Distillery
has unveils a new addition to their
coveted Wire Works collection just
in time for Christmas: the Wire
Works Full Port. Crafted in limited
quantities, this release has been
matured solely in Tawny Port casks,
resulting in they tell me, a
sumptuous flavour profile.
- 6th
December 2023
White Peak Team Up With Sat Bains
For 3 Single Cask Releases
White Peak team up with Michelin
Star Chef Sat Bains to select and
release 3 single cask whiskies, the
Wire Works Whisky RSB (Restaurant
Sat Bains)Cuvee Collection.
- 4th
December 2023
North Star Spirits Scoops
Independent Bottler of the Year
Award
The Scottish Whisky Awards 2023 marked a
historic moment as North Star Spirits
triumphed over long established,
much larger competitors, claiming the
Independent Bottling championship for
the third time in just four years. Among
North Star’s impressive liquid
collection, a remarkable 12 of its
whiskies were nominated for taste
excellence.
- 4th
December 2023
Crurated Announces Expansion Into
The Prestige Spirits Category
Online retailer, Crurated, launches
into the World of Prestige Spirits.
Partnering with the world’s most
celebrated distilleries including
exceptional curations from Samaroli
Macallan, The Glenturret and Royal
Salute.
- 4th
December 2023
RAER Whisky Clinches Gold For Best
Blended Scotch Whisky
Once more, RAER, the independent,
family-owned distillery situated
near Glasgow in Jackton, has
achieved triumph at the renowned
Scottish Whisky Awards. Their RAER
Pedro Ximénez Expression clinched
gold, earning the prestigious title
of the world's best blended Scotch.
- 1st
December 2023
Loch Lomond Eyes Growth Of Its
Unique Spearhead Single Grain
Spearhead sets its sights on
expansion while the Loch Lomond
Group reintegrates the distribution
of its pioneering single-grain
whisky into its portfolio in the UK.
- 1st
December 2023
Douglas Laing XOP Scallywag Tormore
35 Years Old
Here is something a little special for
you just in time for Christmas, Douglas
Laing has unveiled the newest addition
to their XOP series to commemorate their
75th Anniversary: the remarkable XOP
Scallywag Tormore 35 Year Old.
- 28th
November 2023
Glenmorangie 18 Year Old Gets New
Look, New Name And New Price
Glenmorangie has unveiled a new look for
its 18 Year Old single malt and along
with the new look it has a new name and
a new price. Fans of the 18 year old
northern Highland dram needn't worry
as it will be the same 18 Year Old
whisky they are already familiar
with in the bottle.
- 24th
November 2023
Cafe Drambuie At Edinburgh Airport
This Festive Season
If you are travelling through
Edinburgh airport this festive
season why not stop by Cafe Drambuie
for a winter warmer, you will find
it beyond security, adjacent to the
Departures World Duty Free store.
- 23rd
November 2023
Turntable - Starward A Scottish
Australian Blended Malt Unveiled
Glasgow based whisky blender
Turntable has teamed up with
Australian distillery Starward for
their latest creative limited
edition blended whisky created using
39% Starward, 29% Inchgower, 22%
North British and 10% Caol Ila.
- 21st
November 2023
Berry Bros & Rudd Mark 325th
Anniversary With Laphroaig 1999
Britain's oldest spirits and wine
merchants, Berry Bros. & Rudd, are
celebrating a historic 325 years
with a new bottling handpicked by
Chair Lizzy Rudd, Laphroaig 1999
Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
- 16th
November 2023
The SMWS Launches Drop & Dram
Subscription Service
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society is
launching a new £45 per month
subscription service which offers
subscribers 3 X 50ml bottles of the
Society's cask strength whisky each
month, monthly society membership
and access to purchase from their
range of full size bottles,
alternatively you could take out a
annual membership for £85 for the
year.
- 14th
November 2023
Ardbeg The Rollercoaster £85,000 2
Bottle Set
Ardbeg have unveiled, a rare 2
bottle set of single malts, one
distilled in 1981 and the other in
1989. They are said to capture
Ardbeg's rather turbulent times in
the 1980's when the peaty whisky
making distillery's future was not
at all certain.
- 14th
November 2023
Ground Broken For £20 Million
Ardgowan Distillery Construction
Ardgowan
Distillery, the inaugural zero-carbon
whisky distillery in Inverclyde, has
initiated the construction of its £20
million visionary "cathedral of whisky".
Muir Construction, based in Inverkeithing,
is set to complete the first phase
over the next 12 months.
- 10th
November 2023
Inter Bev Picks Up Award For Its
Human Resources Programme
In whisky business news
International Beverage's
'people-first' philosophy achieves
significant recognition at premier
HR Industry Awards with Sam Kirk
earning the title of HR Director of
the Year, while the Inter Bev Human
Capital team secures a victory for
their outstanding Health and
Wellbeing program.
- 10th
November 2023
Dunphail Distillery Fills First
Casks And Opens Second Funding Round
Dunphail Distillery is now in
production and has filled their
first casks, sherry butts and they
have announced that they have now
opened a second round of funding.
- 8th
November 2023
Kilchoman 16 Year Old
Kilchoman launches the oldest global
release bottling to date, the
Kilchoman 16 Year Old, a vatting of
predominantly ex-bourbon barrels
with just a hint of ex-Oloroso
sherry casks in the mix.
- 7th
November 2023
The Leith Export C0. Expands Its
Whisky Range
Leith Export Co. has expanded its
whisky offering with the release of
Perpetuity Batch #2, a Scotch
blended whisky and Table Whisky, a
single grain whisky.
- 31st
October 2023
The Dalmore Vintage 2005 & 2008
The Dalmore unveils the third
instalment in their annual release
limited edition Vintage Collection,
The Dalmore 18 Year Old Vintage 2005
and The Dalmore 15 Year Old 2008,
each is non chill filtered,
naturally coloured and bottled at
what should be a flavoursome
strength.
- 30th
October 2023
The Glencairn Glass Crime Short
Story Competition 2023
The world’s favourite whisky glass,
the Glencairn Glass, is once again
venturing into the thrilling realm
of crime fiction with its annual
short story competition. The
Glencairn Glass sponsored Bloody
Scotland Crime Short Story
Competition has returned for 2023
and is now open for entries.
- 27th
October 2023
Bimber Spirit Of The Underground
Collection Release No.5
London’s Bimber Distillery has
unveiled the fifth instalment of
their 'The Spirit of the Underground
Collection' - this time up the
Bimber whisky train has made stops
at Bond Street, Hammersmith,
Regent's Park and Tottenham Court
Road tube stations.
- 26th
October 2023
Kilchoman PX Sherry Cask Matured
2023 Edition Review
Kilchoman have released their first
limited edition 100% PX sherry cask
matured whisky, the Kilchoman PX
Sherry Cask Matured 2023 Edition and
to cut a long story short it is
absolutely outstanding.
- 25th
October 2023
GlenAllachie Wine Cask Series Batch
2
The GlenAllachie unveils Batch 2 of
their Wine Cask Series, a trio of
whiskies, a 11 Year Old Premier Cru
Classé Cask Finish, a 10 Year Old
Grattamacco Cask Finish, and a
GlenAllachie 9 Year Old Douro Valley
Cask Finish.
- 25th
October 2023
Inter Bev Appoint New Global Sales
Director and Operations Director
In whisky business news
International Beverage which boasts
single malt Scotch whiskies Old
Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and
Speyburn amongst its portfolio, has
appointed two senior leaders,
Veronica Amago takes the role of
Global Sales Director and Alan
Mitchell as Operations Director.
- 24th
October 2023
Ardbeg Anamorphic Committee Release
Ardbeg has announced their latest
Committee exclusive offering, Ardbeg
Anamorphic which will be available
from 10 am on November 2, 2023 to
Ardbeg Committee members based in
the UK. It is described as a
multi-dimensional whisky that
transitions and evolves among four
distinctive flavour profiles:
sweetness, smokiness, herbal notes,
and spiciness.
- 24th
October 2023
Turntable Scotch Blended Whisky Core
Range Reviews
Review of the new Glasgow based
blending house 'Turntable' core
range of premium Scotch blend
whiskies Paradise Funk, Bittersweet
Symphony and Smokin’ Riff.
- 19th
October 2023
White Peak Wire Works Virgin Oak
White Peak distillery in Derbyshire
England has introduced an exciting
new dimension to its Wire Works
Whisky collection this season with
the launch of their Virgin Oak Cask
whisky, a limited release of 2,769
bottles which represents a
significant step towards a permanent
addition to the distillery's
offerings.
- 18th
October 2023
Tamdhu Quercus Alba Distinction III
Tamdhu unveils the third batch in
their Quercus Alba Distinction
series, this latest instalment
continues to celebrate the
unmistakable characteristics of
first-fill American oak Oloroso
sherry cask maturation.
- 18th
October 2023
Lochlea Fallow Edition Second Crop
Lochlea commemorates the autumnal
season on the farm with the
unveiling of the 'Fallow Edition
Second Crop' which has been
exclusively matured in a combination
Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry
casks.
- 18th
October 2023
Dunphail Distillery In Speyside Goes
Into Production
Dunphail Distillery in Speyside has
gone into production, the distillery
aims to craft a rich and fruity
spirit, both peated and unpeated
single malt whiskies which will be
produced using their own on-site
floor malting, traditional kilning,
extended fermentation periods, and
direct-fired stills.
- 16th
October 2023
Inter Bev Supports Local Scottish
Communities With £25K Donation
Leading spirit maker, International
Beverage is offering individuals and
organisations actively working to
make a positive difference within
their local communities in Scotland
the chance to get a share of a £25K
donation to support their good work.
- 16th
October 2023
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series The
Sherry Edition
The Dalmore
introduces the inaugural offering in a
four-year program showcasing its
exceptional whisky collections. The Cask
Curation Series kicks off with the Sherry Edition,
a set of 3 rare aged Dalmore
whiskies, a 26, 28 and 43 Year Old
with each having been finished in
different premium sherry casks. You
will need deep pockets to taste this
set but it is always good to look..
- 14th
October 2023
SMWS Celebrates 40th Anniversary
With World Record Whisky Tasting
A whisky club that originated with a
close-knit group of friends in Edinburgh
marked its 40th anniversary by achieving
a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS title for
hosting the largest online whisky
tasting event. Established in Edinburgh
back in 1983, The Scotch Malt Whisky
Society (SMWS) has since evolved into
the world's largest whisky club,
boasting nearly 40,000 members spanning
over 20 countries worldwide.
- 13th
October 2023
Timorous Beastie 'Meet The Beast'
Marks Friday The 13th 2023
Will you be seeing red when you Meet
The Beast, Douglas Laing's 2023
instalment of its Timorous Beastie
Highland blended malt bottled to
mark Friday The 13th, it boasts a
formidable 54.3% ABV and has been
exclusively matured in bourbon
casks, ensuring an intense and
unadulterated tasting experience.
- 12th
October 2023
Lochlea Distillery Named Ayrshire's
International Business of the Year
Lochlea Distillery, a family-owned and
independent whisky distillery in South
Ayrshire, Scotland, has received the
'Going Global – International Trade
Business of the Year' award at the
Ayrshire Chamber of Commerce Business
Awards. These awards are highly regarded
within the Ayrshire business community
and serve as a platform to recognise
outstanding achievements.
- 9th
October 2023
Malt Whisky Yearbook 2024 Review
Review of the Malt Whisky Yearbook
2024 which covers no less than 821
malt whisky distilleries around the
world with all the facts updated.
With the ever increasing number of
distilleries this is a must have for
any whisky enthusiasts wanting to
keep track of the world of whisky
and there are few tasting notes
thrown in also to wet your whistle.
- 6th
October 2023
The Distillers One Of One Charity
Auction Raises £2.25 Million
The auction results for The
Distillers One of One Charity
Auction and once again they have
surpassed auction estimates raising
£2.25 million which will be directed
towards supporting The Distillers'
Charity's Youth Action Fund.
- 6th
October 2023
Glenglassaugh 55 Year Old Breaks
Auction Record In Aid Of Charity
Glenglassaugh Coalescence of the Coast
55 Year Old, the oldest Glenglassaugh
whisky ever released by the Highland
distillery, which was meticulously
curated by Master Blender Rachel Barrie,
has achieved a remarkable feat by
fetching a record-breaking £37,500
in the prestigious Distillers One of
One Auction in aid of charity.
- 5th
October 2023
Chivas Brothers Unveil Plans For
Islay Distillery
Chivas Brothers unveil plans for a
Islay distillery located on the
picturesque grounds of Gartbreck
Farm, west of Bowmore at Saltpan
Point along the Loch Indaal
shoreline, this distillery will
offer breathtaking vistas
overlooking Bruichladdich and Port
Charlotte on the opposite shore.
- 5th
October 2023
The GlenAllachie 21 Year Old Cask
Strength Batch 4
A double Cask Strength release from
The GlenAllachie distillery, 21 Year
Old Cask Strength Batch 4 and 10
Year Old Cask Strength Batch 10.
- 4th
October 2023
Meikle Tòir The Original 5 Year Old
Review
Review of the new Meikle Tòir The
Original 5 Year Old, cracking young
sugary sweet peated dram with a good
portion of oak spice that could
rival any of the Scottish Islands
peated drams for quality and peaty
pleasure.
- 4th
October 2023
Meikle Tòir The Sherry One 5 Year
Old Review
Review of the Meikle Tòir The Sherry
One 5 Year Old, quality sherry casks
along with quality peaty distillate
at play here results in a great
balance between sherry, oak and peat
combined with the flavoursome
bottling strength of 48% ABV which
all make for a very pleasurable
young sherried, peaty dram.
- 4th
October 2023
Meikle Tòir The Chinquapin One 5
Year Old Review
Review of the new Meikle Tòir The
Chinquapin One 5 Year Old, a young,
smooth delicious peaty dram with a
unusual virgin Chinquapin wood
influence we rare see but thanks to
Billy Walker and his innovative team
of whisky makers here it is and it
works well along side the ex-bourbon
barrels used to initially mature the
whisky.
- 4th
October 2023
Meikle Tòir The Turbo 5 Year Old
Review
Review of the new Meikle Tòir The
Turbo 5 Year Old 2023 Edition,
delicious honey infused intense peat
with a lovely oak spiced edge leads
piggy backing on equally delicious
sugar charged sherried fruit which
is quickly joined by some lovely
coffee notes and some young vibrant
oak spice.
- 4th
October 2023
Scottish Alcohol Industry
Partnership Appoint First
Chairperson
Kieran Healey-Ryder, of whisky makers
Whyte and Mackay, has been appointed the
first chairperson of the Scottish
Alcohol Industry Partnership,
representing the alliance of distillers,
brewers, retailers and hospitality
venues.
- 3rd
October 2023
Glencairn Crystal Supporting
Distillers One of One Auction
Glencairn
Crystal, the esteemed Scottish glassware
company known for its award-winning
products, including its sturdy wee Glencairn whisky
tasting glass which I am sure you are
familiar with, is sponsoring the
second edition of the world's most
prestigious ultra-rare whisky auction:
The Distillers One of One. This
family-run business has also
meticulously crafted bottles and
decanters for 11 out of the 39
exceptional lots featuring
extraordinary, once-in-a-lifetime
whiskies from various distilleries
across Scotland.
- 3rd
October 2023
The English Sherry Cask
The English Distillery has announced
the release of 'The English Sherry
Cask', its inaugural sherry-matured
single malt release into the core
range. The PX sherry cask matured
dram is described as a meticulously
balanced and luxuriously rich
whisky, with the wood influence
elegantly complementing the overall
profile.
- 3rd
October 2023
Deanston Virgin Oak Cask Strength
2023 Edition
Straight from the cask to your
glass, Deanston Distillery has announced the release
of the inaugural batch of Deanston
Virgin Oak Cask Strength.
Initially aged in barrels previously
home to American bourbon, it
then underwent a 12-month finishing
period in virgin American oak
barrels sourced all the way from the
Kelvin Cooperage in Kentucky.
- 3rd
October 2023
Glasgow 1770 Small Batch Series 4
The Glasgow Distillery, which unveiled
Glasgow's first single malt whisky
legally produced in the Scotland's
biggest city since 1902, is expanding
its innovative Small Batch Series by
introducing three new expressions. After
receiving numerous prestigious awards
for its Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Scotch
Whisky, including a recent gold medal at
the International Spirits Challenge, the
distillery is now reviving past cask
experiments by maturing its whisky in
Cognac, Tokaji, and Innis & Gunn Golden
Beer casks.
See
earlier Whisky News from 2023 >>>
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