Whisky Focus - Whisky News Reviews Interviews Events New Releases

• 24th September 2020
  Tobermory 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish Joins Core Range
  Tobermory Distillery today announced the addition of a Tobermory 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish to their core range of whiskies. Fans of the outstanding Tobermory 15 Year Old limited release which is now long gone will be interested to know that the new Tobermory 23 Year Old is actually the 15 Year Old they loved so much 8 years on.
   
• 23rd September 2020
  Jameson Crested X Eight Degrees Brewing
  Review of the new limited edition Jameson Crested X Eight Degrees Brewing Finished in Black Ball Metric Irish Stout Barrels. A lovely balance of mild pot still spices, mild sherried fruitiness, vanilla infused sweet coconut ice and just a touch of ginger lurking in the background.
   
• 22nd September 2020
  Glencairn Sponsored McIlvanney Prize Bloody Scotland Debut Prize
  If you enjoy sitting back in the armchair in the evening with a good whisky and a good book, particularly a crime novel, then here is a couple of new books to look out for as the winners of the Glencairn Whisky Glass sponsored 2020 McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year were announced at the opening of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival on Friday evening.
   
• 21st September 2020
  Jura Single Cask To Be Auction For Scottish Mental Health Charity
  We rarely see an official, original distillery, single cask bottling from the Isle of Jura distillery but that is exactly what the island distillery owners Whyte & Mackay has just generously bottled to be auctioned off to raise funds in aid of the Scottish mental health charity - Scottish Association for Mental Health. The Jura Distillery Cask, a 19 year old Single Cask No. 1708 which produced 470 bottles will be auctioned via the Whisky Auctioneer website.
   
• 21st September 2020
  Black Tartan 88 A Blend Of Macallan, Highland Park & Glenrothes
  Black Tartan 88, a 31 Year Old limited edition blend of iconic whiskies produced at The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes distilleries scores 94/100 in Jim Murrays latest Whisky Bible 2021 and it is still available.
   
• 18th September 2020
  Big Peat Christmas 2020 Unveiled
  Well its official summer is coming to an end and Christmas is on the way as the tubs of Cadbury Roses and Quality Street are now appearing in the supermarkets and those festive folks at Douglas Laing have unveiled the latest instalment of their Big Peat Christmas Series of peaty Islay blended malts, the Big Peat Christmas 2020 Cask Strength Limited Edition.
   
• 18th September 2020
  Imbibe Live A New Virtual Event For The Global Bar Industry
  Following the success of Imbibe Live’s inaugural digital event back in June, which saw hundreds of drinks brands and on-trade professionals come together to share insights, trends and much more, this time the leading drinks exhibition is going global! This October Imbibe Live is taking part in a brand new virtual event for the global bar industry and registration for the week-long virtual event is free.
   
• 16th September 2020
  Jim Murray's Whisky Bible 2021 World Whiskies Of The Year Winners
  Whisky writer Jim Murray has named his World Whiskies of the Year in his soon to be released Whisky Bible 2021 and this time his top slot of 'World Whisky of the Year 2021' goes for the second time in the books history to a Canadian whisky, Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye which he scored at 97.5 out of a 100.
   
• 15th September 2020
  Work On Ardara Distillery Gets Under Way
  Work on the Ardara Distillery got underway today as Donegal’s Sliabh Liag Distillers ‘turned the sod’ on their new Distillery site in Ardara – marking the first phase of construction of their new distillery.
   
• 14th September 2020
  Diageo World Class Competition Returns With A Revised Approach
  You may have thought that it wouldn't be taking place this year, but Diageo's World Class, the global bartending competition, has made a triumphant return in 2020 albeit with a revised approach that adapts to a new competition environment. World Class 2020 has introduced new people, partnerships and competitor challenges. The internationally recognised competition has also announced a series of activations at this year’s London Cocktail Week, including the Whisky House at Goods Way.
   
• 11th September 2020
  Aberfeldy 18 Year Old French Wine Cask Finish
  John Dewar's & Sons has unveiled a new limited edition expression of its Highland single malt whisky Aberfeldy, the Aberfeldy 18 Year Old French Wine Cask Finish. The French Wine Cask Finish has certainly added a delicious fruitiness and oak tannin edge to this honeyed Highland dram which has been bottled at a flavoursome 43% ABV.
   
• 10th September 2020
  The GlenAllachie Picks Up 50th Award Under New Owners
  The GlenAllachie Distillers Company Limited which produces The GlenAllachie Speyside single malt whisky and the peaty MacNair's Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky range has just taken its total number of awards for the whiskies it has turned out to 50 since being taken over in October 2017 by a three person consortium lead by the former BenRiach Distillery Company managing director Billy Walker.
   
• 9th September 2020
  Glengoyne Launches New Look Along With Two New Expressions
  Glengoyne unveiled a new look for its entire whisky range today and the packaging overhaul also sees Glengoyne move to 100% recyclable free of plastic and magnets, and locally sourced, with nearly all of the material originating from Scotland.
   
• 9th September 2020
  Whisky Makers Whyte & Mackay Toast ISC 2020 Success
  Whyte & Mackay's portfolio of whiskies impress at the International Spirits Challenge 2020 where their Dalmore, Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin single malts all scooped Gold Medals at the blind tasting competition.
   
• 9th September 2020
  Johnnie Walker Princes Street Visitor Experience Opens Online
  Diageo's commitment to investment in Scotch whisky and Scottish tourism remains as strong as ever as they open the online doors to the Johnnie Walker Princes Street global flagship visitor experience ahead of the actual opening now scheduled for summer 2021.
   
• 7th September 2020
  The SMWS Offer Members A Chance To Win A Cask Holyrood Whisky
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has launched a members only competition with an amazing prize, The SMWS are offering members the chance to win a full hogshead cask of Holyrood whisky and the great thing about this incredible prize is that the winner will be able to tailor their cask of whisky to their own flavour preference through Holyrood's Custom Cask Programme.
   
• 4th September 2020
  Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 2
  Ardbeg has announced the release of Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 2, or to be more precise Batch No: TB/02-18.09.00/20.JT. It is subtly different to the first release of Traigh Bhan thanks to a higher proportion of 1st-fill Bourbon casks, alongside refills and Oloroso Sherry casks.
   
• 4th September 2020
  Hunter Laing Hepburn’s Choice Range Gets A New Look
  Hunter Laing & Co. has unveiled a new look for their Hepburn’s Choice range which they will be rolling out from this month. Each bottling, whether a single cask or small batch single malt release is now brightly colour coded to denote the whisky region of the distillery where the whisky was distilled.
   
• 3rd September 2020
  Macduff Distillery Celebrates 60 Years
  Just over 60 years ago, 16th June 1960, the Macduff Distillery in Banffshire filled its first cask of single malt whisky, Cask #1 was filled. Most of the whisky produced since the distillery's construction has gone into blends such as William Lawson's but that changed in recent years with the launch a The Deveron whisky range in the domestic market and Glen Deveron Royal Burgh Collection in travel retail.
   
• 3rd September 2020
  Tamdhu Batch Strength 5
  Tamdhu has announced the release of the next instalment of its big bold, 100% sherry oak cask matured Batch Strength series, the Tamdhu Batch Strength 5, this latest edition weighs in at 59.8% ABV and as usual it is un-chillfiltered and naturally coloured.
   
• 3rd September 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail 125th Anniversary Last Cask Releases
  Gordon & MacPhail marks 125th Anniversary with the release of four 'Last Cask' from their Elgin warehouse starting with Gordon & MacPhail Coleburn 1972 125th Anniversary Edition 47 Year Old.
   
• 2nd September 2020
  Jameson Grow Your Own Cocktail Web Series for Bartenders
  The bartenders amongst you may recall that back in April Jameson Irish whiskey announced the launch of an online platform to support, inspire and engage the international bar community through this unprecedented period of uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus outbreak well the Irish whiskey maker has expanded on that with the launch of Jameson Grow Your Own Cocktail web series to promote local sourcing, collaboration and discovery among bartenders and local producers around the world.
   
• 1st September 2020
  Diageo Special Releases 2020
  Diageo has unveiled its Special Releases 2020 line-up, this years highlights includes a Pittyvaich expression from the now long closed Speyside ghost distillery, a rare Dalwhinnie matured in refill hogshead casks filled in 1989, a unique young Talisker which has been finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks and the Special Release stalwart Lagavulin 12 year old.
   
• 26th August 2020
  Douglas Laing Unveils Big Peat 12 Year Old & Epicurean 12 Year Old
  Douglas Laing today unveiled two new age statement, permanent additions to their popular 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series of Scotch blended malt whiskies, the Big Peat 12 Year Old and The Epicurean 12 Year Old.
   
• 26th August 2020
  Rampur Double Cask Review
  Review of Rampur Double Cask Indian single malt whisky from the Indian distillery which is located at the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh, it was matured for two-thirds of its life in American Bourbon Barrels and a third in European Oak Sherry Casks. I do get the feeling this is quite young, 6 or 7 years perhaps, maybe more time in the cask would help it or perhaps a better choice of cask, it could certainly benefit from a bit more sweetness and less sulphur.
   
• 25th August 2020
  Distell Malt Collection 2020
  Distell, owner of Bunnahabhain, Deanston and Tobermory (Ledaig) distilleries has unveiled its third batch of annual releases and this year the line up features two unique expressions from Bunnahabhain, three from Deanston and three from their Tobermory distillery (one Tobermory and two Ledaig expressions).
   
• 20th August 2020
  Colin Gordon Named New Ardbeg Distillery Manager
  As Ardbeg bids farewell to retiring distillery manager Mickey Heads they name Colin Gordon as his successor. Colin brings with him a wealth of whisky experience from Diageo including recently being based at the Lagavulin Distillery on Islay as the Distillery Manager.
   
• 20th August 2020
  Johnnie Walker Limited Editions Mark 200th Anniversary
  Johnnie Walker marks its 200th Anniversary with new limited edition packaging for its iconic Johnnie Walker Gold Label, Black Label 12 Year Old and Red Label Scotch blended whiskies.
   
• 20th August 2020
  Bimber Teams Up With Hand Crafted Beer Maker Brew By Numbers
  London based Bimber Distillery and Brew By Numbers brewery announce their first collaboration beer - 64|Imperial Stout.
   
• 19th August 2020
  Glenkinchie 16YO Released In Aid Of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
  Doddie Weir is raring to raise some funds with the recently bottled Glenkinchie 16 Year Old single sherry cask bottling donated by Diageo to his 'My Name’5 Doddie Foundation' which raises money to support research into finding a cure for Motor Neuron Disease.
   
• 19th August 2020
  Sliabh Liag Distillers Launch €1.5M Crowdfund For Next Phase
  Sliabh Liag Distillers, who recently laid down the first legally produced single malt whiskey in Donegal since 1841 announced today that it is seeking €1.5m in investment via crowdfunding to fuel the next phase of its expansion.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Dial A Dram Glen Moray 2020 Distillery Edition Range
  Glen Moray has made their normally distillery exclusive single cask bottlings available to whisky fans via a Dial A Dram service. The Glen Moray 2020 Distillery Edition Range includes a trio of Glen Moray single cask malt whiskies which are the oldest wine-finished whiskies the distillery has ever released, each one said to be bursting with the flavours of full maturation in hand-selected Chardonnay, Burgundy and Chenin Blanc casks respectively.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Glen Moray 2003 Chardonnay Cask 7670 Review
  Review of Glen Moray 2003 Chardonnay Single Cask No. 7670, a deliciously juicy, slightly barley sugared, fruitiness fills the mouth, raisin, sultana and pineapple, the intensity of which is boosted by the flavoursome ABV bottling strength.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Glen Moray 2004 Burgundy Cask 213 Review
  Review of Glen Moray 2004 Burgundy Single Cask No. 213, a little shy on the nose but an absolute pleasure of a dram in the mouth and a great example of Glen Moray off its familiar beaten track, exactly what these distillery exclusive bottling's should be.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Glen Moray 2004 Chenin Blanc Cask 341 Review
  Review of Glen Moray 2004 Chenin Blanc Single Cask No. 341, on the nose it doesn't appear to be one for the sweet toothed but it sweetens up in the mouth but bitters out again on the finish.
   
• 13th August 2020
  The Epicurean Rivesaltes Finish Limited Edition
  Douglas Laing & Co has just released a limited edition expression of their Lowland blended malt whisky, The Epicurean. The third release in their The Epicurean Wood Series, The Epicurean Rivesaltes Finish has as its title tells you matured a Rivesaltes wine cask, a wine which I am sure even many wine drinkers are unfamiliar with.
   
• 13th August 2020
  Celebrate Whisky Sour Day With A J&B Sinatra Sour
  A Whisky Sour is probably one of the most well-known and popular whisky cocktails in America, so much so that it even has its own day set aside to celebrate it in the US, Whisky Sour Day, why not celebrate it this year with a J&B Sinatra Sour, named after Frank Sinatra, who was part of the infamous Hollywood Rat Pack and was known to enjoy J&B Rare.
   
• 11th August 2020
  Nc’nean Ainnir First 10 Bottles Charity Auction
  First 10 bottlings of Nc'nean Ainnir, the distillery's inaugural single malt whisky release to be auctioned off for charities that support sustainability, the local Morvern community and the UK hospitality industry; Trees for Life, The Drinks Trust, The Ben, The Scottish Farm Land Trust and Morvern Community Trust.
   
• 10th August 2020
  Glengoyne Asks Fans To Select Next Single Cask Bottling
  Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is giving its whisky fans the opportunity to select the next single cask, single malt whisky which they will bottle. The distillery is inviting fans to take part in a special livestream on Friday 28th August - where they can not only sample some rare casks, but ultimately decide which go into the distillery’s latest ‘Cask of the Moment’ single cask bottling.
   
• 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.
   

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