Whisky Focus - Whisky News Reviews Interviews Events New Releases

• 27th January 2021
  The Macallan Folio 6
  The Macallan Folio 6 is the latest instalment in The Macallan's 'Archival Series' which recollects the legendary advertising campaigns of The Macallan. This 6th release in the series celebrates a witty advert, which cleverly featured The Macallan Chairman as a Scotsman dancing the Highland fling.
   
• 27th January 2021
  Kirstie McCallum Leaves Glen Moray For Halewood
  After a short stay at Glen Moray Master Blender Kirstie McCallum joins Halewood Artisanal Spirits and will take charge of their Crabbie, Samuel Gelston’s, The Pogues, Aber Falls and Peaky Blinder whiskies.
   
• 27th January 2021
  Tomintoul Cigar Malt
  Angus Dundee Distillers has added a new no age statement single malt whisky to their Tomintoul range, the Oloroso sherry cask matured Tomintoul Cigar Malt which is described as having the perfect balance of sweetness and spice, with a rich, smoky background.
   
• 27th January 2021
  Royal Salute 21 Year Old Year Of The Ox Lunar New Year
  Royal Salute release a special edition of their premium 21 year old Scotch blended whisky to mark the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Ox.
   
• 26th January 2021
  Ballantine’s Unveil First Light Expression - Ballantine's Light 20°
  Ballantine's has entered the the whisky spirit marketplace with the release of Ballantine's Light 20°, their first ‘light’ expression and lower-ABV spirit drink which contains half the alcohol by volume of their standard Ballantine's Finest Scotch blended whisky.
   
• 25th January 2021
  Ardbeg 25 Year Old
  Today Ardbeg released their newest and oldest permanent expression to join their core range, the Ardbeg 25 Year Old which Ardbeg says proves unequivocally that age cannot tame Ardbeg’s smoky power.
   
• 21st January 2021
  Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg Committee Exclusive Bottling
  Ardbeg has announced the release date for their pirate themed Ardbeg Arrrrrrrdbeg Committee exclusive bottling which has been bottled to mark the 13 years Mickey Heads spent at the helm of the distillery.
   
• 18th January 2021
  Glen Scotia Partners With Great British Entrepreneur Awards
  The Great British Entrepreneur Awards has unveiled Glen Scotia single malt whisky as its first Entrepreneurial Spirit Partner. The partnership will see Glen Scotia sponsor the Entrepreneurial Spirit Award and Glen Scotia will also recognise and reward a business owner who has shown particular entrepreneurial spirit each month.
   
• 12th January 2021
  Sailor's Home Irish Whiskey
  Sailor's Home is a new brand of Irish whiskey which is billed as a contemporary and premium new Irish whiskey brand. It has launched with three expressions here in the UK - The Haven, The Journey and The Horizon.
   
• 12th January 2021
  Glenmorangie Company Strengthens Executive Team
  In whisky business news two senior promotions at one of Scotland’s most prestigious Scotch malt whisky companies have been announced. The Glenmorangie Company which is known for its Glenmorangie and Ardbeg whisky brands has strengthened its executive team as it looks to the future.
   
• 21st December 2020
  Jura Winter Edition Review
  Review of the new Jura Winter Edition, initially matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in hand-selected Spanish sherry casks. A cracking dram from the Jura and at a fantastic price.
   
• 17th December 2020
  Compass Box Hedonism Review
  Compass Box Hedonism isn't a new whisky but it is the first blended grain whisky to come to the market a few years back now. As always, a deliciously balanced blended grain, vanilla, coconut and spice run the show from nose to finish, ultra smooth and a very easy to drink whisky full of the subtle grain whisky character you would expect.
   
• 16th December 2020
  Kilchoman Celebrates 15 Years Of Whisky Making
  Kilchoman celebrates 15 year of whisky production at their Islay farm distillery. Kilchoman distillery on Islay went into production back in 2005, it was the first new distillery on the Isle of Islay in 124 years and almost exactly 15 year to this day, on 14th December 2005, they filled the very first Kilchoman cask at the distillery.
   
• 16th December 2020
  Douglas Laing Ends Year With 2 Big Awards & 2 Special Bottlings
  Douglas Laing ends the year with two big awards from the Spirits Business Awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Chairman Fred Laing and releases two special bottlings - the Douglas Laing XOP Black Glenrothes 1989 Single Cask and XOP Black Series Teaninich 1974 45 Year Old Single Cask.
   
• 15th December 2020
  Benromach Distillery Virtual Tour Now Open
  Benromach distillery has opened its doors to virtual visitors giving whisky enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about the whisky-making process the opportunity to tour the Speyside distillery from the comfort of their home.
   
• 11th December 2020
  Glen Moray 2006 Sauternes Cask Review
  The Glen Moray Sauternes Cask is a 14 year old cask strength dram which Glen Moray has released just in time for Christmas, it is actually the inaugural release from the distillery’s new ‘Warehouse 1 Collection’. A deliciously rich Sauternes cask matured, cask strength dram that will warm you on a Christmas night or indeed any winter's night.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 year old is the new entry level peated single malt in the revamped BenRiach range, a quality peated dram which has been matured in a combination of three types of cask - bourbon barrels, toasted virgin oak and Jamaican rum casks.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Original Ten 10 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Original Ten 10 year old is the new entry level single malt in the recently revamped BenRiach core range. A delicious unpeated BenRiach, not a huge difference in this and the BenRiach 10 year old it replaces. It is still a lovely malty, fruity and sugared introduction to BenRiach without the peat and a must try when exploring what BenRiach has to offer.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Smoky Twelve 12 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Smoky Twelve 12 Year Old is the new peated 12 year old offering in the recently revamped BenRiach core range, matured in an unconventional mix of three types of cask - bourbon, sherry and Marsala which should give the peated spirit a fruity influence.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Twelve 12 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Twelve 12 Year Old is a new unpeated 12 year old in the new look BenRiach core range, matured in a sherry rich profile with the addition of bourbon and port casks.
   
• 8th December 2020
  G & M Glencraig 1975 (Glenburgie) 125th Anniversary Edition
  Gordon & MacPhail has revealed the fourth and final whisky in their extremely rare and unique series of whiskies commemorating their 125th year in the whisky business, the Gordon & MacPhail Glencraig 1975 which was distilled in Lomond Stills, which operated within Speyside’s Glenburgie Distillery.
   
• 8th December 2020
  Bimber Re-charred Oak Casks #68 #143 and #144
  London’s Bimber Distillery has announced the upcoming release of a trio of single cask single malt whiskies drawn from the distillery’s remaining stock of re-charred oak casks.
   
• 3rd December 2020
  The GlenDronach Kingsman Edition 1989 29 Year Old Review
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• 2nd December 2020
  Jameson Distillery Dublin Named World’s Leading Distillery Tour
  Jameson Distillery Bow St. has been named the World’s Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the third year in a row. The awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence in global travel and tourism and the win further strengthens Bow St.’s position as a leader in tourism, globally.
   
• 1st December 2020
  Tamdhu's Heathrow Airport Single Cask 2855 Now Available Online
  Tamdhu Single Malt Scotch Whisky has announced that its Heathrow Airport Single Cask will be available to buy online, via the Tamdhu website.
   
• 1st December 2020
  Three New Whiskies From Skene Whisky
  Independent bottler Skene whisky release two first fill Oloroso sherry cask matured single cask single malts one from Tomatin and one from Blair Athol and a peated Islay single malt from Bunnahabhain and all at a reasonable price.
   
• 30th November 2020
  Whyte & Mackay Invites You Into The Sample Room
  A new whisky podcast from Whyte & Mackay granting exclusive access to the people, places and stories behind some of Scotland’s top distilleries has gone live, with world-renowned master distiller Richard Paterson featuring as its first guest.
   
• 26th November 2020
  Glenfiddich Challenge Stereotypes
  Glenfiddich has revealed a new campaign with award-winning actress Michelle Dockery, star of Downton Abbey, which challenges stereotypes.
   
• 25th November 2020
  Redbreast Launches Bird Feeder In Collaboration With BirdLife
  Redbreast Irish Whiskey is today launching a limited-edition copper whiskey casing that neatly transforms into a beautiful bird feeder. Following the launch of a partnership with BirdLife International earlier this year.
   
• 25th November 2020
  Bimber Distillery Unveils Two New Small Batch Single Malts
  Bimber Distillery has announced the upcoming release of two new batches from its popular range of Small Batch single malt whiskies. The Ex-bourbon Oak Casks Small Batch single malt has been crafted from a vatting of carefully selected American Oak ex-bourbon casks laid down in 2016 – Bimber’s first year of production. Batch 002 is bottled at 52.2% ABV, limited to 2950 bottles and will be available at an RRP of £65.
   
• 24th November 2020
  G & M Former Managing Director Named 2021 President Of IWSC
  Michael Urquhart, former managing director of Elgin based family-owned Scotch whisky and premium spirits specialist Gordon & MacPhail, has been named 2021 president of the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition.
   
• 19th November 2020
  Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
  Irish Distillers has once again teamed up with the Mitchell family to unveil its reimagined Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, a 7 year old, cask strength whiskey which has matured in a combination of Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Butts and Madeira Casks.
   
• 18th November 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail Director Influential in British Luxury
  I have long said Scotch Malt Whisky is an affordable luxury no matter how big your budget and one whisky creator who offers luxury whiskies to suit every budget is Elgin based Gordon & MacPhail so it was no surprise to hear that Stephen Rankin, the company’s Director of Prestige and fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail's owning family has been honoured as one of the 50 Most Influential People in British Luxury.
   
• 17th November 2020
  Ballot To Taste The New Glengoyne 50 Year Old For Free
  Glengoyne unveil their oldest whisky to date, the Glengoyne 50 Year Old. In a world where rare whiskies are often collected to gather dust, Glengoyne has announced it will be opening a bottle and sharing it FOR FREE in 2021 with the winners of their Glengoyne 50 Year Old ballot.
   
• 16th November 2020
  Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana Review
  Continuing their 20th anniversary celebrations innovative whiskymaker Compass Box has released Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana, to create it a cask strength version of The Peat Monster was further matured in three French oak custom casks for more than two years; it was then blended with malt whiskies from the Talisker, Miltonduff and Ardbeg Distilleries.
   
• 11th November 2020
  Haig Club Clubman Gets New Look For The Festive Season
  With Christmas fast approaching, Haig Club, Diageo’s Single Grain Scotch Whisky, which they created in partnership with David Beckham, has launched a new limited-edition Haig Club Clubman bottle design.
   
• 10th November 2020
  The Glenglassaugh Coastal Casks Collection
  The Glenglassaugh Coastal Cask Collection is a collection of 10 new single cask whiskies produced shortly after the distillery reopened in 2008. All 10 single cask bottlings in the collection, one peated, 9 unpeated, are naturally coloured, bottled between 51.1% - 57.9% ABV and non chill filtered, the prices range from £89 for a 10 year old cask to £99 for an 11 year old bottling.
   
• 10th November 2020
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 559 Review
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 559 is second of two UK exclusive releases in the Glenglassaugh Coastal Casks Collection. a cracking young, wee peaty Glenglassaugh, I would recommend grabbing a bottle if you can, a well made quality lightly peated bourbon cask matured whisky.
   
• 10th November 2020
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 1346 Review
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 1346 is one of two UK exclusive releases in the Glenglassaugh Coastal Casks Collection, a quality young unpeated bourbon cask matured dram, the quality of which is no doubt boosted by the bottling strength, a great example unadulterated by any wine casks of what they produce now at Glenglassaugh and a indication of good things to come.
   
• 9th November 2020
  Malt Whisky Yearbook 2021 Review
  Review of the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2021 a book which focuses on the facts & figures, history and the latest bottlings from whisky distilleries, it covers 665 malt whisky distilleries around the world and as usual with all the facts updated.
   
• 9th November 2020
  Diageo Partners With Asda For 'What's Your Whisky Experience
  Diageo partners with Asda to launch 'What’s Your Whisky' which uses artificial intelligence to help match a consumer to a whisky they will like.
   
• 6th November 2020
  Christmas Whisky Gift Ides From Glengoyne
  With Christmas now fast approaching I thought I would mention that Glengoyne has unveiled some Christmas whisky gift ideas which includes a jigsaw which features Scottish artist John Lowrie Morrison’s piece, 'Heavy Snow at Glengoyne Distillery' which will come free with a bottle of Glengoyne 18 year old.
   
• 3rd November 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail 125th Anniversary Mosstowie 1979
  Gordon & MacPhail has revealed its third commemorative whisky released to mark the company’s 125th anniversary this time it is a rare Gordon & MacPhail 1979 Mosstowie from Miltonduff Distillery this cask constitutes the independent bottler’s last remaining cask from the distillery, matured with spirit from the now-removed Lomond Stills.
   
• 3rd November 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail New Distillery To Be Named The Cairn
  Gordon & MacPhail today unveiled the name for its new distillery being built in the Cairngorms National Park. The distillery is to be named The Cairn, reflecting its stunning location overlooking the Cairngorm mountains, at the gateway to Speyside.
   

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