Whisky Focus - Whisky News Reviews Interviews Events New Releases

• 27th July 2021
  Dunphail Distillery Receives  Planning Permission
  You may recall that back in March this year the team behind London's Bimber Distillery unveiled their plans for Dunphail Distillery, a new 200,000 LA capacity craft distillery in Speyside, Scotland, which they planned to construct through the conversion of an existing farm steading. I am pleased to say that the that plans to open the new Scottish whisky distillery and visitor centre in Dunphail, south of Forres have now been approved by Moray Council.
   
• 24th July 2021
  Fettercairn Distillery Celebrates Replanting of Ancient Forest
  As part of Whyte & Mackay’s expansion of their Scottish Oak programme, Fettercairn is set to celebrate the replanting of an ancient forest and they are set to release the first Fettercairn Scottish Oak bottling in 2022.
   
• 21st July 2021
  Glenmorangie & Ardbeg Whiskies ISC and IWSC 2021 Gold Haul
  Glenmorangie and Ardbeg Scotch malt whiskies have scooped an impressive Gold Medal haul from 2021’s International Wine and Spirit Competition and the International Spirits Challenge.
   
• 20th July 2021
  Whisky Hammer Deal With Hong Kong Rare Whisky Holdings
  Online whisky auction site, Whisky Hammer, and its sister retail business Still Spirit, is poised for global expansion after selling a 49% stake of the Scottish family business to Rare Whisky Holdings, a whisky investment group managed out of Hong Kong.
   
• 19th July 2021
  Whyte & Mackay Expanding Its Scottish Oak Programme
  Scotch Whisky maker Whyte & Mackay is expanding its Scottish Oak Programme across its entire estate of distilleries, the programme seeks to establish the use of native oak as a quality raw material for the wider spirits industry and support the skills required from harvest right through to cask creation.
   
• 16th July 2021
  Talisker Rewild Tour And Challenge
  Talisker launches Rewild Tour and challenges bartenders to create a cocktail that embodies the Wild Spirit character of Talisker.
   
• 16th July 2021
  Bimber 2021 Country Collection
  Bimber unveils the their Country Collection 2021 which includes includes a line-up of 24 single cask, single malt whiskies drawn from a variety of different cask types.
   
• 15th July 2021
  MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits
  Introducing the new MacNair’s Boutique House of Spirits range which encompasses their new-look Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky, and a brand new small-batch rum line named Exploration Rum.
   
• 14th July 2021
  Spearhead Single Grain Scotch Whisky From Loch Lomond
  Introducing Spearhead Single Grain Scotch whisky, produced using 100% malted barley and a continuous Coffey style still at the Loch Lomond distillery. The spirit has then been aged in ex-bourbon barrels before finishing in a combination of fire and infrared-toasted virgin American oak barrels.
   
• 12th July 2021
  Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #2
  Following the inaugural release back in April this year comes Oxford Rye Whisky Batch #2. The English rye whisky was produced by the new small English micro distillery using ancient heritage grains, grown by the distillery’s certified organic and regenerative farming partners. These grains require no pesticides, fungicides or herbicides, supporting sustainability and biodiversity in their fields.
   
• 9th July 2021
  Jameson Black Barrel Takes Double Gold At ISC 2021
  I am sure it wont come as much of a surprise to those of you who are familiar with it, it doesn't surprise me at all that Jameson Black Barrel celebrated a Gold Outstanding and 98 points from the International Wine and Spirits Competition 2021, and an impressive Double Gold medal from the International Spirits Challenge.
   
• 7th July 2021
  Cotswolds Hearts & Crafts Pineau des Charentes Review
  Review of Cotswolds Hearts & Crafts Pineau des Charentes Cask the second release in the series, this one has been fully matured in Pineau des Charentes French oak casks, an enjoyable dram overall, a good balance of oak and fruit on the nose and mouth before the fruit is outdone by the French oak on the finish.
   
• 6th July 2021
  The Macallan Partners With Bentley Motors
  The Macallan single malt Scotch whisky has teamed up with luxury British automotive manufacturer Bentley Motors in a unique partnership that will build on their rich heritage to develop distinctive collaborations and further their vision of a more sustainable future.
   
• 5th July 2021
  Inspiring Recipes To Make It A Glen Moray Summer
  Glen Moray have teamed up with some creative food and drink specialists to inspire drinkers to ‘shake, sizzle, sweeten and share’ their Glen Moray single malt this summer. From delicious fruit-infused cocktails to sip in the garden to spicy steak sauces to sizzle on a barbecue and refreshing iced desserts for after.
   
• 2nd July 2021
  Scallywag Chocolate Edition 2021
  Just in time for World Chocolate Day on 7th July Douglas Laing has unveiled the next instalment of their big rich sherried Speyside dram, Scallywag Chocolate Edition 4.
   
• 2nd July 2021
  Do You Have A Bit Of Jameson In Your Ancestry
  If you have ever wondered if you have a historic family connection with Jameson Irish whiskey or perhaps you are aware of a connection and you would like some more detail then you are in luck as Irish Distillers, producer of Jameson as well as some of the world’s best loved Irish whiskeys, and Ancestry, the global leader in family history, are working together to share 100 years of Jameson employee records online.
   
• 1st July 2021
  Ardbeg 8 Year Old Committee Release
  Ardbeg today launched the next instalment of their Committee exclusive bottlings, this time up Ardbeg whisky fans are being treated to a youthful Ardbeg 8 Year Old expression which has been matured in ex-Sherry casks. Said to be a smokier Ardbeg, but balanced by the ex-Sherry casks it has been bottled at what must be a flavoursome 50.8% ABV.
   
• 30th June 2021
  Douglas Laing Double Barrel Gets A Rebrand
  Douglas Laing launch a rebranded Double Barrel range with two new ongoing core range expressions - Double Barrel Islay / Highland blended malt and a Douglas Laing Double Barrel Speyside / Lowland blended malt.
   
• 25th June 2021
  Irish Distillers Launch 'A Perfect Blend' Podcast
  Irish Distillers, the company behind some of the most popular Irish whiskey's such as Jameson, Powers, Paddy, Midleton, Redbreast and The Spots has launched a new podcast, ‘A Perfect Blend’.
   
• 23rd June 2021
  The Macallan Concept No. 3
  The Macallan Concept No. 3, the third and final expression in the Macallan Concept series, it is set to hit the shelves of selected key airports globally and The Macallan Airport Boutiques with a price tag of US $150 per 70cl bottle.
   
• 23rd June 2021
  The Epicurean Ruby Port Finish and Tawny Port Finish
  Douglas Laing have released a pair of limited edition single Port cask finished blended malt whiskies - The Epicurean Ruby Port Finished and The Epicurean Tawny Port Finished.
   
• 22nd June 2021
  Whyte & Mackay 3rd Largest Malt Supplier In Asia Travel Retail
  Whyte & Mackay becomes third largest Malt Whisky supplier in Asia travel retail as it showcases the power of Single Malt at TFWA Asia Pacific Hainan Special Edition. Asia has always been a key market for whisky brands and during the pandemic the Single Malt category has remained resilient in the face of mounting challenges. Malt outperformed the coveted Cognac and Blended Scotch categories in the region’s duty free market during the pandemic.
   
• 22nd June 2021
  The Gladstone Axe The Black Axe Review
  Review of The Gladstone The Black Axe Scotch Blended Malt whisky, just like The Gladstone Axe American Oak expression The Gladstone Axe The Black Axe is a blend of 14 Highland and Islay single malt whiskies, but with the Black Axe having a bigger portion of the peaty Islay whiskies in the vatting, a gentle nose but it wins you over on the palate and finish.
   
• 22nd June 2021
  The Gladstone Axe American Oak Review
  Review of The Gladstone Axe American Oak Scotch Blended Malt whisky, a blend of 14 Highland and Islay single malt whiskies aged and finished in American Oak Bourbon barrels, if you enjoy a sweet big toffee'd dram you will like this.
   
• 22nd June 2021
  Wolfcraig Distillery Announces New Stirling Location
  Wolfcraig Distillery signs new deal with Ambassador Group and announces new location at the Craigforth Campus on the outskirts of Stirling.
   
• 21st June 2021
  Scottish Whisky Distilleries Book Review
  Scottish Whisky Distilleries is a new full colour guide to Scotland’s whisky distilleries from Destinworld Publishing which is aimed at whisky fans and the many whisky tourists who visit Scotland (during normal times) each year.
   
• 16th June 2021
  Glen Moray 2005 Tokaji Finish Review
  The Glen Moray 2005 Tokaji Finish is the second release in the distillery's ‘Warehouse 1 Collection’ and the first of three whiskies they plan to release over the course of 2021 from the new look Warehouse 1 Collection. A deliciously rich sweet Glen Moray, packed full of flavour at cask strength, a great pour for the summer weather.
   
• 15th June 2021
  Glencairn Crystal Launch A New Glencairn Pipette
  Scottish crystal company, Glencairn Crystal Studio, who I am sure you will recognise as the creator of the world’s favourite whisky glass, the Glencairn Glass, has launched a new Glencairn Pipette this week for whisky-lovers to add a wee splash of water to their dram.
   
• 11th June 2021
  Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 Review
  Following its launch at on Sunday I had the pleasure of tasting the Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 bottling a 18 year old single cask, single malt matured in a single refill sherry butt.
   
• 11th June 2021
  Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2019 Review
  Review of the Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2019 release which I tasted alongside the latest Jura Fèis Ìle 2021 release. I have said it before, Jura simply gets better with age and Jura and peat for me has always made the best bedfellows and this is a stunning big peated example of that and an interesting comparison to the latest unpeated Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 release.
   
• 11th June 2021
  Jura 21 Year Old Tide Review
  Review of the Jura 21 Year Old Tide, one of a pair of 21 year old single malt whiskies from the island distillery, it is no surprise this is a little bourbon like given the casks used to mature it, some lovely sugars, caramel and almond which becomes more Turkish delight on the finish.
   
• 10th May 2021
  Glen Scotia Virtual Malts Festival 2021 Photographic Exhibition
  Glen Scotia Distillery has collaborated with Document Scotland photography collective to capture the history and heritage of Campbeltown, these images from the past and present have been unveiled in an interactive online photographic exhibition as part of the Glen Scotia Virtual Malts Festival 2021.
   
• 10th May 2021
  Imbibe Live Set To Welcome Back Drinks Industry This September
  As the UK continues to take tentative steps back to a new normality the UK’s leading drinks industry event, Imbibe Live, has announced that it will be returning to London’s Olympia this September. This year’s event, which will take place in accordance with strict standards of health and safety, will welcome visitors from across the drinks industry.
   
• 10th May 2021
  Black Tartan Batch 21 A blend of Highland & Speyside Whiskies
  Black Tartan Batch 21 is a blend of five component Scotch single malt whiskies from Highland & Speyside distilleries. The five whiskies are: Inchgower 2008; Teaninich 2008; Benrinnes 2010; Blair Athol 2012; and Tormore 2016. The vatting of the five single malts produced a total of 2,990 70cl bottles.
   
• 9th May 2021
  Ardbeg Scorch Review
  My review of the recently released 57.1% ABV Ardbeg Scorch Committee bottling, matured in heavily charred ex-bourbon American oak casks. This is all about the sweet peaty bonfire smoke which reverberates from the nose to the finish, an absolutely outstanding example of peaty Ardbeg whisky.
   
• 8th June 2021
  New Look Sustainable Packaging For Talisker 10 Year Old
  Diageo has given its classic Scotch single malt whisky Talisker 10 Year Old a sustainable packaging makeover, but don't worry they haven't changed the whisky you will find in the bottle it is still the same classic sweet malty, seaweedy, peppery, spicy, smoky dram that you will be familiar with.
   
• 7th June 2021
  X by Glenmorangie Review
  Review of X by Glenmorangie which has been made for mixing but as it turns out it is also good on its own. created using a combination of whisky aged in bourbon casks, and some finished in new char oak casks. This may have the X factor for mixing but it also has the G factor for drinking neat, unmistakably Glenmorangie, and quite a good one at that.
   
• 4th June 2021
  Old Pulteney Collaboration With SeaTrees Kelp Restoration Project
  Ahead of World Ocean Day on 8th June 2021), Old Pulteney, The Maritime Malt, has announced a collaboration with kelp restoration non-profit, SeaTrees, making a commitment to plant more than 4,000 mangrove trees globally, and restore 2,665 square-feet of kelp forest. As well as the financial donation, Old Pulteney has collaborated with Pritesh Mody of World of Zing to create a limited-edition seaweed cocktail in celebration of World Ocean Day, with 10% of sales being donated to SeaTrees.
   
• 4th June 2021
  William Grant Appoint New Global Travel Retail Managing Director
  Perhaps a sign of a brighter future ahead for travellers and the badly hit whisky travel retail sector which is a big part of William Grant & Sons business model, the company has announced the appointment of David Wilson as Managing Director Global Travel Retail.
   
• 2nd June 2021
  Official Scotland National Football Team Whiskies
  Ahead of the delayed Euro 2020 competition here is the official Scotland Football Team Whisky line-up - Bowmore 22 Year Old, Glen Elgin 20 Year Old, Scottish National Team Scotch Blended Malt Whisky and Blended Whisky.
   
• 1st June 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - Join The Virtual Festival This Thursday
  Fèis Ìle 2021 has gone virtual once again this year and this Thursday Kilchoman will be doing their best to make whisky fans feel that they are at the distillery with their 360° FÈIS ÌLE! A packed schedule of tours, tastings and live Q&As which will kick off from 12 Noon (Islay Time) this Thursday 3rd June. Pour yourself a dram and enjoy the day from the comfort of your own home.
   
• 28th May 2021
  Old Particular 'Cheers to Better Days' Mini Series
  Douglas Laing unveils Old Particular 'Cheers to Better Days' mini-series, four single cask whiskies: Bunnahabhain 12 Year Old, Linkwood 12 Year Old, Jura 12 Year Old single malts and Port Dundas 16 Year Old single grain whisky.
   
• 26th May 2021
  Brora Distillery Reopens After 38 Years
  After 38 years of silence Brora distillery has reopened and has gone back into production of what was once known as one of the peatiest Highland single malts. With a 800,000 litres of spirit each year production capacity Brora is among Diageo's smallest distilleries and I am pleased to say will be welcoming visitors in small numbers on a by-appointment basis, bookable via Brora.com from July.
   
• 26th May 2021
  Over 11,000 Sign Up For The Redbreast Dream Cask 2021 Release
  Over 11,000 Redbreast Irish whiskey fans sign up for the chance to buy 1 of 924 bottles of the latest instalment of the Redbreast Dream Cask series, the Oloroso Sherry Edition, a 29 Year Old Irish single pot still whiskey.
   
• 21st May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 30 Year Old Batch 1
  The GlenAllachie distillery has launched Batch 1 of its oldest ongoing core range expression to date, The GlenAllachie 30 Year Old. The Cask Strength sherried dram is the first in a series of annual small-batch releases at this age, which launches with only 2,000 bottles available worldwide in this first batch.
   
• 20th May 2021
  Heaven's Door Redbreast Master Blenders Edition
  Redbreast Irish single pot still whiskey has got together with Heaven’s Door Whiskey, Bob Dylan’s evolving collection of American whiskeys and the result is a limited edition 10 Year Aged Bourbon finished in Redbreast Irish pot still whiskey casks.
   
• 19th May 2021
  Jura Distillery Cask Fèis Ìle Edition 2021
  Jura unveil their Fèis Ìle Edition 2021 bottling a 18 year old single cask, single malt matured in a single refill sherry butt and this year for the first time the distillery will donate £25 from the sale of each bottle to the Jura Music Festival.
   
• 19th May 2021
  Timorous Beastie Meet the Beast Cask Strength Limited Edition
  Douglas Laing have unveiled a new limited release cask strength expression of their Highland blended malt whisky Timorous Beastie. Timorous Beastie Meet the Beast has been 100% matured in ex-American Bourbon barrels and has been bottled at a natural cask strength of 54.9% ABV which should amplify the flavour experience for fans of this sleekit, cowrin, Highland dram.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie Launch Wine Cask Finish Series
  The GlenAllachie has launched the first instalment of a new Wine Cask Finish Series, the creative work of award-winning Master Distiller, Billy Walker, the series launches with three single malts, The GlenAllachie 11 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish, 12 Year Old Sauternes Wine Cask Finish and 13 Year Old Rioja Wine Cask Finish.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 11 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish Review
  Review of The GlenAllachie 11 Year Old Grattamacco Wine Cask Finish, it was inititially matured in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, the whisky was then finished for almost another two years in certified Organic Super Tuscan barriques made of French oak from the Grattamacco winery, it is simply a delicious moreish Glenallachie.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Wine Cask Finish Review
  Review of The GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Sauternes Wine Cask Finish, inititially matured in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels, it was then finished for almost another two years in French oak casks which previously held Sauternes, a dessert wine originating from Bordeaux in South-West France. Put simply this is the quality whisky they produce at Glenallachie enhanced by all the rich deliciously sweet flavours you would enjoy in a glass of Sauternes.
   
• 18th May 2021
  The GlenAllachie 13 Year Old Rioja Wine Cask Finish Review
  Review of The GlenAllachie 13 Year Old Rioja Wine Cask Finish, inititially matured in American Oak ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in medium-toasted Spanish oak Rioja wine casks which have certainly added their influence to the whisky, it is another delicious, quality easy drinking moreish dram from the creative Master Distiller, Billy Walker.
   
• 14th May 2021
  Redbreast Dream Cask IV 29 Year Old Oloroso Sherry Edition 2021
  Redbreast unveils the next instalment in its Birdhouse members only Dream Cask series with the release of a 29 year old Redbreast Dream Cask Oloroso Sherry Edition which will be available to purchase via a ballot which goes live live from 17th to 25th May.
   
• 14th May 2021
  Naked Grouse Rebranded As Naked Malt
  Edrington rebrands Naked Grouse as Naked Malt but it is still the same sherry rich blended malt whisky in the bottle.
   
• 13th May 2021
  Kilchoman PX Sherry Cask Matured 2021 Edition Review
  Kilchoman has launched their first general ongoing PX (Pedro Ximénez) sherry cask matured single malt release, the Kilchoman PX Sherry Cask Matured 2021 Edition, it is simply a delicious balance of Kilchoman's earthy peat and PX sherry.
   
• 13th May 2021
  Bimber The Spirit of the Underground Collection
  London’s Bimber Distillery today unveiled 'The Spirit of the Underground' which will be an ongoing collection of single cask, single malt whiskies that celebrate the distillery’s home city's network of underground stations.
   
• 8th May 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - The Kilchoman DNA Tasting Pack Review
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 Kilchoman DNA pack is the first of three specially bottled tasting packs for this years virtual Kilchoman Islay Festival tastings, it contains four whiskies from the Kilchoman core range of single malts, but with a twist! Before reducing batches of their signature peated single malts of Machir Bay and Sanaig to their regular bottling strength of 46%, they have bottled them at their natural cask strength to appreciate the full power and character of their core range whisky. This pack also contains the latest edition of Loch Gorm and a preview of the yet to be released 100% Islay 11th Edition.
   
• 8th May 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - Through the Ages Tasting Pack Review
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 Kilchoman Through the Ages pack is the second of three specially bottled tasting packs for this years virtual Kilchoman Islay Festival tastings, it contains four whiskies which will take you through 15 years of Kilchoman maturation. Starting with Kilchoman's New Make Spirit before following the journey of maturation in ex-bourbon barrels through 2006, 2011 and 2016, this should be a fascinating journey giving you the and insight of how wood and time impact the final character and colour of the Kilchoman whisky over the years.
   
• 8th May 2021
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 - Experimental Casks Tasting Pack Review
  Kilchoman Fèis Ìle 2021 Kilchoman Experimental Casks pack is the third of three specially bottled tasting packs for this years virtual Kilchoman Islay Festival tastings, it contains four whiskies including Calvados Cask 356 2018, STR Cask 207 2018, Cognac Cask 737 2016.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Compass Box Artist & Glasgow Blend A Tale Of Two Cities
  The creative whisky makers at Compass Box have revamped their Great King Street Scotch blended whisky collection, namely the Artist Blend and the Glasgow Blend. They have dropped the 'Great King Street' title from the name of each of the two whiskies giving each whisky a new more individual look and feel and I am pleased to say are now presented in a 70cl bottle for just a few pound more.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Compass Box Artist Blend Review
  Review of the single malt rich Compass Box Artist Blend which is now presented in a 70cl bottle, the Artist Blend (formally Great King Street Artist’s Blend) is a tribute to the city of Edinburgh and is still a cracking very well constructed, enjoyable, easy to drink blend that could rival most single malts in its price range for quality and pleasure.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Compass Box Glasgow Blend Review
  Review of the single malt rich, peaty, Compass Box Glasgow Blend which is now presented in a 70cl bottle, conceived as a contrast to the Artist Blend, it is said to represent the bold, fearless and humorous personality of the Glaswegians. The whisky  brings a deliciously sweet, slightly earthy. peaty delivery.
   
• 7th May 2021
  Gold Rush For SMWS At San Francisco World Spirits Competition
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) have picked up another gold haul of awards at the annual San Francisco World Spirits Competition including taking home a ‘Best in show’ award along with a host of ‘Double Gold’ and ‘Gold’ awards.
   
• 6th May 2021
  The Macallan Supports Conservation Work In The River Spey
  The Macallan supports vital conservation work in the River Spey as Phase Two of The Moray Firth Tracking Project is launched by The Atlantic Salmon Trust.
   
• 4th May 2021
  Gordon & MacPhail Mr George Legacy First Edition Glen Grant 1953
  Gordon & MacPhail launch Mr George Legacy series with a rare Glen Grant 1953 67 Year Old, a first fill sherry butt matured, single cask, single malt whisky and incredibly bottled at a cask strength of 59.4% ABV.
   

See earlier Whisky News from 2020 >>>

• Whisky News 2021
   
• 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