Whisky Focus - Whisky News Archive 2019

• 13th December 2019
  Benromach 15 Named TWE Customers Whisky Of The Year 2020
  The customer knows best as Benromach 15 Year Old is named The Whisky Exchange customers Whisky of the Year 2020 the runner up was Kavalan Classic Single Malt closely followed by the Balvenie 14 Year Old Caribbean Cask, Glenallachie 12 Year Old, Lagavulin 16 Year Old and Port Askaig 8 Year Old.
   
• 11th December 2019
  Big Peat Christmas 2019 Review
  Review of the festive cask strength winter warmer from Douglas Laing, the Big Peat Christmas 2019 edition. I don't think you will ever find a more Christmassy looking bottle of whisky to give as a gift anywhere and as always it is another quality peaty dram this year.
   
• 11th December 2019
  Douglas Laing Rock Island 21 Year Old Review
  Review of Douglas Laings smoky, fruity, maritime blended malt, mature Rock Island 21 Year Old. Created using a blend of single malts distilled on the Whisky Islands of Islay, Arran, Jura and Orkney, Rock Island 21 is said to encapsulate the archetypal salty, smoky, peppery warmth that Island Whiskies are famed for.
   
• 11th December 2019
  The Best Of The Black Friday 2019 Whisky Bargains
  The latest worth getting whisky bargains, discounts and offers that you will find online from Black Friday and in the weeks that follow up until Christmas -UPDATED DAILY!
   
• 9th December 2019
  The Dalmore 60 Year Old 180th Anniversary Bottling
  To mark 180 years of creating whiskies, The Dalmore has unveiled a rare, limited edition 60 year old single malt whisky, created from two twin ex-sherry casks – the last casks of the great Mackenzie era - which were filled with spirit distilled on 7th June 1951 and have been lying in repose side by side in the Scottish Highlands.
   
• 9th December 2019
  Kilchoman & ImpEx Beverages Take The Hit On US Scotch Tariffs
  US based Kilchoman whisky fans will be pleased to hear that Kilchoman & ImpEx Beverages have announced that they will be sharing the hit from the Trump administration 25% tariffs recently imposed on the all Scotch whisky entering the US.
   
• 9th December 2019
  World's Largest Private Whisky Collection To Go Up For Auction
  The world's largest and most significant private collection of whisky ever to go to public auction has been unveiled today and is set to be auctioned off in the new year by Perthshire-based online whisky auction specialists, Whisky Auctioneer.
   
• 6th December 2019
  The Three Drinkers do Scotch Whisky Part 2 Now Streaming
  Part 2 0f the Amazon Prime show, The Three Drinkers Do Scotch Whisky is now streaming on Amazon Prime from today and features The Dalmore, Jura , Fettercairn, Glen Scotia, Loch Lomond , Glen Moray single malt whiskies as well as Firkin Gin and Master of Malt.
   
• 6th December 2019
  The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated Review
  The GlenDronach distillery which is better known for its unpeated sherry cask maturation style recently announced the release of a new peated expression, The GlenDronach Traditionally Peated. It is certainly a different GlenDronach, I suspect it isn't that old, it could have benefitted from more good sherry matured peated whisky in the mix. I would guess that it is supposed to replace the old GlenDronach Peated, it is certainly different to it but I would say this would benefit from being heavier sherried and more heavily peated, still a very enjoyable dram as it is.
   
• 6th December 2019
  Bimber Re-charred Oak Casks Review
  Review of Bimber Re-charred Oak Casks, the new English single malt whisky with generations of Polish distilling knowhow behind it. This really is rather impressive stuff for such a young whisky, still a young whisky though, time will tell how good this will get but for now this offers more than its youthful age would normally suggest, already a quite drammable whisky.
   
• 6th December 2019
  Glasgow 1770 Peated Release N0.1 Review
  Review of of the peaty, sherried 1770 Peated No.1 release from the Glasgow distillery. Burnt oak and vanilla toffee with a brown sugared dark mildly sherried fruity edge and all infused with a delicious sweet and earthy peat smoke.
   
• 3rd December 2019
  Kingsbarns Distillery Celebrates Five Year Milestone
  Kingsbarns Distillery who launched ‘Dream to Dram’ single malt, is toasting its fifth anniversary this week and the global success of its whisky to date. Opened in 2014 after the three year renovation of a derelict farm steading in the East Neuk of Fife, owners the Wemyss Family will gather their dedicated distillery team, along with friends, family and fans to celebrate the realisation of their dream to produce fine single malt in their home county.
   
• 2nd December 2019
  Irish Distillers Named IWSC World Whiskey Producer Of The Year
  Irish Distillers who produces some of the best whiskey to come out of Ireland has unsurprisingly been named World Whiskey Producer of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition.
   
• 28th November 2019
  Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch 007 Review
  Review of the new Glengoyne Teapot Dram Batch 007, this latest big sherried cask strength Teapot Dram contains the oldest selection of whiskies to date. I have had the pleasure of all 7 batches of the Teapot Dram and for me this one stands out above them all to date. There are some quality blemish free Oloroso sherry casks at play here and the addition of some slightly more mature whisky into the mix has created a stunning big sherried dram, some very talented creative blending/vatting has gone into this.
   
• 26th November 2019
  Limited Edition Black Glencairn Glass To Celebrate Black Friday
  If you are looking for a Christmas gift for a whisky drinking friend or family member or indeed even for yourself then here is something a little different, Glencairn Crystal, the folks who produce the now iconic Glencairn whisky tasting glass are marking Black Friday, 29th November, by releasing just 1,000 Black Glencairn whisky glasses.
   
• 25th November 2019
  Spirit of Speyside Top Whiskies Shortlist
  With Christmas fast approaching I thought that this would be of interest if you are looking to buy yourself something special to dram over the holiday season or perhaps buy a gift for a friend of family member, a panel of leading whisky experts has shortlisted eight Speyside single malt whiskies in the international Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards which will all now go forward for the people's vote.
   
• 25th November 2019
  Worlds Most Valuable Whisky Collection
  A Vietnamese whisky collector has been confirmed by Guinness World Records as the proud owner of the most valuable whisky collection, a collection of 535 of the world’s rarest, oldest and finest bottles of Scotch and Japanese whisky which has been valued at over £10 million.
   
• 20th November 2019
  Glen Moray To Feature In Amazon Prime Show The Three Drinkers
  The Amazon Prime show 'The Three Drinkers' is set to return to screens with a second series in December, and this year the spirits experts - known as the Three Drinkers - Helena Nicklin, Aidy Smith and Colin Hampden-White pay a visit to the Glen Moray distillery in Speyside where they filmed part of their second series earlier this year.
   
• 15th November 2019
  Gordon & MacPhail Unveil A Couple Of Unique Christmas Drams
  Just in time for the festive season Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled two new unique single malts under their Connoisseurs Choice banner, a Old Pulteney 1999 and a rarely seen independent bottling of The Glenlivet from 2004.
   
• 15th November 2019
  New Distillery Manager At The Isle Of Arran Lochranza Distillery
  Isle of Arran Distillers has announced that David Livingstone will be taking over as the new Distillery Manager at their Lochranza Distillery, with James MacTaggart moving to take on the role of Director of Production & Operations for the company's Lochranza and recently opened Lagg distilleries on the Isle of Arran.
   
• 15th November 2019
  Islay Whisky Collection Auction In Aid Of RNLI
  The Islay Sea Collection, a group of seven malt whiskies from each of Islay’s coastal distilleries presented in a one of a kind display case is set to go under the hammer in this month’s Just Whisky auction with all proceeds going to the Portrush and Islay volunteer lifeboat crews.
   
• 14th November 2019
  The Glenrothes 40 Year Old
  The Glenrothes has released its first ever 40 year old expression, distilled and filled to cask in December 1978 this rare 40 year old was distilled in copper pot stills which were retired soon after. Maturation in a combination of sherry seasoned and ex bourbon oak casks it is described as  being exquisitely resinous and rich in sweetness with a spicy edge and naturally deep ruby colour.
   
• 12th November 2019
  Just Whisky Valuation Roadshow & Guide To Fake Whisky
  The Just Whisky valuation roadshow is heading to Glasgow, Aberlour and Islay this month where they will also be advising you how to spot a fake whisky at the free to attend events.
   
• 6th November 2019
  Rare Buffalo Trace Whiskey Auction Raises £1,670 for Charity
  A rare Buffalo Trace Sixth Millionth Barrel Bottle surpassed expectations in a recent Just Whisky charity auction in aid of the Scottish charity, Breast Friends & Family, which saw the rare bourbon whiskey raise £1,670 for the charity.
   
• 1st November 2019
  Scottish Artist Brings The BenRiach Flavour Journey To Life
  BenRiach has teamed up with Ellis O’Connor, an award winning contemporary landscape artist from Dundee to bring its sensory palette to life through a series of abstract paintings inspired by the Speyside distillery’s landscape, architecture and kaleidoscope of flavour.
   
• 1st November 2019
  Woodford Reserve Brings Flavour To Old Fashioned Week Events
  Enjoy a Woodford Reserve Old Fashioned cocktail during Old Fashioned Week, the American Bourbon whiskey has partnered with 285 bars nationwide from London, Manchester, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Bristol and Cardiff.
   
• 1st November 2019
  5 New Glen Moray Old Fashioned Recipes For Old Fashioned Week
  In the spirit of Old Fashioned Week, which celebrates the classic whisky cocktail, here are five Glen Moray Old Fashioned cocktail recipes created by Neil Ridley and Joel Harrison of World’s Best Spirits plus a couple of recipes of my own.
   
• 1st November 2019
  Timorous Beastie 16 Year Old The Winter Edition
  With Christmas now firmly on the horizon the folks at Douglas Laing have announced a forthcoming festive themed release - Timorous Beastie 16 Year Old The Winter Edition.
   
• 1st November 2019
  The Clydeside Distillery Named Distillery Visitor Centre Of The Year
  The Scottish Field Whisky Challenge Awards 2019 has awarded the Clydeside Distillery a Gold for Distillery Visitor Centre of the Year. The distillery only opened in 2017 but it has welcomed 1000's of visitors in that time which is testament to the quality of visitor experience it offers.
   
• 31st October 2019
  Dr Kirstie McCallum Glen Moray's Head Of Whisky Creation
  Glen Moray has named Dr Kirstie McCallum as their Head of Whisky Creation, Kirstie joins the Speyside distillery from her role as Senior Blender for the Bunnahabhain, Deanston, Tobermory and Ledaig single malt whisky brands.
   
• 30th October 2019
  Balblair Lifts Off Out Of Europe With Le Clos
  International Beverage has achieved a landmark listing for its single malt Scotch whisky brand Balblair, with Le Clos the prestigious fine wine and luxury spirits retailer. Le Clos is recognised for bringing rare and desirable products to market for its international clientele at the world’s busiest international airport, Dubai International, and Balblair is now part of its world-class portfolio.
   
• 30th October 2019
  Smokehead Set To Unveil Customised Ducati 'The Smoker'
  You may recall in February this year Smokehead Islay Single Malt Whisky teamed up with Tyler Lunceford in a project to build a one-of-a-kind, customised Ducati, inspired by vintage motorcycles, well the time has now come to reveal the customised Ducati bike which they have christened ‘The Smoker’.
   
• 30th October 2019
  The Single Malt Fund Targets UK Investors
  The Single Malt Fund, the world’s first regulated and publicly listed single malt whisky fund which is listed on the Nordic Growth Market exchange in Stockholm, Sweden and has been operational for six months is now targeting investors here in the UK.
   
• 29th October 2019
  Glen Moray 21 Year Old Portwood Finish Review
  Review of the new Glen Moray 21 Year Old Portwood Finish which now sits at the top of the Speyside distillery's Heritage Collection range. The fruit element imparted by the port cask over its 2 year finish has made the deliciously smooth, clean, mature Glen Moray bourbon cask matured spirit a deliciously, juicy pleasure.
   
• 26th October 2019
  Kilchoman 2010 Vintage Review
  The Kilchoman 2010 Vintage, a 9 year old whisky and similar to last years vintage release a vatting of fresh bourbon barrels and a few Oloroso sherry butts. To put it simply, this is an outstanding expression of the Kilchoman, I am pleased they repeated last years recipe for the Vintage release and kept a few sherry casks in the vatting, a stunning and very enjoyable vintage expression of the Kilchoman.
   
• 25th October 2019
  Glen Scotia 45 Year Old
  One of Campbeltown’s three surviving distilleries, Glen Scotia, has released an exceptionally rare limited release single malt, in fact its oldest expression to date, a Glen Scotia 45 Year Old which has matured in refill Bourbon casks for around 37 years then finished for around 8 years in a first-fill bourbon cask.
   
• 25th October 2019
  OBE For Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr Jim Beveridge
  Johnnie Walker Master Blender, Dr Jim Beveridge, received an OBE from Her Majesty The Queen today in recognition of his outstanding service to the Scotch Whisky industry throughout his 40 year career with Diageo.
   
• 24th October 2019
  Douglas Laing Acquires Strathearn Distillery
  Douglas Laing, the family owned and run Glasgow based Scotch whisky firm announced today that they have taken ownership of the one of Scotland's smallest distillery's, the Strathearn Distillery located just west of Methven near Perth.
   
• 24th October 2019
  Jura 21 Year Old Time Travel Retail Exclusive Review
  Review of the Jura 21 Year Old Time travel retail exclusive whisky, matured for 21 years in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels, then enhanced with a smoky finish in ex-peated malt casks which has created a lovely balanced mix of gentle peat smoke and Jura's delicate light, citrus and grassy notes.
   
• 17th October 2019
  Whisky Bible 2020
  The just launched Whisky Bible 2020 has named the lesser known '1792 Full Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon' as Jim's 'World Whisky Of The Year', in fact Jim has given the top three slots to American whiskey's this year.
   
• 17th October 2019
  Diageo Special Releases 2019
  Diageo has unveiled its Special Releases 2019 line-up, eight cask strength, single malt, Scotch whiskies launched under a 'Rare By Nature' theme. The eight whiskies originate from the Cardhu, Cragganmore, Dalwhinnie, Lagavulin, Mortlach, Pittyvaich, Talisker and Glen Ord distillery's.
   
• 17th October 2019
  Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1956 Mr George Centenary Edition
  Gordon & MacPhail honours one of their company's and single malts innovative and creative founding fathers with the release of a whisky bearing his name, Glen Grant 1956 62 Year Old Mr George Centenary Edition.
   
• 17th October 2019
  Buffalo Trace Sixth Millionth Barrel Bottle Charity Auction
  Just Whisky auction are auctioning off a rare Buffalo Trace Sixth Millionth Barrel Bottle in aid of UK charity, Breast Friends and Family, biding is now open on the bottle and will take place up until Sunday 20th October so if you fancy grabbing a unique bottle of this American bourbon and helping a good cause get bidding.
   
• 16th October 2019
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society To Open New Glasgow Venue
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has announced that they will be opening a new venue in Glasgow city centre, they have unveiled plans for a new Members’ Room which will be located at 38 Bath Street, Glasgow, which is scheduled to open at the end of January 2020 but members of the Society can have a preview of the new venue at a free tasting event on 31st October.
   
• 15th October 2019
  The Glenrothes Make More Of The Halloween Edition 2019 Available
  I know I have mentioned this already but The Glenrothes has dropped me a line to let me know that even though The Glenrothes Halloween Edition 2019 sold out on the 13th October within 24 hours, due to the popularity and demand from whisky enthusiasts they will release 130 additional bottles this coming Friday 18th October from 9am BST at The Glenrothes website.
   
• 14th October 2019
  Gordon and MacPhail Announced as a Master of the Quaich
  Stephen Rankin, Director of Prestige and fourth-generation member of the family owned and run Elgin based independent whisky bottler and producer Gordon & MacPhail was announced as a Master of the Quaich at the biannual Keepers of the Quaich ceremony at Blair Castle, which recognises the outstanding commitment of those who produce or promote Scotch whisky.
   
• 14th October 2019
  New Diageo Innovation and Research Centre Opens In Menstrie
  Diageo has opened a new state-of-the-art Innovation and Research Centre at Menstrie which will focus on science, technology and innovation projects across the drinks industry supply chain.
   
• 11th October 2019
  Kininvie Works Releases Its First Three Trial Whiskies
  Kininvie Works the new experimental branch of the Speyside distillery has released three of its trial whiskies, KVSM001 Single Malt, KVSG002 Single Grain and KVSB003 a Blended whisky expression all created from different trials from Kininvie Works.
   
• 8th October 2019
  Master Blender Rachel Barrie Inducted As Keeper Of The Quaich
  Master Blender Rachel Barrie has been recognised for her contribution to the Scotch whisky industry and has been inducted as a Keeper of the Quaich at a ceremony at Blair Castle this week. The ceremony was a bit of a star studded evening as Rachel got to enjoy the celebrations with Sam Heughan, the Scottish actor (and Scotch whisky lover), who plays Jamie Fraser in the show Outlander and who himself is set to launch his own whisky brand.
   
• 7th October 2019
  Dalmore Unveils Three New Travel Retail Exclusive Whiskies
  Dalmore The Trio, The Quartet and The Quintet feature a 3-cask, 4-cask and 5-cask finish respectively and all three will be available exclusively in travel retail from July 2020.
   
• 4th October 2019
  Midleton Very Rare 2019 Review
  Review of the Midleton Very Rare 2019 the 36th edition in this renowned series of mature pot still rich Irish blended whiskey's. To mark the release Irish Distillers has launched the ‘1825 Room’, a members’ website offering exclusive content and features about Midleton Very Rare, the site will also include an exclusive online store as well as the opportunity to purchase a bottle of the very first 1984 vintage at its 1984 price.
   
• 4th October 2019
  The GlenAllachie Cask Strength 10 Year Old Batch 3
  The GlenAllachie has unveiled the third release in its Cask Strength series, The GlenAllachie’s Cask Strength 10 Year Old single malt which has been specially selected by master distiller Billy Walker, bottled at 58.2% ABV, the whisky was matured in Speyside in a combination of first-fill and second-fill American Bourbon, PX puncheon, Oloroso hogshead and virgin oak casks.
   
• 4th October 2019
  The GlenAllachie UK Exclusive Single Cask Collection
  Two years on since being bought by Billy Walker The GlenAllachie is launching a new collection of five UK exclusive single cask whiskies to mark the milestone.
   
• 4th October 2019
  The Glenrothes 13 Year Old Halloween Edition 2019
  It is a historic fact that Scotland is actually the birthplace of Halloween and to mark the spooky event this year The Glenrothes distillery are launching The Glenrothes Halloween Edition 2019, a 13 Year Old (of course) limited release of 5,000 bottles, with a theme of ‘Ghosts and Guising’.
   
• 3rd October 2019
  The Balvenie Stories Travel Retail Range
  The Balvenie has announced three new additions to its Balvenie Stories range - The Balvenie The Creation of a Classic, The Week of Peat 17 Year Old and The Second Red Rose 21 Year Old which will all be exclusively available in travel retail from June 2020.
   
• 3rd October 2019
  Scotch Whisky To Face 25% US Tariff
  Scotch whisky exports to the United States which last year were worth £1bn ($1.3bn), with Scotch single malt whiskies accounting for a 33% of that figure, are set to face a tariff of 25% from 18 October, the new duty is part of a raft of measures being imposed by the US in retaliation against EU subsidies given to aircraft maker Airbus.
   
• 2nd October 2019
  Rampur Double Cask
  Rampur Double Cask Indian single malt whisky is the latest release 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.
   
• 2nd October 2019
  Kirsteen Campbell Named New Macallan Master Whisky Maker
  A new era at The Macallan as former Famous Grouse Master Blender Kirsteen Campbell takes on the roll of The Macallan Master Whisky Maker.
   
• 1st October 2019
  Ardbeg Supernova 2019 Committee Release
  First released in 2010 and most recently in 2015, fans of this peatiest of Ardbeg expressions will be pleased to hear that the distillery has announced the launch of the Ardbeg Supernova 2019 Committee Release which will be tomorrow 2nd October and this will not be followed up by a Ardbeg Supernova 2019 lower strength general public release later in 2019.
   
• 30th September 2019
  Glenmorangie Unveils Three New Travel Retail Exclusive Whiskies
  Glenmorangie has unveiled three new travel retail exclusive age statement whiskies, The Accord 12 Year Old, The Elementa 14 Year Old and The Tribute 16 Year Old.
   
• 30th September 2019
  GlenAllachie 15 Year Old Review
  Review of the new GlenAllachie 15 Year Old which is finished for around 20 months in two types of Sherry casks – Pedro Ximenez and Oloroso puncheons and hogsheads. It shows the potential the whisky has with longer in a sherry cask, a pleasure in the mouth but short lived on the finish. Still a nice clean lightly sherried everyday easy drinker from GlenAllachie.
   
• 30th September 2019
  GlenAllachie 12 Year Old PX Sherry Wood Finish Review
  Review of the GlenAllachie 12 Year Old Pedro Ximenez Sherry Wood Finish, matured for over ten years in American Oak Wood Barrels before being finished in seasoned Pedro Ximenez Puncheons, The best of the three single malts in the new GlenAllachie wood finish range for me but like the other two I cant help but think that it could have benefitted from a little longer finishing or more lively sherry casks.
   
• 30th September 2019
  GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Port Wood Finish Review
  Review of The GlenAllachie 10 Year Old Port Wood Finish, first matured for over eight years in American oak barrels before being re-racked into vintage Ruby Port wood pipes I did enjoy this but not a huge port influence, there is enough to get a taste for it but personally I was left wanting more, I wonder what it would have been like with another 6 months or so in the port pipe.
   
• 30th September 2019
  GlenAllachie 8 Year Old Koval Rye Quarter Cask Finish Review
  Review of the GlenAllachie 8 Year Old Koval Rye Quarter Cask Wood Finish which was initially matured in American oak wood barrels and then underwent an additional maturation period in organic Rye quarter casks from Chicago’s Koval Distillery, not as spicy as billed on the initial mouthful but the spices soon gather and hang around for each mouthful which follows.
   
• 28th September 2019
  Kilchoman 100% Islay 9th Edition Review
  Review of the Kilchoman 100% Islay 9th Edition which this year sees the whisky return to its 100% bourbon cask matured formula. For your money the 100% Islay releases have been some of best whiskies that Kilchoman has turned out and this is right up there with the best of them.
   
• 27th September 2019
  Benromach 50 Year Old Single Cask
  Benromach Distillery in Speyside today unveiled one of its rarest single cask releases to date and the oldest expression in the current range – Benromach 50 Years Old Single Cask. Distilled in 1969 it is a limited release of only 125 bottles.
   
• 27th September 2019
  Glenglassaugh Nauticus 2011 Single Cask 288
  Glenglassaugh distillery has released a limited edition single cask bottling in partnership with the Nauticus, an experimental and award-winning community pub located in Leith, Edinburgh. The specially bottled Glenglassaugh Nauticus 2011 Single Cask 288 expression is being released in celebration of the award-winning Scottish bar's first anniversary.
   
• 25th September 2019
  Glen Moray Old Fashioned Whisky Cocktail
  Does it make a difference using single malt whiskies in a whisky cocktail, I explore Glen Moray and the classic Old Fashioned cocktail with the help of drinks writers Joel Harrison and Neil Ridley.
   
• 20th September 2019
  Jack Daniel's Two Original Lynchburg Saloons Resurrected
  Jack Daniel's two original Lynchburg Saloons, the White Rabbit and the Red Dog are being resurrected for London Cocktail Week and to host the final of Jack Daniel’s Tennessee Calling IV cocktail competition.
   
• 19th September 2019
  Glen Scotia & Loch Lomond To Feature On Amazon Prime Show
  Glen Scotia and Loch Lomond distilleries to feature on Amazon Prime show 'The ThreeDrinkers' as they go behind the scenes at the distilleries in Campbeltown and Alexandria and of course bringing more of their special charm and boozy banter.
   
• 18th September 2019
  GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 8
  Review of The GlenDronach Cask Strength Batch 8, a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks from Andalucía, deliciously rich and thick with Demerara sugar sweet raisins, sultanas, lovely dark chocolate orange, a light touch of vanilla, nutmeg all helped along by some warming oak spice. Another deliciously sherried cask strength dram from the GlenDronach.
   
• 17th September 2019
  The Macallan Edition No. 5
  The Macallan has released the next instalment in its popular Edition series, The Macallan Edition No. 5, a no-age statement single malt whisky which has been matured in American oak casks. Edition No.5 takes its inspiration for its bold purple colour from the casks which were combined to create the naturally coloured whisky.
   
• 17th September 2019
  Rare Balvenie Collection Up For Auction Ahead Of Brexit
  Over 80 bottles of The Balvenie Single Malt Scotch Whisky are up for grabs in Just Whisky Auctions’ September event including a full set of TUN 1401 bottles and rare releases from the Speyside distillery’s prestigious DCS Compendium series thanks to a European collector who has submitted them to auction ahead of Brexit.
   
• 17th September 2019
  Fall In Rare Whisky Investment
  According to the latest figures published by whisky analyst, broker and investment experts Rare Whisky 101 the investment performance of rare Scotch has dipped during the first six months of the year, the first such recorded half year decline.
   
• 16th September 2019
  Method and Madness Unveil 2  New Irish Single Pot Still Whiskey's
  Method and Madness has released two new experimental Irish single pot still whiskey's, both matured in a combination of ex-Bourbon and Sherry casks and one finished in Wild Cherry Wood and the other finished in Acacia Wood.
   
• 16th September 2019
  Method and Madness Irish Pot Still Wild Cherry Wood Finish Review
  Review of the Method and Madness Irish Pot Still Wild Cherry Wood Finish. The sherry influence is very light so I am guessing the sherry casks were not a big contributor, undoubtedly a pot still whiskey and a lovely fresh clean one offering a gentle touch of fresh oak perhaps its cherry wood, a little sweet coconut, vanilla and a touch of ripe pear and just a hint of pot still spice.
   
• 16th September 2019
  Method and Madness Irish Pot Still Acacia Wood Finish Review
  Review of the Method and Madness Irish Pot Still Acacia Wood Finish, An altogether richer pleasure experience than the Wild Cherry Finish, I suspect there was more sherry cask pot still in the mix with this one but with up to four years finishing in the acacia wood it has got to have had a say.
   
• 16th September 2019
  Glenfiddich Festival Experiment #3 Bigger And Better Than Ever
  Last week Glenfiddich hosted its biggest and best Festival Experiment yet which saw headline band Franz Ferdinand thrill the on-trade festival goers who were also treated to immersive entertainment and brand experiences designed to help drive forward their own ability to experiment and push the boundaries in their careers.
   
• 13th September 2019
  Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series
  The Solaria Series from independent bottler Whisky Illuminati is a series of five different Speyside region single cask, single malt, cask strength whiskies that were all distilled in 2011 and matured in First-Fill Spanish Oak Sherry casks. This is the first of 3 releases of each whisky with a further 2 releases from the same cask scheduled to be drawn and bottled over the next four years.
   
• 13th September 2019
  Aultmore 2011 Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series 1 of 3 Review
  Review of the Aultmore 2011 Cask No.900367 from the Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series, this is the first of three releases from this single cask which is worth approaching carefully to fully appreciate what this flavoursome sherried beast has to offer. Luscious dark sherried fruit leads followed by some lovely coffee, toffee, sugars and peppery spice.
   
• 13th September 2019
  Artis Secretum 2011 Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series 1 of 3 Review
  Review of the Artis Secretum 2011 Cask No.900284 from the Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series, a delicious mix of honey coated raisins and sultanas, oak spice infused chocolate orange and barley sugar sweet treacle toffee. A young Glenfarclas perhaps? And a damn good one! What does it matter really as long as it is an enjoyable dram and this is a very enjoyable dram.
   
• 13th September 2019
  Craigellachie 2011 Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series 1 of 3 Review
  Review of the Craigellachie 2011 Cask No.900328 from the Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series. Spiced orange and toffee tantalise the mouth turbo charged by the 67.9% ABV and the very slightest wee hint of spirity sulphur reminds you that this is a Craigellachie whisky.
   
• 13th September 2019
  Glentauchers 2011 Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series 1 of 3 Review
  Review of the Glentauchers 2011 Cask No.900364 from the Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series. Big thick muscular sherry leads the way with plum jam, burnt raisins, rum soaked sultanas and some zesty orange. Tamed somewhat by a drop of water which brings a lovely brown sugared honeyed sweetness to the party.
   
• 13th September 2019
  Royal Brackla 2011 Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series 1 of 3 Review
  Review of the Royal Brackla 2011 Cask No.900077 from the Whisky Illuminati Solaria Series. Sweet dark sherried fruit - raisins, sultanas and orange joust with a sweet vanilla toffee sweetness, not to be outdone the barley attempts to peak through from behind the lovely dark fruit.
   
• 5th September 2019
  Linkwood Opens Doors To A Special Guest On Her 80th Birthday
  A historic Elgin distillery, normally closed to the public, has opened its doors to a very special guest to mark her 80th birthday. Nora Fraser, who celebrated her milestone birthday yesterday, was born at Linkwood Distillery in one of the site cottages in 1939. The daughter of Henry Arthur Stephen and his wife Elizabeth, Nora grew up with her two brothers, Jim and Henry, living in the shadow of an operational whisky distillery.
   
• 4th September 2019
  Whisky Charity Auction In Aid Of Beatson Cancer
  Whisky Auctioneer are to host a very unique whisky auction of over 100 unique and rare whiskies donated by 30 different Scotch whisky distilleries in aid of the Scottish Beatson Cancer Charity.
   
• 4th September 2019
  Pernod Ricard Begins Construction Malt Whisky Distillery In China
  Pernod Ricard break ground on the site of China’s first ever Chinese Malt Whisky distillery, the first distillery from an international spirits and wine group. With a potential investment of one billion RMB (150 million USD) for the next decade, the 13-hectare distillery site will boast a state-of-the-art malt whisky distillation facility, due to begin production in 2021.
   
• 3rd September 2019
  Jura Two-One-Two #1 13 Year Old
  The Isle of Jura distillery has launched Jura Two One Two, the first edition in a annual limited release series which will step up in age with each release over the next 5 years. Matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels and then finished in Chinkapin Oak.
   
• 3rd September 2019
  Scientist Study How Yeast Impacts Whisky Flavours
  Heriot-Watt University and the Port of Leith Distillery study the impact of yeast on Scotch whisky flavour in lab to bottle research programme.
   
• 2nd September 2019
  Laphroaig 16 Year Old Limited Edition Amazon Exclusive
  Laphroaig 16 Year Old is a new limited edition of 11,500 bottles which will be exclusively available from Amazon and some selected retailers in the US. Fully matured in American ex-Bourbon barrels and bottled at 48% ABV it is described as being sweet with treacle and caramel followed by a long lasting, smoky, sweet finish.
   
• 2nd September 2019
  Littlemill 29 Year Old Private Cellar Collection
  Littlemill 29 Year Old is the third release in the Private Cellar Collection from Scotland's oldest licensed distillery which closed back in 1994 and was sadly destroyed by fire in 2004 and will never produce whisky again, making liquid releases such as this exceptionally rare.
   
• 2nd September 2019
  Arran New Look And Two New Whiskies
  In a move which they have titled 'A Breath of Fresh Arran' the Arran distillery has unveiled a new look for its Arran single malt whisky core range including a new logo, bottle and packaging and alongside the new look they are adding two new expressions to the range, the Arran Barrel Reserve and Arran The Bodega.
   
• 2nd September 2019
  Scientists Identify Drought Resistant Gene In Barley
  Last year, cereal crops including barley for the whisky industry were negatively impacted by the warmer drier summer - attributed to climate change gathering pace. Scientists at Heriot-Watt University, working with the Scotch Whisky Association have identified a gene responsible for drought resistance in barley which, it is believed, could help future-proof the cereals industry to increasingly dry conditions as climate change gathers pace.
   
• 29th August 2019
  Scots Pupils Smash Alcohol Awareness
  An award-winning educational theatre production on the dangers of underage drinking has delivered highly encouraging results in transforming young Scots’ attitudes towards alcohol.
   
• 22nd August 2019
  Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Review
  An award-winning educational theatre production on the dangers of underage drinking has delivered highly encouraging results in transforming young Scots’ attitudes towards alcohol.
   
• 20th August 2019
  Johnnie Walker A Song Of Ice And A Song Of Fire
  Johnnie Walker continues its collaboration with the cult HBO TV show Game of Thrones with the forthcoming release of two new blended whiskies, Johnnie Walker A Song of Ice and Johnnie Walker A Song of Fire.
   
• 19th August 2019
  Highland Park Valfather
  Highland Park announce the release of the peatiest expression of whisky they have ever released to date, the third and final expression in the Viking Legend series, Highland Park Valfather.
   
• 19th August 2019
  Douglas Laing Donates £10,000 To The RAF Benevolent Fund
  Douglas Laing continued its generous support of the RAF Benevolent Fund by handing over a cheque for £10,000 at the Universities of Glasgow and Strathclyde Air Squadron last week, the generous donation came from sales of a special Big Peat ‘The RAF Edition’.
   
• 16th August 2019
  Brora 40 Year Old 200th Anniversary Edition
  A year ahead of the Brora distillery reopening Diageo has released a limited edition Brora 40 Year Old 200th Anniversary Edition Single Malt whisky which they have bottled to commemorate two centuries since distilling began in the now iconic distillery.
   
• 16th August 2019
  Lagavulin 10 Year Old Travel Retail Exclusive
  Here is one for the Lagavulin fans amongst you to look out for on your travels, Diageo has released a Lagavulin 10 Year Old expression, a new single malt that will be available exclusively at Dufry duty-free stores in selected airports across the world.
   
• 16th August 2019
  The SMWS Edinburgh Fringe Festival Events 2019
  If you will be lucky enough to be in Edinburgh during the Fringe Festival this August then you may enjoy checking out The Scotch Malt Whisky Society's whisky events taking place throughout the month.
   
• 15th August 2019
  Whyte & Mackay Whisky Portfolio Strikes Gold At  IWSC & ISC 2019
  Whyte & Mackay is toasting the success of its whisky portfolio this week after landing fifteen Gold and Gold Outstanding awards at this year’s International Wine and Spirit Competition. Leading the way in their gold medal haul was their Highland Single Malt Whisky, The Dalmore, scooping four Gold Outstanding awards and three Gold awards.
   
• 15th August 2019
  Rare Macallan 72 Year Old Up For Grabs In Just Whisky Auction
  There are more than a few rare whisky gems which most of us could only dream of owning never mind tasting up for grabs in the this months Just Whisky auction which end this Sunday. A few rare highlights this month if your pockets are deep enough are a collection of Pappy Van Winkles bottles including the 20 Year Old Family Reserve. You will also find a Macallan 50 Year Old, Chichibu Intergalactic Series editions 1 and 2 and Karuizawa 38 Years Old Pearl Geisha.
   
• 14th August 2019
  Leven Named Diageo’s Top Performing Manufacturing Site
  Scottish Trade Minister Ivan McKee visits Diageo's Leven packaging plant to present them with with the company's top global manufacturing award. Amongst other Diageo produced spirits a number of Scotch Whisky brands are packaged at Leven, including the single malt brands such as Lagavulin, Oban, Talisker and Singleton.
   
• 12th August 2019
  GlenDronach 1995 Cask No.3040 23 Year Old Review
  Review of the GlenDronach 1995 Cask No.3040 23 Year Old, fully matured for 23 years in a Pedro Ximenez Sherry Puncheon. Another very enjoyable sherried dram from the GlenDronach, with delicious dark sherried fruit and some dark Muscovado sugar sweet toffee.
   
• 12th August 2019
  GlenDronach 1993 Cask No.416 25 Year Old Review
  Review of the GlenDronach 1993 Cask No.416 25 Year Old, matured for 25 years in a Oloroso Sherry Butt it is a lovely big sherried GlenDronach, not a huge sherry bomb but it really is a mature sherried pleasure on the palate and the long finish simply extends that pleasure.
   
• 12th August 2019
  GlenDronach 1992 Cask No.5896 26 Year Old Review
  Review of the GlenDronach 1992 Cask No.5896 26 Year Old, matured for 26 years in a Port Pipe it has has notes of orange and raisin infused vanilla toffee which are joined by some sugared almonds, a deliciously moreish example of a port cask matured single malt.
   
• 9th August 2019
  The SMWS Old Fashioned IPA Cask Matured Blended Malt
  Calling all whisky chasers, The SMWS have a special membership offer, membership to the Scotch Malt Whisky Society plus a bottle of their new release Old Fashioned, the Society’s first beer-matured blended malt.
   
• 9th August 2019
  Cotswolds English Single Malt Scoops More Global Awards
  Cotswolds English Single Malt whisky continues to impress by scooping gold medals at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) and the Great Taste Awards.
   
• 9th August 2019
  The Glenfiddich Festival Experiment #3
  Calling all bartenders, back by popular demand, The Glenfiddich Festival Experiment #3 is returning once again to say thank you to the nation’s bartenders. The UK’s largest festival for the on-trade community will see Glenfiddich open its distillery doors to more than 1,200 members of the hospitality industry from the UK, and for the first time, to international attendees.
   
• 9th August 2019
  Redbreast Takes World Whisky Trophy At IWSC 2019
  Not that it really needs another medal to indicate its quality but the Redbreast 12 Year Old single pot still Irish whiskey has taken home the World Whisky Trophy at the prestigious International Wine and Spirit Competition 2019 which is one of the world’s most influential spirits competitions, now in it’s 50th year.
   
• 8th August 2019
  Glen Moray Rhum Agricole Cask Finish Project
  Glen Moray Rhum Agricole Cask Finish Project is the second release in the Elgin Curiosity series, described as having dominant flavours of treacle toffee, burnt sugar and sweet vanilla, this is a UK exclusive release.
   
• 8th August 2019
  Gordon & MacPhail 2019 Summer Collection
  Gordon & MacPhail has unveiled its 2019 Summer Collection, 25 whiskies in total including some of the oldest ever whisky releases from two rarely seen silent distilleries, bottled as part of its ‘Private Collection’ range is the Gordon & MacPhail Dallas Dhu 1969 which is joined by a Gordon & MacPhail St. Magdalene 1982 38 year old single malt.
   
• 8th August 2019
  Mey Selections Glen Ord Single Cask Release
  Mey Selections' is a selection of traditional, quality Scottish products which was established in 2005 with the support of His Royal Highness Prince Charles, the reason I mention it here is that it has just launched its first whisky, the Mey Selections Glen Ord 12 Year Old Single Cask whisky which will see a donation from every bottle sold going to support rural communities in the far north of Scotland.
   
• 7th August 2019
  Dr Bill Lumsden Named Master Distiller of the Year
  Glenmorangie and Ardbeg whisky creator Dr Bill Lumsden has been named ‘Master Distiller of the Year’ and to mark the award he has selected two single cask whisky's, Glenmorangie Cask 388 and Ardbeg Cask 5824.
   
• 7th August 2019
  Ardbeg An Oa Named Best Islay Malt At IWC 2019
  Ardbeg's latest permanent addition wins three classes as Ardbeg scoops ‘Distillery of the Year’ at the International Whisky Competition 2019.
   
• 7th August 2019
  Monkey Shoulder Announces Brand Ambassador to Scotland
  William Grant & Sons UK has confirmed that co-owner of Kin Edinburgh, Jody Buchan, has taken on the role of first ever Monkey Shoulder Brand Ambassador to Scotland and the North. Look out for him this month at the Edinburgh Fringe in the Monkey Shoulder mixer truck.
   
• 6th August 2019
  Glenmorangie Distillery To Cut Carbon Emissions By 30%
  Glenmorangie is to cut carbon emissions at its Highland Distillery by 30%, as it moves another step closer to its vision of becoming a fully sustainable business. The single malt whisky has consistently innovated in recent years to minimise its impact on the environment. Now it becomes one of the first in Scotland to use a ‘virtual gas pipeline’ to supply its Distillery.
   
• 6th August 2019
  Whisky Tips From The SMWS To Savour This Summer
  As the temperature soars this summer here in the UK, but unfortunately accompanied by some torrential down pours of rain since August many whisky drinkers turn away from whisky in favour of a cold refreshing tipple so I thought that you may be interested in a few suggestions from folks from The Scotch Malt Whisky Society around the globe which you can serve up as a refreshing summertime dram.
   
• 6th August 2019
  Glencairn Crystal Celebrates 15 Consecutive Years Of Global Growth
  The Glencairn Crystal company which now sells 65,000 Glencairn glasses every week has announced that they have experienced 15 consecutive years of global growth.
   
• 6th August 2019
  Holyrood Distillery Now Open For Visitors
  The new Holyrood Distillery in the centre of Edinburgh has opened its doors to visitors and is now taking bookings for its daily guided distillery tours, a somewhat historic occasion for Scotland's capital and the whisky industry, as there hasn’t been an operational single malt distillery in central Edinburgh since 1925.
   
• 6th August 2019
  Macallan 50 Year Old Millennium Decanter Sets UK Auction Record
  Following an extended nail biting finish to Just Whisky’s July auction, The Macallan 50 Year Old 1949 Millennium Decanter set a new UK auction record by achieving a 270 per cent increase on the bottle which was sold at auction in November 2015.
   
• 2nd August 2019
  GlenDronach Single Cask Batch 17
  The GlenDronach Distillery has unveiled the next instalment in its popular cask strength single cask series, the GlenDronach Single Cask Batch 17 is a batch of 14 single cask whiskies ranging from 12 to 28 years old, and distilled between 1990 and 2007.
   
• 10th July 2019
  Jameson Triple Triple
  Jameson Triple Triple is a new travel retail exclusive whiskey which has been triple distilled and blended from a combination of ex-bourbon, sherry and fortified wine casks from Malaga.
   
• 10th July 2019
  Loch Lomond Three Wood Matured 25 Year Old
  Loch Lomond Whiskies, The Official Spirit of The Open, has release 25 Year Old single triple cask matured single malt Scotch whisky in association with Scottish golfer Colin Montgomerie.
   
• 5th July 2019
  The GlenAllachie Wood Finish Range
  The GlenAllachie Distillery has announced that it is extending its range of whiskies with the launch of its first-ever range of limited edition wood finishes which comprises of the GlenAllachie 8 year old Koval Rye Quarter Cask Wood Finish; 10 year old Port Wood Finish; and 12 year old Pedro Ximenez Sherry Wood Finish.
   
• 5th July 2019
  Scallywag The Chocolate Edition #2 Vintage 2009
  Here is one for those of you that like to pair a sherried dram with some chocolate, Douglas Laing has announced the release of Scallywag The Chocolate Edition #2 blended malt whisky and just in time for World Chocolate Day on the 7th of July.
   
• 4th July 2019
  Lightning Strike Blamed For Jim Beam Warehouse Fire
  A massive fire that destroyed a Kentucky Jim Beam bourbon warehouse containing some 45,000 barrels of whiskey on Wednesday may have been caused by a lightning strike.
   
• 4th July 2019
  Douglas Laing Announces Two New Rock Island Blended Malts
  Douglas Laing has revealed two new blended malt whiskies under their Rock Island brand, the first is Rock Island 21 Year Old which is a limited release expression and the second is Rock Island 10 Year Old which is a permanent addition to the Rock Island range and will be a continually available offering.
   
• 4th July 2019
  Talisker Bodega Series 41 Year Old
  Diageo has unveiled a Talisker 41 Year Old expression as the second release in its Talisker Bodega Series. The oldest official bottling of Talisker to have ever been released, a limited release of 2,000 bottles which has been finished in six Manzanilla casks which were sourced from Spain's Bodega Delgado Zuleta.
   
• 4th July 2019
  Inverhouse Reports Rise In Profits Led By Single Malts
  Inver House Distillers, the Scotch Whisky subsidiary of global drinks business International Beverage Holdings Ltd which owns the Old Pulteney, Balblair, anCnoc and Speyburn single malts has reported a sales increase of 7.4% for the year to September 2018. This reflects a period of significant growth for its core brands, with sales of Inver House Single Malts growing by over 12% in the year.
   
• 3rd July 2019
  The Secret Speyside Collection From Chivas Brothers
  Chivas Brothers has released its biggest Single Malt collection to date with the launch of fifteen Scotch Single Malt whiskies aged between 18 - 30 year old from four seldom-seen Speyside distilleries - Longmorn, Caperdonich, Braes of Glenlivet and Glen Keith.
   
• 3rd July 2019
  Johnnie Walker Black Label Origin Series
  Johnnie Walker Black Label Origin Series is a travel retail limited edition collection of 4 new Johnnie Walker 12 Year Old Black label expressions, 3 blended malt whiskies and 1 blended whisky each of which representing one of the four main whisky regions of Scotland.
   
• 3rd July 2019
  Distell No Age Statement Whiskies Impress At Singapore Comp
  Distell’s Bunnahabhain and Deanston No Age Statement whiskies triumph at the inaugural Singapore World Spirits Competition with Bunnahabhain Toiteach A' Dhà and Deanston Virgin Oak received Double Gold and Bunnahabhain Stiùireadair collected Silver from the judges.
   
• 3rd July 2019
  Lagg Distillery On The Isle of Arran Now Open To The Public
  The new Lagg Distillery located on the south side of the Isle of Arran has officially opened its doors to the public and is now welcoming visitors. The state of the art building is said to focus on the visitor experience.
   
• 2nd July 2019
  MacNair's Lum Reek Peated Review
  MacNair's Lum Reek Peated is the no age statement entry whisky in the Lum Reek range, a peated blended malt Scotch whisky which has been created by folks behind the GlenAllachie distillery, namely Master Distiller Billy Walker.
   
• 2nd July 2019
  MacNair's Lum Reek Peated 12 Year Old Review
  MacNair's Lum Reek Peated 12 Year Old s a combination of whiskies from first fill Bourbon, Red Wine and Pedro Ximenez casks which were blended together to produce it A little peatier than expected on the palate after nosing it but the peat doesn't hang around for long on the finish.
   
• 2nd July 2019
  MacNair's Lum Reek Peated 21 Year Old Review
  Sitting at the top of the Lum Reek blended malt whisky range is MacNair's Lum Reek Peated 21 Year Old, a blend of some undisclosed Islay and Speyside peated malts combined with GlenAllachie as you would expect as it is from the folks behind the GlenAllachie distillery.
   
• 1st July 2019
  BenRiach 2009 Cask No. 6095 9 Year Old Review
  Review of the BenRiach 2009 Cask No. 6095 9 Year Old Virgin Oak Cask Matured single cask whisky. A young and simply delicious sweet malt whisky candied expression from the BenRiach and an outstanding example of how good a combination of quality spirit and a good virgin oak cask can turn out.
   
• 1st July 2019
  BenRiach 2005 Cask No. 3791 14 Year Old Review
  Review of the BenRiach 2005 Cask No. 3791 14 Year Old Port Pipe matured single cask whisky, a delicious peated port pipe matured dram that you would be hard pushed to better, I will be seeking out more of this for myself.
   
• 1st July 2019
  BenRiach 1993 Cask No. 7881 25 Year Old Review
  Review of the BenRiach 1993 Cask No. 7881 25 Year Old Rioja Hogshead Cask matured single cask whisky, matured in a Rioja cask, it offers a good balance of bitter/sweet.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Distell Unveil Limited Release Malt Collection 2019
  Distell, owner of Bunnahabhain, Deanston and Tobermory/Ledaig distilleries has unveiled its second batch of annual releases and this year the line up features three unique expressions from Bunnahabhain, three from Deanston and one each from Tobermory and Ledaig.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Bunnahabhain 2007 Port Pipe Finish Review
  Review of the Bunnahabhain 2007 11 Year Old Port Pipe Finish Distell Limited Release 2019 Malt Whisky Collection, initially matured in whisky refill hogshead casks and then filled into port pipes in 2016 for a final 2 years of maturation. Deliciously moreish is how I would best describe this Bunna, the final two years maturation has certainly had a big say in how this Bunna has turned out.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Bunnahabhain 2007 French Brandy Finish Review
  Review of the Bunnahabhain 2007 11 Year Old French Brandy Finish Distell Limited Release 2019 Malt Whisky Collection, initially filled into whisky refill casks then finished for 2.5 years in French brandy butts. The brandy cask has certainly added a fruity element to this Bunnahabhain, it is a quality dram which has a lovely nose which is worth taking time to savour.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Bunnahabhain 1988 Marsala Finish Review
  Review of the Bunnahabhain 1988 31 Year Old which sits at the top of the trio of Bunnahabhain releases in Distell's Limited Release Malt Whisky Collection 2019. The addition of the Marsala fruit to the mature fruity Bunnahabhain spirit has made this a pleasure from nose to finish.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Deanston 2002 Organic Oloroso Finish Review
  Review of the Deanston 2002 16 Year Old Organic Oloroso Finish, matured in rechared organic ex-Bourbon casks for 14 years then finished for 2 final years in organic Oloroso sherry casks. This really is a delicious sherried dram that wouldn't be out of place on a cold winters night but will be equally enjoyable anytime.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Deanston 1997 Palo Cortado Finish Review
  Review of the Deanston 1997 21 Year Old Palo Cortado Finish Distell, which was initially matured for 19 years in ex-Bourbon casks and then transferred into Palo Cortado hogsheads for a final 2 years maturation. Another delicious Deanston sherried dram. It isn't often we see Palo Cortado sherry casks used to mature or finish a whisky, it is very Oloroso sherry like and the casks used here have been very high quality.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Deanston 2006 Fino Finish Review
  Review of the Deanston 2006 12 Year Old Fino Finish Distell, initially matured in bourbon casks for 9 and a half years, then transferred to Fino sherry casks for a further 2 and a half years. I particularly enjoyed this one and I would say quality for price this is the the bargain buy from this years Distell Malt Collection.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Tobermory 1999 Marsala Finish Review
  Review of the Tobermory 1999 19 Year Old Marsala Finish, initially filled into whisky refill hogsheads in December 1999 followed by just over 2 years finishing in Marsala casks. It has a lovely orange note from nose to finish which starts sweet and gets spicier. It certainly shows how good Tobermory can be with more years in the cask.
   
• 27th June 2019
  Ledaig 1997 Manzanilla Finish Review
  Review of the Ledaig 1997 22 Year Old Manzanilla Finish Distell, matured in whisky refill hogsheads then finished in Manzanilla hogsheads for just over 2 years. A sweet peaty delight and so smooth even at a cask strength of 58.9% ABV. A very high quality peaty dram, such a pity they only released this one Ledaig whisky in this 2019 Malt Whisky Collection.
   
• 26th June 2019
  BenRiach Single Cask Batch 16
  BenRiach today unveiled Batch 16 in its popular series of single cask bottlings, this latest batch includes 16 unpeated and 8 peated cask bottlings aged from 7 to 33 years which have matured in a selection of cask types sourced from around the world. As usual do not hang around if you want to get hold of a particular bottle as these usually sell quickly.
   
• 25th June 2019
  Cameron Attfield Crowned World Class GB Bartender of the Year
  Following a challenging finale which took place at Taste of London last week, Cameron Attfield of Disrepute, London has been crowned Diageo Reserve’s World Class GB Bartender of the Year 2019. Cameron now goes on to represent GB in the global final in Glasgow.
   
• 19th June 2019
  Glenfiddich Unveils New Look For It Flagship Range
  Glenfiddich has just unveiled a new look for it flagship 12 and 15 Year Old expressions but don't worry it will still be the same Glenfiddich 12 and 15 Year Old which you will find in the new look bottles. The new packaging will be rolled out here in the UK and in the US from yesterday, 18th June 2019, with the Glenfiddich Small Batch 18 Year Old following suit in 2020.
   
• 18th June 2019
  Ardbeg Masters Of Smoke Bartender Education Programme
  Ardbeg is set to share the power of smoke with a new Ardbeg Masters of Smoke training programme for bartenders, their mission is to spread the word about the 'delicious possibilities' of smoke, through the new programme. So if you are a bartender sign up for free today.
   
• 18th June 2019
  Ardbeg Masters Of Smoke Bartender Education Programme
  Ardbeg is set to share the power of smoke with a new Ardbeg Masters of Smoke training programme for bartenders, their mission is to spread the word about the 'delicious possibilities' of smoke, through the new programme. So if you are a bartender sign up for free today.
   
• 17th June 2019
  Glen Scotia Rum Cask Finish Campbeltown Malts Festival 2019
  The Glen Scotia 2003 Rum Cask Finish is a new limited edition single malt from the Glen Scotia distillery which they released to mark its Campbeltown Malts Festival 2019 programme.
   
• 17th June 2019
  Smokehead Folk Music Session At The Black Cat In Edinburgh
  Just a quick heads up for those of you who will be in or around Edinburgh this Thursday, Smokehead Islay Single Malt Whisky will be throwing a one-off night that’s not for everyone at The Black Cat in Edinburgh. A high voltage folk music session which will kick off 9:30pm on Thursday, June 20th as well as a fiery show from Beltane organiser Lasadh at 10pm. Smokehead serves will be on offer throughout the night.
   
• 14th June 2019
  The GlenDronach Port Wood Review
  Review of The GlenDronach Port Wood, matured in the distillery’s signature Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks for 7 years, this was then followed by a second maturation period of 3 years in port pipes.
   
• 13th June 2019
  Douglas Laing Unveils XOP The Black Series
  Douglas Laing today unveiled a brand extension to its Xtra Old Particular Single Cask Scotch Whisky range: XOP The Black Series which launches with an ex-Sherry hogshead, distilled at the Springbank Distillery in 1994.
   
• 13th June 2019
  Tamdhu Sherried Single Malts Make It A Double
  Tamdhu, the exclusively sherry cask matured Speyside single malt whisky has made it a double after clinching two top industry accolades in The Scotch Whisky Masters 2019. Tamdhu 15 Year Old and Tamdhu Batch Strength 004 each picked up top awards in their categories.
   
• 12th June 2019
  The Singleton’s ‘Supper With A Side of Humour’
  Over the next couple of weeks Diageo Reserve’s Single Malt Whisky, The Singleton, will be hosting a series of supper clubs, designed to bring fun, humility and a sense of humour to the world of whisky cocktails and gourmet dining. The supper clubs with take place at Hackney Coffee Company in East London and will feature The Singleton of Dufftown whisky.
   
• 12th June 2019
  Benromach Distillery Father’s Day Competition
  Benromach distillery has launched a Father's Day campaign which offers one whisky fan and their guest the opportunity to win an exclusive experience at the distillery in Forres.
   
• 11th June 2019
  Production Begins At Roe & Co Distillery
  Diageo has announced that their conversion of the old Guinness Power House site at St James’s Gate, Dublin is now complete and the new Roe & Co Distillery which is located in the former Guinness Power House has began production of Irish single malt spirit ahead of the doors opening to visitors later this month.
   
• 7th June 2019
  Ichiro’s Malt Card Full Deck Tasting
  Swedish whisky enthusiast Pye Palm set to host the worlds most expensive whisky tasting, a tasting of the complete Ichiro’s Malt Card Collection. The event will take palce between 1 - 3 November this year in Gothenburg, Sweden with the cost of a single ticket approaching $21,000.
   
• 7th June 2019
  Bunnahabhain Whisky Range Continues To Impress
  Bunnahabhain distillery turns out a varied and impressive range of single malt whiskies these days for us whisky lovers to enjoy and you don't need to just take my word for it as the distillery has recently picked up a host of awards including Double Gold at International Spirits Challenge 2019 for its outstanding Bunnahabhain 25 Year Old.
   
• 31st May 2019
  Glenmorangie Cask 1784 Distillery Visitor Exclusive
  Glenmorangie release the first of four distillery visitor exclusive whiskies, the Glenmorangie Cask 1784, a 16 year old American bourbon matured whisky which has been finished for 6 years in a single first-fill Pedro Ximénez sherry butt, Cask 1784.
   
• 31st May 2019
  Diageo Reserve Announce GB World Class Top 20 Finalists
  Diageo Reserve has announced its 2019 GB World Class Top 20 finalists who will be competing in June for the coveted title of GB World Class bartender of the year 2019. The winner will represent GB in the World Class Global Final hosted in Glasgow in September.
   
• 30th May 2019
  BBQ Pioneer Teams Up With Johnnie Walker Black
  If you are in or around London this week (National BBQ Week) then why not get yourself down to Berber & Q this to experience their Johnnie Walker Johnnie & Ginger; a perfect pre-dinner drink for your BBQ banquet!
   
• 29th May 2019
  Redbreast Dream Cask Pedro Ximenez Sells Out In 14 Minutes
  It seems that fans of Redbreast single pot still whiskey just cant get enough of the stuff, as the limited-edition Redbreast Dream Cask Pedro Ximénez Edition, released to mark World Whisky Day 2019, and was only released to purchase on the 27th May sold out in just 14 minutes.
   
• 24th May 2019
  Scottish Locations Floodlit with Responsible Drinking Message
  Some of Scotland’s top landmarks were illuminated last night to highlight a responsible drinking message to football fans ahead of Saturday’s William Hill Scottish Cup Final between Hearts and Celtic at Hampden Park Stadium Glasgow.
   
• 24th May 2019
  The GlenDronach Boynsmill 16 Year Old Travel Exclusive Review
  Review of the GlenDronach Boynsmill 16 Year Old travel exclusive, a combination of Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Port casks so something a little different as you would hope to find in the airport shops when you are on your travels.
   
• 24th May 2019
  Highland Park 16 Year Old Twisted Tattoo Review
  Review of the Highland Park 16 Year Old Twisted Tattoo, the Spanish Rioja wine has certainly added its twist to this Highland Park, not a big in your face twist but enough to offer us a different Highland Park.
   
• 23rd May 2019
  The Balvenie Stories Range
  The Balvenie has announced the launch of the The Balvenie Stories range, a collection of three single malt whiskies each of which are - The Balvenie The Sweet Toast of American Oak, aged 12 years, The Balvenie The Week of Peat, aged 14 years and The Balvenie A Day of Dark Barley, aged 26 years.
   
• 21st May 2019
  Redbreast Dream Cask Pedro Ximenez Edition
  Redbreast continues its Birdhouse private members only Dream Cask series with the release of a 20 year old Redbreast Dream Cask Pedro Ximenez Edition which will be available to purchase from 27th May.
   
• 21st May 2019
  Glenmorangie Backs Return Of Oysters To Europes Seas
  Following on from the successful Glenmorangie backed project to return to restore oyster reefs n the Dornoch Firth, near Glenmorangie’s Highland home they highland whisky maker is now getting behind a project which could eventually see millions of native oysters (Ostrea edulis) returned to the seas around Sweden, France, Germany, England, Wales, Ireland, the Netherlands, Belgium, Italy and Croatia, where they were wiped out by overfishing as much as a century ago.
   
• 20th May 2019
  Campbeltown The Whiskiest Place In The World
  Glen Scotia Distillery recently welcomed Michael Russell MSP as part of a new campaign to position Campbeltown as the 'Whiskiest Place in the World'. The Argyll & Bute member was presented with a unique bottling as the distillery prepared for the annual Campbeltown Malts Festival, which get underway tomorrow, Tuesday 21 May.
   
• 17th May 2019
  Caribbean Themed Ardbeg Day 2019 Celebrations In London
  Ardbeg Day tickets now on sale for the 2019 Ardbeg Day fun and celebrations in London's Regent's Park which this year has a Caribbean twist.
   
• 17th May 2019
  Glenmorangie & Ardbeg Scoop 19 Awards in WWA and SFWSC 2019
  Glenmorangie and Ardbeg single malt Scotch whiskies have between them won 19 coveted accolades at two of the most influential industry awards which are usually a good indication of which whiskies are worth adding to your must try list.
   
• 16th May 2019
  The GlenDronach 12 and Walker Slater Hip-Flask Gift Pack
  Just in time for Father's Day The GlenDronach 12 Year Old and Walker Slater created tweed dressed hip flask gift set. Ardbeg Day will mark the official release of Ardbeg Drum – a bottling imbued with the ultimate influence of carnival spirit, rum.
   
• 16th May 2019
  Cotswolds Whisky Now Available At 700 Greene King Pubs
  If you haven't yet tried Cotswolds single malt whisky then I suggest you pay a visit to a Greene King pub as The Cotswolds Distillery has announced that it has secured its first major pub distribution for its Single Malt Whisky through Greene King in more than 700 of their UK pubs.
   
• 10th May 2019
  Arran Water - New Book Explores The Islands Whisky History
  Arran Water is a pioneering new book which documents the Isle of Arran’s strong affinity with whisky production. The book has just been released in celebration of the new Lagg Distillery opening this Summer.
   
• 9th May 2019
  Benromach 10 Year Old Wins 2019 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Award
  Benromach 10 Year Old has been crowned the winner in the 12 Years & Under category at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards 2019. The annual competition seeks out the best whiskies from Scotland’s most prolific whisky-producing region.
   
• 8th May 2019
  Highland Park Opens New Store In Kirkwall Orkney
  If you are planning a visit Highland Park distillery on the Orkney Islands then make a note to drop by their new Highland Park customer experience store in Kirkwall, Orkney which they opened today, Wednesday 8th May, which is International Viking Day.
   
• 2nd May 2019
  Irish Distillers Scoop 11 Double Gold Medals At SFWSC 2019
  Irish Distillers range of Irish single pot still and blended whiskey's continue to impress as they pick up their strongest ever medal haul at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2019.
   
• 2nd May 2019
  The London Whisky Weekender 2019 By The Whisky Lounge
  The London Whisky Weekender 2019 By The Whisky Lounge will take place at London’s Kia Oval on May 10th - 12th, the three day event will bring together more than 150 whiskies from around the world for festival-goers to sample. This year Amazon Primes The Three Drinkers will headline The London Whisky Weekender 2019.
   
• 29th April 2019
  Big Peat The RAF Edition In Aid Of The RAF Benevolent Fund
  Douglas Laing has released Big Peat The RAF Edition in aid of the RAF Benevolent Fund charity, the whisky maker will be donating £5 per bottle sold to the charity.
   
• 29th April 2019
  Gordon & MacPhail Coleburn 1981 Private Collection
  Gordon & MacPhail has announced its 2019 Spring Collection, unveiling a series of 21 whiskies which draws upon their unrivalled depth and breadth of knowledge which the company has gained from maturing spirit from over 100 Scottish distilleries since 1895. This latest outturn includes a 38 year old Coleburn 1981 Private Collection.
   
• 26th April 2019
  Distillation Begins At Lagg Distillery
  Distillation has began at the Lagg Distillery on the Isle of Arran where the first middle cut of spirit was recorded on Tuesday 19th March. Following this, the commissioning phase has now been completed and Lagg Cask Number One was filled with a heavily-peated 50ppm spirit on Wednesday 10th April. The new distillery is expected to open to visitors in the early summer of this year.
   
• 26th April 2019
  The Clydeside Distillery Gets 5 Star VisitScotland Tourism Rating
  The Clydeside Distillery, situated in the pumphouse building which once controlled entry into the Glasgow Queen’s Dock, in the heart of the city of Glasgow has earned itself a prestigious five star Quality Assurance award from VisitScotland, Scotland's national tourism organisation.
   
• 24th April 2019
  Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1
  Benromach Distillery has announced a new addition to its Classic Range, Benromach Cask Strength Vintage 2008 Batch 1, the new First-Fill Sherry and Bourbon cask whisky will replace the Benromach 100° Proof in the Classic Range.
   
• 24th April 2019
  Highland Whisky Festival 2019
  The inaugural Highland Whisky Festival, which will be held between the 10th - 17th May 2019, will see eight Highland distilleries coming together for the first time ever for a series of exclusive tastings, tours, and events. Each will host visitors from the world over to showcase the centuries of tradition, process, and craft of their home.
   
• 18th April 2019
  Glenmorangie Distillery Inaugural Highland Whisky Festival
  Glenmorangie distillery announces its participation in the inaugural Highland Whisky Festival which will take place from 10-17 May 2019, Glenmorangie's festival programme will include one-of-a-kind whisky experiences such as an Old and Rare Tasting, where visitors can explore a range of prized single malts, paired with locally-sourced Highland cheeses; and a Private Edition Tour, which will include sampling of three of Glenmorangie’s most unusual and innovative expressions.
   
• 18th April 2019
  Glen Moray 10 Year Old Fired Oak Picks Up World Whiskies Award
  Glen Moray has announced that Glen Moray Fired Oak 10 Year Old Single Malt Whisky, which they launched in the UK back in November 2018, has won the Speyside 12 Year Old and Under category at this year's World Whiskies Awards. Read my review of the Glen Moray 10 Fired Oak.
   
• 18th April 2019
  Glengoyne Legacy Series Wins Double Gold At SFWSC 2019
  Glengoyne is celebrating coming top at this year’s San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the Highland distillery collected a Double Gold award at the internationally acclaimed spirits awards this week for its newest global release, The Glengoyne Legacy Series: Chapter One.
   
• 18th April 2019
  Kingsbarns Distillery Toasts First Single Cask Sales Success
  Fife’s Kingsbarns Distillery is celebrating a milestone this month with news that the first of a new series of single cask malt whiskies has sold out – just weeks after its release.
   
• 18th April 2019
  Distell Scotch Single Malts Scoop 11 Awards At SFWSC 2019
  Distell's Scotch whisky portfolio impresses judges at the blind tasting 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, which saw them scoop 11 awards.
   
• 17th April 2019
  GlenDronach 1992 26 Year Old Whisky Shop Exclusive Review
  Review of The Whisky Shop exclusive GlenDronach 1992 26 Year Old and it is a stunning sherried dram. An absolutely delicious sherried pleasure from the GlenDronach which is not to be missed if your pockets are deep enough.
   
• 17th April 2019
  Big Peat 10 Year Old Review
  Review of Douglas Laing's Big Peat 10 Year Old limited edition commemorative bottling which was released to mark 10 years of the peaty Islay blended malt. At a punchy 46% strength, the 10 Year Old Whisky is described as being 'packed with sooty, smoky, leathery charm'.
   
• 17th April 2019
  The English Virgin Oak Review
  Review of The English Virgin Oak Batch No 1 whisky from the St. Georges distillery in Norfolk. Zesty orange infused vanilla leads the charge but is quickly overtaken by some lovely barley sugared oak spice with the slightest liquorice edge.
   
• 16th April 2019
  Tobermory 12 Year Old Review
  Review of the new Tobermory 12 Year Old single malt whisky from the from the Isle of Mull located distillery which replaces the now discontinued 10 year old as the signature expression of the Tobermory distillery. A very easy drinking, enjoyable sweet malty, vanilla'd whisky with a lovely orange note throughout and nice bit of added spice from the portion of virgin oak in the mix.
   
• 15th April 2019
  The SMWS 2019 Festival Tour And Whiskies
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has announced their annual whisky festival bottles for May 2019, four Islay, two Speyside and a Campbeltown expression.
   
• 15th April 2019
  Scottish Craftsmen's Association 22 Anniversary Whisky Experience
  Review of the Scottish Craftsman's Association 22nd Anniversary event and the whiskies tasted on the night by guest writer and Scotch Malt Whisky forum member, Companion of the Quaich, Murray Cohen.
   
• 15th April 2019
  Diageo Reserve 2019 World Class GB Top 100 Bartenders
  Diageo Reserve names the Top 100 bartenders who have been invited to go forward in the World Class GB Bartender of the Year competition.
   
• 11th April 2019
  Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch No. 007
  The Glengoyne Cask Strength Batch No. 007 is slightly different to previous releases in the series, it is the first to feature a small proportion of bourbon barrel matured whisky in the cask recipe so it may be an interesting one for fans of this series to see how the bourbon barrelled contribution impacts the style and flavour of the whisky.
   
• 10th April 2019
  Big Peat Pals Feis Ile 2019 Limited Edition Unveiled
  Douglas Laing has unveiled Big Peat’s Pals Limited Edition for Feis Ile2019, Islay’s Annual Festival of Malt and Music. The limited edition whisky features the faces of 400 of Big Peat’s 'pals' from all over the world.
   
• 9th April 2019
  Littlemill Confirmed As The Oldest Licensed Distillery In Scotland
  Following on from the Littlemill 40 year old released last year the Loch Lomond Group, owners of the closed and demolished Littlemill distillery which has just been confirmed as the oldest licensed whisky distillery in Scotland has unveiled a Littlemill 29 year old expression which will be released in September 2019.
   
• 9th April 2019
  Monkey Shoulder Mixing It Up In Manchester And Liverpool
  If you will be out and about in Manchester or Liverpool next week then why not let Monkey Shoulder blended Scotch whisky mix it up a little for you, check out the Monkey Shoulder menu.
   
• 8th April 2019
  Diageo Claive Vidiz Whisky Collection To Stay In Edinburgh
  World famous Claive Vidiz 3,384 bottle Scotch Whisky collection set to stay on display at the Scotch Whisky Experience in Edinburgh for another 10 years. Since going on display back in 2009 the Claive Vidiz Whisky Collection has attracted more than 1.5 million visitors and it is now set to remain a key part of the Scotch whisky tourism landscape in Edinburgh until 2029.
   
• 2nd April 2019
  Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991
  Glenmorangie today unveiled the next expression in their limited edition Bond House No. 1 vintage collection, the Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1991, a marriage of two profoundly different whiskies, one was finished in Oloroso sherry casks, the other was finished in Burgundy casks for earthy and truffle notes. Both have been brought together along with a hint of whisky aged in new toasted oak.
   
• 2nd April 2019
  Whisky Maker Distell Named Overall Distiller of the Year
  Distell has been crowned ‘Overall Distiller of the Year’ at the Icons of Whisky Awards in London on Thursday last week. The leading spirits producer who has in recent years transformed the Bunnahabhain, Deanston and Tobermory single malt whisky portfolio's continued its impressive winning streak at the World Whisky Awards later that evening with three additional awards recognising the company’s international single malt and grain brands.
   
• 2nd April 2019
  Alex Walker New National Brand Ambassador For Glenfiddich
  Independent and still family owned and run family distillers William Grant & Sons UK has named former Artesian bartender, Alex Walker, as their new National Brand Ambassador for Glenfiddich, with immediate effect.
   
• 1st April 2019
  Talisker Wild Spirit Whisky Tour And Bartender Competition
  Talisker has announced the launch of an all-new Talisker bartender training programme and competition. Set to launch today, April 1st (no joke), the ‘Wild Spirit Whisky Tour’ is a progressive evolution of the brand’s Race to Skye competition. The tour will educate bartenders on the unique history, production and characteristics of Talisker and explore Wild Spirit cocktail techniques, whilst giving the opportunity to win the ultimate Wild Spirit experience.
   
• 29th March 2019
  Cotswolds Founders Choice Takes Double Gold At SFWSC 2019
  The Cotswolds Distillery which has already established itself as a quality gin maker is also now beginning to being recognised for the quality of the single malt whisky it produces. The latest accolades to be picked up by the distillery come from the 2019 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and American Distilling Institute Awards for both the gin and whisky they produce.
   
• 29th March 2019
  Benromach's Susan Colville Voted Best Visitor Attraction Manager
  The Global Whisky Icons Awards has named Benromach Distillery's Brand Home Manager Susan Colville as their Visitor Attraction Manager of the Year.
   
• 27th March 2019
  Distell Whiskies Scoop 10 Awards in WWA 2019 Round One
  International spirits, wine and cider producer, Distell's Scotch whisky line-up has impressed the judges in the first round, at the 2019 World Whiskies Awards with its range of single malts and blended Scotch whiskies scooping 10 accolades in total between them including three category winners, three gold medals, two silver and two bronze.
   
• 25th March 2019
  Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2019 Edition Review
  Review of the exclusively Oloroso sherry matured Kilchoman Loch Gorm 2019 Edition. Just like earlier Kilchoman Loch Gorm releases, this is no sherried monster, this is a refined, lightly sherried, peaty Kilchoman and a very good one. A delicious balance of vanilla toffee and deliciously sweet mild creamy sherried peat leads the charge, followed by a little sea saltiness and some late oak spice.
   
• 21st March 2019
  BenRiach Teams Up With Scottish Menswear Designer Kestin Hare
  You may recall last year when I told you about a collaboration between The BenRiach distillery in Speyside and Scottish menswear designer Kestin Hare to promote the best that Scotland has to offer, a partnership which will celebrate the creative approaches to whisky distilling and clothing design. Well the result of the collaboration between the two innovatively creative Scottish brands, the Kestin Hare’s Spring Summer 2019 Collection, is now in-store and available to purchase.
   
• 15th March 2019
  World Class Bartender Competition 2019 Open For Entries In UK
  Diageo Reserve’s prestigious bartender competition, World Class, is now open for entries in the UK. This year, the competition returns with a more streamlined entry process, promising to be easier than ever for bartenders to get involved.
   
• 12th March 2019
  The Glenlivet 1967 50 Year Old Winchester Collection
  The Glenlivet distillery has unveiled the 3rd release in its series of rare 50 year old single malt Scotch whiskies. this time we see the launch of The Glenlivet Winchester Collection Vintage 1967 50 Year Old which follows the release of the Vintage 1964 in 2014 and Vintage 1966 in 2016.
   
• 11th March 2019
  Benromach Peat Smoke Sherry Cask Matured
  The Benromach Peat Smoke Sherry Cask Matured is the first peated sherry cask matured single malt from the Benromach distillery, a limited release expression of 6,500 bottles.
   
• 7th March 2019
  Glasgow Distillery Unveils 1770 Glasgow Signature Range
  Glasgow Distillery unveil 1770 Signature Range which launches with the new 1770 Glasgow 2019 Release and will be followed later in the year by two new expressions, the 1770 Peated and 1770 Triple Distilled.
   
• 6th March 2019
  Whisky Tops Knight Frank Luxury Investment Chart
  The Wealth Report 2019, released today, reveals that new entrant whisky has topped the Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index, surging in value by 40% over the 12 months to Q4 2018.
   
• 5th March 2019
  Old Pulteney 16 Year Old Review
  Review of the Old Pulteney 16 Year Old travel retail exclusive single malt whisky, initially matured in American oak ex-bourbon barrels and then further matured in Spanish oak casks that have been seasoned with Oloroso sherry. Deliciously sweet, rich and spicy with Demerara sugar sweetened spiced raisins, a touch of apricot and just the slightest salty liquorice tinge. Some late toffee and a lovely mouth coating peppery oak spice.
   
• 5th March 2019
  Old Pulteney 2006 Vintage Review
  Review of the Old Pulteney 2006 Vintage, the only expression to survive from Old Pulteney’s previous travel retail collection and with good reason. Fully matured in first fill American ex-bourbon oak casks it is an outstanding example of a whisky of this age and the cask type used in its maturation and at £50 for a 1 litre bottle this is a fantastic buy and one to watch for on your travels.
   
• 5th March 2019
  Old Pulteney 10 Year Old Review
  Review of the Old Pulteney 10 Year Old travel retail exclusive single malt whisky, matured for 10 years in second-fill American oak, ex-bourbon barrels, with notes of honey laced with gentle sugared spice, pear, lemon citrus and vanilla toffee.
   
• 4th March 2019
  Diageo Recruits First Female Coopering Apprentices
  Diageo are known to lead the way in breaking down the gender barriers and blazing a pioneering trail in the once male dominated whisky trade and yesterday the company and the industry celebrated a new first with the recruitment of two female coopering apprentices.
   
• 1st March 2019
  Gordon & MacPhail Unveil Plans For New Distillery At Craggan
  Further to the announcement in May last year from Gordon & MacPhail of their plans to build a new distillery at Craggan, near Grantown-on-Spey, the Speyside based whisky maker and bottler has unveiled images of the new distillery they hope to build in the Cairngorm National Park in Scotland.
   
• 26th February 2019
  Bunnahabhain Distillery Refurbishment Programme Gets Underway
  Distell International owners of the Bunnahabhain distillery has just begun a three year refurbishment programme of the Islay distillery which will see the them invest £10.5 million in an extensive upgrade and refresh of the iconic distillery.
   
• 26th February 2019
  Smokehead Commission Customised Ducati Motorcycle
  Here's one for the bikers amongst you, Smokehead whisky has teamed up with renowned global biking sensation Tyler Lunceford (known as the Ducati Whisperer of the New York tri-state), challenging him to create a customised Ducati motorcycle.
   
• 25th February 2019
  Talisker Select Reserve Game of Thrones House Greyjoy Review
  Review of Talisker Select Reserve Game of Thrones House Greyjoy, it hasn't got a big in your face Talisker peppery nose but it is delicious on the palate and long finish, the best of the Game of Thrones releases I have tasted so far and certainly one worth seeking out whether it is for drinking or collecting.
   
• 25th February 2019
  Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost Game of Thrones House Stark Review
  Review of the Dalwhinnie Winter’s Frost Game of Thrones House Stark, a slightly more youngish Dalwhinnie expression than what we are familiar with in the Dalwhinnie core range but still an easy drinking pleasure.
   
• 25th February 2019
  Singleton of Glendullan Select Game of Thrones House Tully Review
  Review of the Singleton of Glendullan Select which has been paired with House Tully in The Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection. Fruity, sweet with a nice wee touch of spice, a pleasing, easy to drink, enjoyable dram.
   
• 25th February 2019
  Ardbeg Drum
  Ardbeg unveils Ardbeg Drum, a rum finished expression, as their Caribbean themed Islay Festival 2019 bottling with the Committee bottling set for release on 5th March.
   
• 22nd February 2019
  The GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 25 Year Old Review
  Review of the new GlenDronach Master Vintage 1993 25 year old which was matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez and Oloroso sherry casks.
   
• 21st February 2019
  Benromach Heritage 1972 & 1977
  Benromach distillery is kicking off 2019 with two very special 1970's rare vintage single cask expressions, the oldest of the pair is the Benromach Heritage 1972 46 Year Old. The second whisky is the Benromach Heritage 1977 41 Year Old which has been bottled at 49.6% ABV.
   
• 21st February 2019
  Glengoyne 30 Year Old 2018 Edition
  Glengoyne 30 year old returns with a batch of 5,200 bottles in the second release of the mature sherried dram. Produced using a combination of first fill and refill sherry butts, 12 sherry casks in total, 33% first fill European oak sherry butts and 66% specially selected refill sherry butts.
   
• 21st February 2019
  Cotswolds Lord Mayor’s Reserve
  Cotswolds Lord Mayor’s Reserve is a new limited edition which has been released to help raise money for Lord Mayor’s Appeal charity, a charity that aims to make London a more inclusive city.
   
• 20th February 2019
  World Class Bartender Of The Year Sets Off On World Tour
  World Class Bartender of the Year 2018 winner, Orlando Marzo, is set to embark on a global tour as the search for the 2019 Bartender of the Year begins.
   
• 15th February 2019
  The SMWS 1.1 (Glenfarclas) The Society's First Ever Single Cask
  The SMWS are set to host a special tasting of the bottle that started it all, The SMWS 1.1 which was distilled at the Glenfarclas distillery and the tasting will be presented by society founding member Philip 'Pip' Hill.
   
• 15th February 2019
  Big Peat 10 Year Old Commemorative Bottling
  Douglas Laing marks 10 years of its peaty Islay blended malt with a Big Peat 10 Year Old limited edition commemorative bottling. At a punchy 46% strength, the 10 Year Old Whisky is described as being 'packed with sooty, smoky, leathery charm'.
   
• 15th February 2019
  Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength Batch 2
  Jameson Irish Whiskey, which is produced by Irish Distillers in Midleton Distillery, has unveiled the second batch of Jameson Bow Street 18 Years Cask Strength but don't go rushing out just yet to get your hands on a bottle as it wont be available until August 2019.
   
• 12th February 2019
  Kingsbarns Dream To Dram Review
  I tasted the new Kingsbarns Dream To Dram, the first flagship single malt whisky expression that will be generally available from the Kingsbarns Distillery. It has a maturity beyond its years, a cracking Lowland single malt already with some top quality first fill bourbon casks at play.
   
• 8th February 2019
  Highland Park 50 Year Old 2018 Batch
  Highland Park 50 Year Old 2018 Batch, a vatting of just two Spanish oak, sherry seasoned, hogshead casks which were filled in 1964 and a drop of the inaugural Highland Park 50 Year Old 2010 Batch,  it is described as an intensely rich whisky with sweet notes of ripe black cherries and Muscovado sugar giving way to dried autumn fruits and warm toasted wood.
   
• 8th February 2019
  Whisky Auction Sales Exceeded 100,000 Bottles In 2018
  Whisky auction sales are showing no signs of letting up according to the figures released today, the figures show that in 2018 the UK’s rare whisky auction market has exceeded sales of more than 100,000 bottles of rare whisky with a value of over £40 million in a single year for the first time as global demand accelerates but due to Brexit 2019 is very difficult to predict.
   
• 6th February 2019
  Douglas Laing Unveils Old Particular Elements Series
  Glasgow based independent whisky bottler Douglas Laing today unveiled the Old Particular 2019 'Elements' Single Cask Collection, a series of Old Particular Single Cask Limited Edition bottlings for 2019, inspired by the four Elements of Fire, Air, Earth and Water. The new series launches with the 'Fire', a mocha-spiced Craigellachie 12 Year Old from a well-fired and characterful Sherry butt.
   
• 5th February 2019
  Littlemill 40 Year Old Celestial Edition
  Loch Lomond Group has launched the Littlemill 40 Year Old Celestial Edition in the UK, the oldest expression ever to be released from the now lost Littlemill distillery.
   
• 4th February 2019
  Diageo Reserve World Class Bartender Competition 2019
  For the past 10 year Diageo Reserve World Class GB bartender competition has been educating and inspiring bartenders innovation and creativity throughout the UK, this year the world-renowned bartender competition, World Class, is set to return but with a difference, the folks at World Class have overhauled the competition structure making it easier for bartenders to get involved.
   
• 29th January 2019
  Glenmorangie Allta Private Edition 10
  Glenmorangie Allta Private Edition, the 10th release in the innovative and creative series highlights the influence the strain of yeast used in whisky production can have on the final taste of a whisky.
   
• 29th January 2019
  Rosebank Distillery Granted Planning Permission
  Following on from the planning application which they submitted to Falkirk council, Ian Macleod Distillers has been given the go-ahead to start work on its multi-million pound redevelopment of the Rosebank Distillery in Falkirk which is scheduled to commence distillation and open to visitors around Autumn 2020.
   
• 24th January 2019
  Kingsbarns Dream To Dram
  Almost four years on since the Kingsbarns distillery, located in the East Neuk of Fife near St Andrew's, filled its first casks in March 2015, it has today announced the launch of its first flagship single malt whisky expression that will be generally available, the Kingsbarns Dream To Dram.
   
• 24th January 2019
  Edinburgh's Holyrood Distillery Gears Up For Opening
  As Edinburgh's Holyrood Distillery gears up for opening later this year they have announced the appointment of Debs Newman as Visitor Experience Director. As a member of Holyrood Distillery’s senior management team, Debs will be focusing on the development and delivery of Holyrood’s ambitious visitor experience.
   
• 22nd January 2019
  An Evening of Scottish Virtuosity 2019 by Murray Cohen
  This years annual Vintages/LCBO sponsored 'An Evening of Scottish Virtuosity' event in Toronto, Canada saw Glenmorangie and Ardbeg whisky creator Dr. Bill Lumsden present some very rare premium whiskies from their extensive ranges, and once again our guest writer, Murray Cohen was there to review the event and of course, the whiskies.
   
• 22nd January 2019
  Gordon & MacPhail Private Collection Glen Grant 1948
  Gordon & MacPhail today unveiled the latest addition to its ‘Private Collection’ range, the Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant 1948 70 Year old, the first fill Sherry butt matured whisky is the oldest expression from the Speyside distillery ever bottled.
   
• 16th January 2019
  The Game Of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection
  The eight single malt whiskies in the Game of Thrones Single Malt Scotch Whisky Collection which has been launched as a toast to the final season of the critically-acclaimed TV series is now available to pre-order, and they are selling fast. Available individually or £398 for the complete set.
   
• 11th January 2019
  Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2019
  If you you will be lucky enough to be in or around Glasgow between the 14th and 31st March and you are looking for a good night out, a good laugh and perhaps a drink or two then why not check out the Whyte & Mackay Glasgow International Comedy Festival 2019 which consists of 506 shows which will be taking place across 54 venues around the city of Glasgow over just 18 days.
   
• 11th January 2019
  New Look Unveiled For Jameson Irish Whiskey
  Irish Distillers has unveiled a new look for its Jameson Irish whiskey, they have overhauled  the iconic green bottle and label which was first introduced back in 1968 but fans of the worlds most popular Irish whiskey needn't worry as it will still be the same smooth Jameson blended Irish whiskey that you will find in the bottle.
   
• 10th January 2019
  Douglas Laing 2019 Chinese Year Of The Pig Single Cask Whiskies
  Douglas Laing mark the Chinese 2019 Year of the Pig with three single cask whiskies which were distilled in previous Years of the Pig, an XOP Craigellachie 1995 Vintage, Old Particular Bunnahabhain 2007 and a Old Particular Glengoyne 2007.
   
• 10th January 2019
  Glengoyne Awarded  Green Initiative Master Medal
  In recognition of their ongoing Green Initiatives the Glengoyne distillery has just been awarded a Master medal, the highest possible accolade in the environmentally-focused Green Initiatives category at The Spirits Business Distillery Masters 2019. Judges praised the distillery’s partnership with the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust and its £170,000 investment in establishing a wetlands facility back in 2011.
   
• 4th January 2019
  Timorous Beastie 12 Year Old Cask Strength Limited Edition
  2019's first foot as far as new release announcements here at Scotch Malt Whisky goes is a not so timorous, Timorous Beastie 12 Year Old Cask Strength limited edition blended Highland malt whisky from independent Glasgow based whisky company Douglas Laing.
   

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