Whisky Focus - Whisky News Archive 2020

• 21st December 2020
  Jura Winter Edition Review
  Review of the new Jura Winter Edition, initially matured in American White Oak ex-bourbon barrels and then finished in hand-selected Spanish sherry casks. A cracking dram from the Jura and at a fantastic price.
   
• 17th December 2020
  Compass Box Hedonism Review
  Compass Box Hedonism isn't a new whisky but it is the first blended grain whisky to come to the market a few years back now. As always, a deliciously balanced blended grain, vanilla, coconut and spice run the show from nose to finish, ultra smooth and a very easy to drink whisky full of the subtle grain whisky character you would expect.
   
• 16th December 2020
  Kilchoman Celebrates 15 Years Of Whisky Making
  Kilchoman celebrates 15 year of whisky production at their Islay farm distillery. Kilchoman distillery on Islay went into production back in 2005, it was the first new distillery on the Isle of Islay in 124 years and almost exactly 15 year to this day, on 14th December 2005, they filled the very first Kilchoman cask at the distillery.
   
• 16th December 2020
  Douglas Laing Ends Year With 2 Big Awards & 2 Special Bottlings
  Douglas Laing ends the year with two big awards from the Spirits Business Awards including a Lifetime Achievement Award for Chairman Fred Laing and releases two special bottlings - the Douglas Laing XOP Black Glenrothes 1989 Single Cask and XOP Black Series Teaninich 1974 45 Year Old Single Cask.
   
• 15th December 2020
  Benromach Distillery Virtual Tour Now Open
  Benromach distillery has opened its doors to virtual visitors giving whisky enthusiasts and those interested in learning more about the whisky-making process the opportunity to tour the Speyside distillery from the comfort of their home.
   
• 11th December 2020
  Glen Moray 2006 Sauternes Cask Review
  The Glen Moray Sauternes Cask is a 14 year old cask strength dram which Glen Moray has released just in time for Christmas, it is actually the inaugural release from the distillery’s new ‘Warehouse 1 Collection’. A deliciously rich Sauternes cask matured, cask strength dram that will warm you on a Christmas night or indeed any winter's night.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Smoky Ten 10 year old is the new entry level peated single malt in the revamped BenRiach range, a quality peated dram which has been matured in a combination of three types of cask - bourbon barrels, toasted virgin oak and Jamaican rum casks.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Original Ten 10 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Original Ten 10 year old is the new entry level single malt in the recently revamped BenRiach core range. A delicious unpeated BenRiach, not a huge difference in this and the BenRiach 10 year old it replaces. It is still a lovely malty, fruity and sugared introduction to BenRiach without the peat and a must try when exploring what BenRiach has to offer.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Smoky Twelve 12 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Smoky Twelve 12 Year Old is the new peated 12 year old offering in the recently revamped BenRiach core range, matured in an unconventional mix of three types of cask - bourbon, sherry and Marsala which should give the peated spirit a fruity influence.
   
• 10th December 2020
  BenRiach The Twelve 12 Year Old Review
  BenRiach The Twelve 12 Year Old is a new unpeated 12 year old in the new look BenRiach core range, matured in a sherry rich profile with the addition of bourbon and port casks.
   
• 8th December 2020
  G & M Glencraig 1975 (Glenburgie) 125th Anniversary Edition
  Gordon & MacPhail has revealed the fourth and final whisky in their extremely rare and unique series of whiskies commemorating their 125th year in the whisky business, the Gordon & MacPhail Glencraig 1975 which was distilled in Lomond Stills, which operated within Speyside’s Glenburgie Distillery.
   
• 8th December 2020
  Bimber Re-charred Oak Casks #68 #143 and #144
  London’s Bimber Distillery has announced the upcoming release of a trio of single cask single malt whiskies drawn from the distillery’s remaining stock of re-charred oak casks.
   
• 2nd December 2020
  Jameson Distillery Dublin Named World’s Leading Distillery Tour
  Jameson Distillery Bow St. has been named the World’s Leading Distillery Tour at the World Travel Awards (WTA) for the third year in a row. The awards acknowledge, reward and celebrate excellence in global travel and tourism and the win further strengthens Bow St.’s position as a leader in tourism, globally.
   
• 1st December 2020
  Tamdhu's Heathrow Airport Single Cask 2855 Now Available Online
  Tamdhu Single Malt Scotch Whisky has announced that its Heathrow Airport Single Cask will be available to buy online, via the Tamdhu website.
   
• 1st December 2020
  Three New Whiskies From Skene Whisky
  Independent bottler Skene whisky release two first fill Oloroso sherry cask matured single cask single malts one from Tomatin and one from Blair Athol and a peated Islay single malt from Bunnahabhain and all at a reasonable price.
   
• 30th November 2020
  Whyte & Mackay Invites You Into The Sample Room
  A new whisky podcast from Whyte & Mackay granting exclusive access to the people, places and stories behind some of Scotland’s top distilleries has gone live, with world-renowned master distiller Richard Paterson featuring as its first guest.
   
• 26th November 2020
  Glenfiddich Challenge Stereotypes
  Glenfiddich has revealed a new campaign with award-winning actress Michelle Dockery, star of Downton Abbey, which challenges stereotypes.
   
• 25th November 2020
  Redbreast Launches Bird Feeder In Collaboration With BirdLife
  Redbreast Irish Whiskey is today launching a limited-edition copper whiskey casing that neatly transforms into a beautiful bird feeder. Following the launch of a partnership with BirdLife International earlier this year.
   
• 25th November 2020
  Bimber Distillery Unveils Two New Small Batch Single Malts
  Bimber Distillery has announced the upcoming release of two new batches from its popular range of Small Batch single malt whiskies. The Ex-bourbon Oak Casks Small Batch single malt has been crafted from a vatting of carefully selected American Oak ex-bourbon casks laid down in 2016 – Bimber’s first year of production. Batch 002 is bottled at 52.2% ABV, limited to 2950 bottles and will be available at an RRP of £65.
   
• 24th November 2020
  G & M Former Managing Director Named 2021 President Of IWSC
  Michael Urquhart, former managing director of Elgin based family-owned Scotch whisky and premium spirits specialist Gordon & MacPhail, has been named 2021 president of the prestigious International Wine & Spirit Competition.
   
• 19th November 2020
  Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey
  Irish Distillers has once again teamed up with the Mitchell family to unveil its reimagined Blue Spot Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey, a 7 year old, cask strength whiskey which has matured in a combination of Bourbon Barrels, Sherry Butts and Madeira Casks.
   
• 18th November 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail Director Influential in British Luxury
  I have long said Scotch Malt Whisky is an affordable luxury no matter how big your budget and one whisky creator who offers luxury whiskies to suit every budget is Elgin based Gordon & MacPhail so it was no surprise to hear that Stephen Rankin, the company’s Director of Prestige and fourth-generation member of Gordon & MacPhail's owning family has been honoured as one of the 50 Most Influential People in British Luxury.
   
• 17th November 2020
  Ballot To Taste The New Glengoyne 50 Year Old For Free
  Glengoyne unveil their oldest whisky to date, the Glengoyne 50 Year Old. In a world where rare whiskies are often collected to gather dust, Glengoyne has announced it will be opening a bottle and sharing it FOR FREE in 2021 with the winners of their Glengoyne 50 Year Old ballot.
   
• 16th November 2020
  Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana Review
  Continuing their 20th anniversary celebrations innovative whiskymaker Compass Box has released Compass Box Peat Monster Arcana, to create it a cask strength version of The Peat Monster was further matured in three French oak custom casks for more than two years; it was then blended with malt whiskies from the Talisker, Miltonduff and Ardbeg Distilleries.
   
• 11th November 2020
  Haig Club Clubman Gets New Look For The Festive Season
  With Christmas fast approaching, Haig Club, Diageo’s Single Grain Scotch Whisky, which they created in partnership with David Beckham, has launched a new limited-edition Haig Club Clubman bottle design.
   
• 10th November 2020
  The Glenglassaugh Coastal Casks Collection
  The Glenglassaugh Coastal Cask Collection is a collection of 10 new single cask whiskies produced shortly after the distillery reopened in 2008. All 10 single cask bottlings in the collection, one peated, 9 unpeated, are naturally coloured, bottled between 51.1% - 57.9% ABV and non chill filtered, the prices range from £89 for a 10 year old cask to £99 for an 11 year old bottling.
   
• 10th November 2020
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 559 Review
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 559 is second of two UK exclusive releases in the Glenglassaugh Coastal Casks Collection. a cracking young, wee peaty Glenglassaugh, I would recommend grabbing a bottle if you can, a well made quality lightly peated bourbon cask matured whisky.
   
• 10th November 2020
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 1346 Review
  Glenglassaugh Rare Cask Release 2009 Cask No 1346 is one of two UK exclusive releases in the Glenglassaugh Coastal Casks Collection, a quality young unpeated bourbon cask matured dram, the quality of which is no doubt boosted by the bottling strength, a great example unadulterated by any wine casks of what they produce now at Glenglassaugh and a indication of good things to come.
   
• 9th November 2020
  Malt Whisky Yearbook 2021 Review
  Review of the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2021 a book which focuses on the facts & figures, history and the latest bottlings from whisky distilleries, it covers 665 malt whisky distilleries around the world and as usual with all the facts updated.
   
• 9th November 2020
  Diageo Partners With Asda For 'What's Your Whisky Experience
  Diageo partners with Asda to launch 'What’s Your Whisky' which uses artificial intelligence to help match a consumer to a whisky they will like.
   
• 6th November 2020
  Christmas Whisky Gift Ides From Glengoyne
  With Christmas now fast approaching I thought I would mention that Glengoyne has unveiled some Christmas whisky gift ideas which includes a jigsaw which features Scottish artist John Lowrie Morrison’s piece, 'Heavy Snow at Glengoyne Distillery' which will come free with a bottle of Glengoyne 18 year old.
   
• 3rd November 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail 125th Anniversary Mosstowie 1979
  Gordon & MacPhail has revealed its third commemorative whisky released to mark the company’s 125th anniversary this time it is a rare Gordon & MacPhail 1979 Mosstowie from Miltonduff Distillery this cask constitutes the independent bottler’s last remaining cask from the distillery, matured with spirit from the now-removed Lomond Stills.
   
• 3rd November 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail New Distillery To Be Named The Cairn
  Gordon & MacPhail today unveiled the name for its new distillery being built in the Cairngorms National Park. The distillery is to be named The Cairn, reflecting its stunning location overlooking the Cairngorm mountains, at the gateway to Speyside.
   
• 23rd October 2020
  Glenmorangie A Tale Of Cake Review
  Glenmorangie A Tale Of Cake is the latest creation of Dr Bill Lumsden, Glenmorangie’s Director of Whisky, without a doubt it is a very deliciously and enticingly named limited release from the Highland whisky maker, it is sweet and fruity but not as sweet as I expected, not quite the sweet cake tale I was hoping for, still a delicious dram.
   
• 23rd October 2020
  Glenmorangie 10 Year Old Review
  I thought that I would revisit the Glenmorangie 10 Year Old, an outstanding easy drinking, light in character and yet complex dram and always a pleasure, I can highly recommend it, a must try on your whisky journey and I guarantee it is a dram you will come back to again and again. Whether you are buying for yourself or as a gift for a whisky loving friend or relative you really cant go wrong with this.
   
• 22nd October 2020
  Wolfcraig Appoints Richard Paterson As Its Master Blender
  Wolfcraig Distillery the new planned distillery near Stirling has announced that they have appointed Richard Paterson as its Master Blender, Richard will take on the role alongside his continuing commitments with Whyte & Mackay with whom he recently celebrated his 50th anniversary.
   
• 21st October 2020
  Rosebank 30 Year Old 1990 Vintage Release One
  Ian Macleod Distillers today announced the release of Rosebank 30 Year Old 1990 vintage 'Release One' the first bottling in a series of annual limited edition Rosebank single malt whiskies which they will be releasing in the run up to the release of the first spirit from the 'new' Rosebank distillery which they are currently in the process of constructing.
   
• 20th October 2020
  The Macallan Red Collection 78 Year Old Up For Auction
  Aberdeenshire based online whisky auction Whisky Hammer has informed me that they have a bottle of the oldest whisky in the collection and the oldest whisky ever released by the distillery, The Macallan Red Collection 78 Year Old up for grabs in their current auction.
   
• 20th October 2020
  Win A Spooky Ardbeg Monster Night In Pack
  In celebration of Ardbeg's frighteningly monstrous dram, the Ardbeg Wee Beastie, the distillery is offering whisky lovers in London, Manchester, Edinburgh and Islay the chance to win a ‘Monster Night In’ this Halloween, as they dispatch a crew of mummies, mutants, and sea creatures to deliver complimentary cocktails and mixology sessions to your doorsteps.
   
• 20th October 2020
  Glasgow Whisky Munros Collection Macallan 30 Year Old 1989
  Glasgow Whisky adds a premium selection to their single cask Munros Collection which launches with a Macallan 30 Year Old 1989 presented in a bespoke Glencairn Crystal decanter.
   
• 15th October 2020
  The Macallan Red Collection
  The Macallan Red Collection is a new collection of the oldest and rarest whiskies ever released from the Speyside distillery combining the distillery's oldest-ever ongoing bottlings a 40, 50 and 60 year old with a limited release of some of the oldest ever released by The Macallan a 71, 74 and 78 year old.
   
• 15th October 2020
  Suntory World Whisky 'Ao' A Blend Of Whiskies From Five Countries
  Beam Suntory has announced the launch of a rather unique new whisky which will be available exclusively in travel retail, the first-ever World Blended Whisky, Suntory World Whisky 'Ao', a blend of Scottish, Japanese, Irish, Canadian and American whiskies.
   
• 14th October 2020
  Scallywag Winter Edition
  Douglas Laing reveals a new seasonal winter warmer, Scallywag Winter Edition, a limited edition cask strength sherried Speyside blended malt presented with a rather festive looking scarf.
   
• 14th October 2020
  Glengoyne Bring Back Online Tastings Amid New Restrictions
  Glengoyne distillery has announced it is temporarily halting its distillery tastings but will bring back the popular online tastings, to the delight of fans, from next week.
   
• 14th October 2020
  Waterford Organic Gala 1.1
  Waterford Distillery has released Ireland’s first ever organic whisky in the modern age, distilled in 2016 from organic Irish barley and matured in a combination of casks fresh, super-premium (Waterford's words) oak: 42% first-fill US oak, 17% virgin US oak, 23% premium French oak and 18% Vin Doux Naturel – sweet fortified wine casks.
   
• 13th October 2020
  Midleton Very Rare 2020 Review
  Irish Distillers today unveiled their Midleton Very Rare 2020 release which is incredibly the 37th annual release in this renowned series of mature pot still rich Irish blended whiskey's, this new 2020 release offers a delicious mix of freshness and maturity, it is obviously very closely related to the outstanding 2019 release.
   
• 8th October 2020
  Whyte & Mackay To Take Leading Role In Travel Retail Recovery
  Whyte & Mackay have set their sights on the future beyond the Covid-19 pandemic, they are planning to take a leading role in travel retail’s recovery with their high-performing portfolio of pedigree single malt brands.
   
• 8th October 2020
  Plans Unveiled For Wolfcraig Distillery & Visitor Centre In Stirling
  In these strange times it is good to hear some positive news for the future and that is exactly what this is, today it was unveiled that Stirling is inline to benefit from a £15 million investment pending the approval of a planning application for new Scotch Whisky distillery by Wolfcraig.
   
• 7th October 2020
  Tobermory 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish Review
  I got the chance to review of the Tobermory 23 year old Oloroso Cask Finish which was recently added to the Tobermory core range and if your pockets are deep enough this mature deliciously rich sherried Tobermory doesn't disappoint.
   
• 7th October 2020
  The Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select Review
  Review of the new Dalmore 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Select which has been finished in casks which previously held a unique sherry blend of aged Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry.
   
• 6th October 2020
  anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2 Review
  Three years on since the first batch anCnoc has released anCnoc Peatheart Batch 2, it has no age statement but I am told it is around 14 years old, the peat is tamer on the nose than anticipated given the headlined 40ppm but it is a peaty delight on the palate where its Peatheart beats away wonderfully.
   
• 6th October 2020
  anCnoc 12 Year Old Review
  As a warm up to tasting the new Peatheart Batch 2 today I revisited the stalwart of the anCnoc whisky range, the anCnoc 12 year old which is still one of the best, most complex and consistently good entry level malt whiskies around which probably doesn't get as much press as it deserves.
   
• 6th October 2020
  Scotland's Most Northerly Mainland Distillery Named '8 Doors'
  Scotland's most northerly mainland distillery which will be named '8Doors Distillery' is offering whisky enthusiasts the chance to buy casks and purchase bottles from some of the first casks they will lay down.
   
• 5th October 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail 125th Anniversary Glenury Royal 1984
  Gordon & MacPhail unveil the second of four 125th Anniversary Edition single Cask releases of the year, this time it is a Glenury Royal 1984 35 year old from a first fill sherry cask.
   
• 2nd October 2020
  End Of An Era As Ardbeg's Mickey Heads Steps Down Today
  An era came to an end at the Ardbeg Distillery on the Isle of Islay today as Mickey Heads the Ardbeg Distillery manager for the past 13 years set down his hydrometer and hung up his hi-vis jacket for the last time. To mark the occasion Mickey raised a celebratory dram of the Ardbeg 10 year old with his successor, Colin Gordon.
   
• 1st October 2020
  Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.1
  Highland Park has announced the addition of the first ever cask strength expression to their core range, the Highland Park Cask Strength Release No.1. The new whisky is a marriage of first fill American oak ex-sherry and refill casks of various ages which have been hand selected by Highland Park's Master Whisky Maker Gordon Motion.
   
• 1st October 2020
  Benromach 21 Year Old Joins The Core Range
  Today the Benromach distillery launched the Benromach 21 Year Old which will be a permanent addition to the Speyside distillery's core range. The new expression has been matured exclusively in a combination of first-fill sherry and bourbon casks, so there should be no shortage of cask influence on  this 21 year old.
   
• 1st October 2020
  New Coloured Glencairn Whisky Glass Core Range
  Following on from the from the enormous popularity of the limited edition black Glencairn whisky glass released last year,. the world's favourite whisky glass maker has introduced a new range of coloured glasses for whisky fans worldwide.
   
• 1st October 2020
  Old Particular Spiritualist Series Harmony Cameronbridge 28 Years
  Independent Glasgow based whisky distiller and bottler Douglas Laing & Co has unveiled the second instalment in their Old Particular Spiritualist Series trilogy for 2020, a Cameronbridge 28 Year Old Single Cask, Single Grain whisky which then have called 'Harmony'.
   
• 1st October 2020
  Redbreast Partners With Bird Conservation Charity
  Redbreast Irish Whiskey brings their brand icon to life and also launch a global partnership with leading bird conservation charity, BirdLife International.
   
• 30th September 2020
  Alberta Premium Cask Strength Review
  Given the recent sexist allegations against whisky writer Jim Murray for the language he has used in his new Whisky Bible 2021 which somewhat has taken the limelight away from the 'World Whisky Of The Year', Alberta Premium Cask Strength Canadian Rye Whisky, named in the book I have asked Canadian based Scotch Malt Whisky Forum Member, occasional SMW guest writer and Companion of the Quaich, Murray Cohen, to review the whisky for us and give us his independent unbiased opinion of the Canadian dram.
   
• 24th September 2020
  Tobermory 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish Joins Core Range
  Tobermory Distillery today announced the addition of a Tobermory 23 Year Old Oloroso Cask Finish to their core range of whiskies. Fans of the outstanding Tobermory 15 Year Old limited release which is now long gone will be interested to know that the new Tobermory 23 Year Old is actually the 15 Year Old they loved so much 8 years on.
   
• 23rd September 2020
  Jameson Crested X Eight Degrees Brewing
  Review of the new limited edition Jameson Crested X Eight Degrees Brewing Finished in Black Ball Metric Irish Stout Barrels. A lovely balance of mild pot still spices, mild sherried fruitiness, vanilla infused sweet coconut ice and just a touch of ginger lurking in the background.
   
• 22nd September 2020
  Glencairn Sponsored McIlvanney Prize Bloody Scotland Debut Prize
  If you enjoy sitting back in the armchair in the evening with a good whisky and a good book, particularly a crime novel, then here is a couple of new books to look out for as the winners of the Glencairn Whisky Glass sponsored 2020 McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year were announced at the opening of the Bloody Scotland International Crime Writing Festival on Friday evening.
   
• 21st September 2020
  Jura Single Cask To Be Auction For Scottish Mental Health Charity
  We rarely see an official, original distillery, single cask bottling from the Isle of Jura distillery but that is exactly what the island distillery owners Whyte & Mackay has just generously bottled to be auctioned off to raise funds in aid of the Scottish mental health charity - Scottish Association for Mental Health. The Jura Distillery Cask, a 19 year old Single Cask No. 1708 which produced 470 bottles will be auctioned via the Whisky Auctioneer website.
   
• 21st September 2020
  Black Tartan 88 A Blend Of Macallan, Highland Park & Glenrothes
  Black Tartan 88, a 31 Year Old limited edition blend of iconic whiskies produced at The Macallan, Highland Park and The Glenrothes distilleries scores 94/100 in Jim Murrays latest Whisky Bible 2021 and it is still available.
   
• 18th September 2020
  Big Peat Christmas 2020 Unveiled
  Well its official summer is coming to an end and Christmas is on the way as the tubs of Cadbury Roses and Quality Street are now appearing in the supermarkets and those festive folks at Douglas Laing have unveiled the latest instalment of their Big Peat Christmas Series of peaty Islay blended malts, the Big Peat Christmas 2020 Cask Strength Limited Edition.
   
• 18th September 2020
  Imbibe Live A New Virtual Event For The Global Bar Industry
  Following the success of Imbibe Live’s inaugural digital event back in June, which saw hundreds of drinks brands and on-trade professionals come together to share insights, trends and much more, this time the leading drinks exhibition is going global! This October Imbibe Live is taking part in a brand new virtual event for the global bar industry and registration for the week-long virtual event is free.
   
• 16th September 2020
  Whisky Bible 2021 World Whiskies Of The Year Winners
  Whisky writer Jim Murray has named his World Whiskies of the Year in his soon to be released Whisky Bible 2021 and this time his top slot of 'World Whisky of the Year 2021' goes for the second time in the books history to a Canadian whisky, Alberta Premium Cask Strength Rye which he scored at 97.5 out of a 100.
   
• 15th September 2020
  Work On Ardara Distillery Gets Under Way
  Work on the Ardara Distillery got underway today as Donegal’s Sliabh Liag Distillers ‘turned the sod’ on their new Distillery site in Ardara – marking the first phase of construction of their new distillery.
   
• 14th September 2020
  Diageo World Class Competition Returns With A Revised Approach
  You may have thought that it wouldn't be taking place this year, but Diageo's World Class, the global bartending competition, has made a triumphant return in 2020 albeit with a revised approach that adapts to a new competition environment. World Class 2020 has introduced new people, partnerships and competitor challenges. The internationally recognised competition has also announced a series of activations at this year’s London Cocktail Week, including the Whisky House at Goods Way.
   
• 11th September 2020
  Aberfeldy 18 Year Old French Wine Cask Finish
  John Dewar's & Sons has unveiled a new limited edition expression of its Highland single malt whisky Aberfeldy, the Aberfeldy 18 Year Old French Wine Cask Finish. The French Wine Cask Finish has certainly added a delicious fruitiness and oak tannin edge to this honeyed Highland dram which has been bottled at a flavoursome 43% ABV.
   
• 10th September 2020
  The GlenAllachie Picks Up 50th Award Under New Owners
  The GlenAllachie Distillers Company Limited which produces The GlenAllachie Speyside single malt whisky and the peaty MacNair's Lum Reek Blended Malt Scotch Whisky range has just taken its total number of awards for the whiskies it has turned out to 50 since being taken over in October 2017 by a three person consortium lead by the former BenRiach Distillery Company managing director Billy Walker.
   
• 9th September 2020
  Glengoyne Launches New Look Along With Two New Expressions
  Glengoyne unveiled a new look for its entire whisky range today and the packaging overhaul also sees Glengoyne move to 100% recyclable free of plastic and magnets, and locally sourced, with nearly all of the material originating from Scotland.
   
• 9th September 2020
  Whisky Makers Whyte & Mackay Toast ISC 2020 Success
  Whyte & Mackay's portfolio of whiskies impress at the International Spirits Challenge 2020 where their Dalmore, Fettercairn, Jura and Tamnavulin single malts all scooped Gold Medals at the blind tasting competition.
   
• 9th September 2020
  Johnnie Walker Princes Street Visitor Experience Opens Online
  Diageo's commitment to investment in Scotch whisky and Scottish tourism remains as strong as ever as they open the online doors to the Johnnie Walker Princes Street global flagship visitor experience ahead of the actual opening now scheduled for summer 2021.
   
• 7th September 2020
  The SMWS Offer Members A Chance To Win A Cask Holyrood Whisky
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has launched a members only competition with an amazing prize, The SMWS are offering members the chance to win a full hogshead cask of Holyrood whisky and the great thing about this incredible prize is that the winner will be able to tailor their cask of whisky to their own flavour preference through Holyrood's Custom Cask Programme.
   
• 4th September 2020
  Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 2
  Ardbeg has announced the release of Ardbeg 19 Year Old Traigh Bhan Batch 2, or to be more precise Batch No: TB/02-18.09.00/20.JT. It is subtly different to the first release of Traigh Bhan thanks to a higher proportion of 1st-fill Bourbon casks, alongside refills and Oloroso Sherry casks.
   
• 4th September 2020
  Hunter Laing Hepburn’s Choice Range Gets A New Look
  Hunter Laing & Co. has unveiled a new look for their Hepburn’s Choice range which they will be rolling out from this month. Each bottling, whether a single cask or small batch single malt release is now brightly colour coded to denote the whisky region of the distillery where the whisky was distilled.
   
• 3rd September 2020
  Macduff Distillery Celebrates 60 Years
  Just over 60 years ago, 16th June 1960, the Macduff Distillery in Banffshire filled its first cask of single malt whisky, Cask #1 was filled. Most of the whisky produced since the distillery's construction has gone into blends such as William Lawson's but that changed in recent years with the launch a The Deveron whisky range in the domestic market and Glen Deveron Royal Burgh Collection in travel retail.
   
• 3rd September 2020
  Tamdhu Batch Strength 5
  Tamdhu has announced the release of the next instalment of its big bold, 100% sherry oak cask matured Batch Strength series, the Tamdhu Batch Strength 5, this latest edition weighs in at 59.8% ABV and as usual it is un-chillfiltered and naturally coloured.
   
• 3rd September 2020
  Gordon & MacPhail 125th Anniversary Last Cask Releases
  Gordon & MacPhail marks 125th Anniversary with the release of four 'Last Cask' from their Elgin warehouse starting with Gordon & MacPhail Coleburn 1972 125th Anniversary Edition 47 Year Old.
   
• 2nd September 2020
  Jameson Grow Your Own Cocktail Web Series for Bartenders
  The bartenders amongst you may recall that back in April Jameson Irish whiskey announced the launch of an online platform to support, inspire and engage the international bar community through this unprecedented period of uncertainty caused by the Coronavirus outbreak well the Irish whiskey maker has expanded on that with the launch of Jameson Grow Your Own Cocktail web series to promote local sourcing, collaboration and discovery among bartenders and local producers around the world.
   
• 1st September 2020
  Diageo Special Releases 2020
  Diageo has unveiled its Special Releases 2020 line-up, this years highlights includes a Pittyvaich expression from the now long closed Speyside ghost distillery, a rare Dalwhinnie matured in refill hogshead casks filled in 1989, a unique young Talisker which has been finished in pot-still Caribbean rum casks and the Special Release stalwart Lagavulin 12 year old.
   
• 26th August 2020
  Douglas Laing Unveils Big Peat 12 Year Old & Epicurean 12 Year Old
  Douglas Laing today unveiled two new age statement, permanent additions to their popular 'Remarkable Regional Malts' series of Scotch blended malt whiskies, the Big Peat 12 Year Old and The Epicurean 12 Year Old.
   
• 26th August 2020
  Rampur Double Cask Review
  Review of Rampur Double Cask Indian single malt whisky from the Indian distillery which is located at the foothills of the Himalayas in Uttar Pradesh, it was matured for two-thirds of its life in American Bourbon Barrels and a third in European Oak Sherry Casks. I do get the feeling this is quite young, 6 or 7 years perhaps, maybe more time in the cask would help it or perhaps a better choice of cask, it could certainly benefit from a bit more sweetness and less sulphur.
   
• 25th August 2020
  Distell Malt Collection 2020
  Distell, owner of Bunnahabhain, Deanston and Tobermory (Ledaig) distilleries has unveiled its third batch of annual releases and this year the line up features two unique expressions from Bunnahabhain, three from Deanston and three from their Tobermory distillery (one Tobermory and two Ledaig expressions).
   
• 20th August 2020
  Colin Gordon Named New Ardbeg Distillery Manager
  As Ardbeg bids farewell to retiring distillery manager Mickey Heads they name Colin Gordon as his successor. Colin brings with him a wealth of whisky experience from Diageo including recently being based at the Lagavulin Distillery on Islay as the Distillery Manager.
   
• 20th August 2020
  Johnnie Walker Limited Editions Mark 200th Anniversary
  Johnnie Walker marks its 200th Anniversary with new limited edition packaging for its iconic Johnnie Walker Gold Label, Black Label 12 Year Old and Red Label Scotch blended whiskies.
   
• 20th August 2020
  Bimber Teams Up With Hand Crafted Beer Maker Brew By Numbers
  London based Bimber Distillery and Brew By Numbers brewery announce their first collaboration beer - 64|Imperial Stout.
   
• 19th August 2020
  Glenkinchie 16YO Released In Aid Of My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
  Doddie Weir is raring to raise some funds with the recently bottled Glenkinchie 16 Year Old single sherry cask bottling donated by Diageo to his 'My Name’5 Doddie Foundation' which raises money to support research into finding a cure for Motor Neuron Disease.
   
• 19th August 2020
  Sliabh Liag Distillers Launch €1.5M Crowdfund For Next Phase
  Sliabh Liag Distillers, who recently laid down the first legally produced single malt whiskey in Donegal since 1841 announced today that it is seeking €1.5m in investment via crowdfunding to fuel the next phase of its expansion.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Dial A Dram Glen Moray 2020 Distillery Edition Range
  Glen Moray has made their normally distillery exclusive single cask bottlings available to whisky fans via a Dial A Dram service. The Glen Moray 2020 Distillery Edition Range includes a trio of Glen Moray single cask malt whiskies which are the oldest wine-finished whiskies the distillery has ever released, each one said to be bursting with the flavours of full maturation in hand-selected Chardonnay, Burgundy and Chenin Blanc casks respectively.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Glen Moray 2003 Chardonnay Cask 7670 Review
  Review of Glen Moray 2003 Chardonnay Single Cask No. 7670, a deliciously juicy, slightly barley sugared, fruitiness fills the mouth, raisin, sultana and pineapple, the intensity of which is boosted by the flavoursome ABV bottling strength.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Glen Moray 2004 Burgundy Cask 213 Review
  Review of Glen Moray 2004 Burgundy Single Cask No. 213, a little shy on the nose but an absolute pleasure of a dram in the mouth and a great example of Glen Moray off its familiar beaten track, exactly what these distillery exclusive bottling's should be.
   
• 18th August 2020
  Glen Moray 2004 Chenin Blanc Cask 341 Review
  Review of Glen Moray 2004 Chenin Blanc Single Cask No. 341, on the nose it doesn't appear to be one for the sweet toothed but it sweetens up in the mouth but bitters out again on the finish.
   
• 13th August 2020
  The Epicurean Rivesaltes Finish Limited Edition
  Douglas Laing & Co has just released a limited edition expression of their Lowland blended malt whisky, The Epicurean. The third release in their The Epicurean Wood Series, The Epicurean Rivesaltes Finish has as its title tells you matured a Rivesaltes wine cask, a wine which I am sure even many wine drinkers are unfamiliar with.
   
• 13th August 2020
  Celebrate Whisky Sour Day With A J&B Sinatra Sour
  A Whisky Sour is probably one of the most well-known and popular whisky cocktails in America, so much so that it even has its own day set aside to celebrate it in the US, Whisky Sour Day, why not celebrate it this year with a J&B Sinatra Sour, named after Frank Sinatra, who was part of the infamous Hollywood Rat Pack and was known to enjoy J&B Rare.
   
• 11th August 2020
  Nc’nean Ainnir First 10 Bottles Charity Auction
  First 10 bottlings of Nc'nean Ainnir, the distillery's inaugural single malt whisky release to be auctioned off for charities that support sustainability, the local Morvern community and the UK hospitality industry; Trees for Life, The Drinks Trust, The Ben, The Scottish Farm Land Trust and Morvern Community Trust.
   
• 10th August 2020
  Glengoyne Asks Fans To Select Next Single Cask Bottling
  Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky is giving its whisky fans the opportunity to select the next single cask, single malt whisky which they will bottle. The distillery is inviting fans to take part in a special livestream on Friday 28th August - where they can not only sample some rare casks, but ultimately decide which go into the distillery’s latest ‘Cask of the Moment’ single cask bottling.
   
• 9th August 2020
  Douglas Laing Rock Island Sherry Edition
  Independent Glasgow based whisky distiller and bottler Douglas Laing & Co has unveiled a limited edition expression of their Island blended malt Scotch Whisky range, the Rock Island Sherry Edition.
   
• 7th August 2020
  Glenury Royal 1953 Fetches Record Price At Auction
  Even in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic whisky auction prices are continuing to reach news highs, in a recent auction hosted by the online whisky auction specialist, Whisky Auctioneer, a bottle of Glenury Royal 50 Year Old 1953 Vintage achieved a price of £14,000, which was a new record price for the sadly now lost Highland distillery.
   
• 5th August 2020
  Talisker & Loch Fyne Oysters Partner To Support Coastal Charities
  Talisker has launched a global initiative to support local coastal communities following the impact of the pandemic, by tapping into the growing trend towards delivery and fine-dining at home, they have teamed up with Scotland’s finest seafood provider, Loch Fyne Oysters Ltd, to offer a new at home whisky and oyster pairing experience. This will raise funds for The Fishermen's Mission, a charity which provides practical and financial support to coastal fishing communities across Great Britain.
   
• 3rd August 2020
  Jameson Connects The Stay Inn With Rap Star Bas
  Jameson Irish whiskey is rekindling its collaboration with international rap artist Bas to mentor two emerging artists to create new tracks virtually during COVID-19.
   
• 30th July 2020
  Four Johnnie Walker 200th Anniversary Whisky Releases
  Johnnie Walker announces the launch of four new exclusive releases that celebrate 200 years since the whisky maker’s founder, John Walker, first threw open the doors to a small grocery store in Kilmarnock Scotland. The four whiskies includes one a new bottle design and three newly crafted whiskies.
   
• 30th July 2020
  Sliabh Liag Distillers Distill First Donegal Irish Whiskey Since1841
  Sliabh Liag Distillers lay down the first legally produced single malt whiskey in Donegal since 1841, and it will be one for peated whiskey fans to look out for when it comes of age.
   
• 29th July 2020
  Glen Moray Explores Cask Flavours With Chef Ben Tish
  Explore the taste of the Glen Moray whisky range with some cask flavour influenced restaurant quality summer food and drinks created by award winning chef Ben Tish sommelier Julien Hennebelle which you can make yourself at home.
   
• 23rd July 2020
  Jura 12 Year Old Sherry Cask Exclusive To Taiwanese Market
  Jura whisky has released a new sherry finished 12 Year Old single malt which will be exclusively available in the Taiwanese market, the new Jura 12 Year Old Sherry Cask whisky has been produced using only unpeated spirit and this is where it differs from the Jura 12 year old from the Jura core range which we are familiar with already, which is produced using some peated spirit.
   
• 23rd July 2020
  Tamdhu Edinburgh Airport Single Cask Now Available Online
  Tamdhu has announced that its Tamdhu European Sherry Oak Single Cask No. 6192 limited edition 2002 Vintage whisky which was exclusively available from Edinburgh airport will now be available from the Tamdhu website.
   
• 21st July 2020
  Ardbeg Teams Up With DJ BBQ For Ardbeg Smoke Sessions
  Ardbeg & DJ BBQ turn up the heat to launch Ardbeg Smoke Sessions, a series of online guides to cooking mouth-watering BBQ and creating smoky cocktails to sip alongside the delicious smoky dishes.
   
• 20th July 2020
  Ardbeg Named Distillery Of The Year For Third Year In A Row
  Ardbeg Distillery named 'Distillery of the Year' at the International Whisky Competition and the recently released Ardbeg Wee Beastie named 'Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old'.
   
• 16th July 2020
  Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996
  Glenmorangie unveil the 6th release in their Bond House No.1 vintage series, the Glenmorangie Grand Vintage Malt 1996, a 23 year old single malt whisky which has been matured solely in first fill ex-American Bourbon casks.
   
• 13th July 2020
  Diageo Unveils Paper Based Spirits Bottle
  Diageo announces the creation of world’s first ever 100% plastic free paper-based spirits bottle which will debut in 2021 with Johnnie Walker.
   
• 10th July 2020
  Kavalan Takes Top Slots At Whisky Competition In Japan
  Kavalan Taiwanese single malt whisky has raised a few eyebrows in Japan at the by taking 4 of the Top 10 slots at the recent Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2020 including Best of the Best for Kavalan Solist Vinho Barrique.
   
• 8th July 2020
  Whyte & Mackay Cares - Virtual Globetrotting Challenge For Charity
  Inspired by the heroic feats of Captain Tom Moore in the UK, employees of Glasgow based whisky maker Whyte & Mackay have begun a virtual adventure, #WhyteandMackayCares which will see them clock up enough combined miles to travel around the world while raising funds for their nominated charities.
   
• 7th July 2020
  Tamdhu Live Virtual Tasting Presentation Of Latest Bottlings
  Tamdhu distillery continues to lighten up the COVID-19 lockdown restrictions for their whisky fans around the world by once again presenting them with a live streamed virtual tasting. During the tasting, they will sample a couple of their latest drams, the Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 3 and the Tamdhu Iain Whitecross Single Cask Vintage 2003. They will also sample a final, mystery dram that will be revealed during the stream.
   
• 6th July 2020
  Diageo Prima & Ultima whisky Collection
  Diageo has unveiled the Prima & Ultima Whisky Collection, a new premium series of single malt whiskies which will launch with eight new vintage, cask strength single malts from eight of Diageo's distilleries including Caol Ila, Clynelish, Lagavulin, Mortlach, Port Ellen, Singleton of Dufftown and Talisker.
   
• 3rd July 2020
  Macallan Extends Double Cask Range With A 15 and 18 Year Old
  The Macallan has extended their Double Cask range with the addition of two new age statement expressions, The Macallan 15 Year Old Double Cask and The Macallan 18 Year Old Double Cask which now sits at the top of the range.
   
• 2nd July 2020
  Bimber Oloroso Sherry Butt Finish Selfridges Exclusive
  Bimber Distillery in London has announced its first retail partnership with the forthcoming release of a new single malt which will be exclusively available from Selfridges department store, the Bimber González Byass Oloroso Sherry Finish.
   
• 2nd July 2020
  Dewar's Stephanie Macleod Wins The Whisky of the Year Award
  Quite surprisingly given the number of skilful female Master Blenders in the Scotch whisky industry today who are creating some outstanding whiskies it is only now for the first time in the history of the 'International Whisky Competition' that a woman has ever blended a Whisky of the Year. That woman is Stephanie Macleod, Master Blender for John Dewar and Sons, and the Whisky of the Year which Stephanie has created is the John Dewar and Sons Double Double 32 Year Old Blended Scotch.
   
• 2nd July 2020
  New Bulleit Kentucky Bourbon Distillery To Be Carbon Neutral
  Diageo has announced that its new Kentucky whiskey distillery, which will distil Bulleit whiskey, is expected to be carbon neutral – one of the largest in North America, and a first for Diageo.
   
• 29th June 2020
  Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition 2020
  Loch Lomond Whiskies, the Official Spirit of The Open, has unveiled a new Loch Lomond 12 Year Old The Open Special Edition 2020 single malt to mark the 149th Championship that was due to take place in July this year.
   
• 24th June 2020
  Arran Distillers Lay Down A Blend Of Arran & Lagg New Make Spirit
  The creative folks at Isle of Arran Distillers have revealed that they have laid down to mature a blend of their unpeated Arran and peated Lagg distilleries new make whisky spirit.
   
• 24th June 2020
  Diageo $100 Million Fund To Help Pubs Welcome Back Customers
  Diageo launches 'Raising the Bar' $100million recovery fund to help pubs and bars around the world welcome back customers after lockdown including nearly £30million being made available for pubs and bars across the UK, with £4million of that targeted at Scotland.
   
• 23rd June 2020
  Katherine Condon Appointed Distiller At Midleton Distillery
  Irish Distillers, producer of some of the world’s most popular Irish whiskeys such as Jameson, Redbreast, Powers, Midleton Very Rare and Spot range has announced the appointment of Katherine Condon as Distiller at their Midleton Distillery in Co. Cork.
   
• 19th June 2020
  Raise A Glass Of Glenmorangie This World Giraffe Day
  To help raise awareness of World Giraffe Day this coming Sunday 21 June, the longest day of the year of course, why not raise a very high toast to celebrate the tallest animal of all with I have to say a rather delicious cocktail created with Glenmorangie Original, the Glenmorangie’s Journey of Giraffes.
   
• 18th June 2020
  Ardbeg An Oa Island Highball
  Unfortunately this year you wont be able to take your Dad out to a up-market bar and spoil him with a whisky or two on Father's Day but not to worry Ardbeg have a great alternative for you if you fancy getting creative and making your whisky loving Dad a smoky dark fruit Ardbeg An Oa Island Highball.
   
• 18th June 2020
  Glen Moray Launches Virtual Whisky Series
  Glen Moray distillery has announced the launch of a Virtual Whisky Series to encourage flavour exploration and they have some free Tasting Kits up for grabs. Glen Moray’s monthly ‘Whisky Surgeries’ will be hosted on Zoom by the company’s very own doctor and Head of Whisky Creation, Dr Kirstie McCallum
   
• 16th June 2020
  Loch Lomond Whisky Partners With The European Tour
  The European Tour which will return to action behind closed doors in July will be teeing off with a new partner, independent Scotch whisky distiller Loch Lomond Whiskies has agreed an exciting new partnership with The European Tour, becoming the first Official Partner of the innovative new UK Swing.
   
• 12th June 2020
  The Epicurean Cask Strength Edinburgh Edition
  Edinburgh bartenders collaborate with Douglas Laing to select a blend of Lowland single malt whiskies to create The Epicurean Cask Strength Edinburgh Edition which they describe as a fresh and zesty Lowland Malt.
   
• 11th June 2020
  Irish Distillers Appoint New Master Distiller At Midleton
  It doesn't happen often but Irish Distillers has appointed a new Master Distiller at their Midleton Distillery down in Cork, Ireland. Taking over the reigns from Brian Nation, who has served as Master Distiller at Midleton since 2013 and is set to take on the role of Master Distiller at a start-up distillery in the US, is Kevin O’Gorman who himself started his career at Midleton over 20 years ago.
   
• 9th June 2020
  1000's Enter Ballot For Redbreast Dream Cask Ruby Port Edition
  With 912 bottles of the new Redbreast Dream Cask 28 Year Old Ruby Port Edition up for grabs even Irish Distillers were taken aback with the amount of interest in the latest Dream Cask expression which received a staggering 7,400 entries into the ballot from whiskey fans from around the world, and the fact that it carries a price tag of €490 for the 50cl bottle also tells you just how highly whiskey fans and no doubt collectors and sadly flippers rate the Dream Cask expressions.
   
• 8th June 2020
  Glenglassaugh Explores Whisky & Nature In Coast To Cask Event
  Join Glenglassaugh brand ambassador Stewart Buchanan and award-wining wildlife cameraman Gordon Buchanan on Instagram on Wednesday 24 June for a live whisky tasting where they will explore the links between whisky and nature in the 'From Coast To Cask' event.
   
• 4th June 2020
  London's Bimber Distillery Unveils Seven New Expressions
  London’s Bimber Distillery today announced the upcoming release of seven new expressions, their latest Small Batch release will be joined by six cask strength, single cask releases for both UK and export markets.
   
• 4th June 2020
  Glen Scotia Campbeltown Festival Dunnage Tasting Box
  The Glen Scotia dunnage tasting is usually a highlight for attendees at the annual Campbeltown Festival but due to Covid-19 the distillery has made a Glen Scotia dunnage tasting box available to whisky fans to sample at home which includes a cask strength sample of Glen Scotia Victoriana and four specially selected single cask samples.
   
• 3rd June 2020
  Glen Moray Madeira Cask Project Review
  Glen Moray has just released the next instalment of their Curiosity Range of experimental limited editions, the Glen Moray Madeira Cask Project, which has been fully matured in ex-sweet Madeira wine casks for 13 years and 10 months.
   
• 3rd June 2020
  Glen Moray Classic Review
  With Father's Day on the horizon and with the Glen Moray Classic now on offer for around £20 in most high street supermarkets and online whisky shops I thought that there would be a few gift buyers interested in knowing if this whisky would make a welcome gift.
   
• 2nd June 2020
  Big Peat 8 Year Old A846 Feis Ile 2020
  Douglas Laing today unveiled Big Peat 8 Year Old A846 Feis Ile 2020 edition, those of you who have ever travelled around Islay will recognise 'A846' as the road that takes whisky fans around the whisky island from one distillery to the next.
   
• 28th May 2020
  Bunnahabhain Virtual Feis Ile 2020 Bottlings Fly's Off The Shelf
  Bunnahabhain Feis Ile 2020 bottlings, the peated Bunnahabhain 2010 Moine Amontillado Finish and the unpeated Bunnahabhain 2002 Madeira Finish sells out in under 24 hours after going on pre-sale ahead of tomorrows virtual Bunnahabhain day, ‘Feis at Home’.
   
• 27th May 2020
  Irish Distillers Named Importer Of The Year At SFWSC Competition
  Irish Distillers, makers of some of the world’s most enjoyed Irish whiskeys such as Jameson and Redbreast, has been named Importer of the Year honour at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2020.
   
• 22nd May 2020
  Virtual Ardbeg Day Online Feis Ile 2020
  In the midst of the Coronavirus pandemic Ardbeg one of the peatiest Islay whiskies of them all is taking its Feis Ile Ardbeg Day celebrations online and inviting peated malt whisky lovers everywhere to join them as they toast two incredible decades of the Ardbeg Committee with the new limited edition Ardbeg Blaaack.
   
• 20th May 2020
  Waterford Single Farm Origin
  Waterford Distillery today unveiled its first commercial whisky release since it went into production in January 2016, the Waterford Single Farm Origin Ballykilcavan, Bannow Island and Ratheadon Edition 1.1
   
• 18th May 2020
  Glen Scotia Online Campbeltown Malts Festival Experience
  Following the cancellation of the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2020 which had been scheduled to run from 19-21 May 2020, the Glen Scotia Distillery has unveiled plans to offer its programme of events online for the first time.
   
• 17th May 2020
  Bunnahabhain Virtual ‘Feis at Home’ Feis Ile 2020
  Bunnahabhain Virtual ‘Feis at Home’ celebration set to keep the Feis Ile 2020 festival spirit thriving with tasting kits priced at £16.50 now available to allow whisky fans to join in from the comfort of their own home.
   
• 16th May 2020
  #PassTheDram This World Whisky Day
  Raise a glass and #PassTheDram this World Whisky Day to a friend, family member or loved one who you cannot meet up with at the moment or indeed if you would like to raise a toast and #PassTheDram as a Thank You to front line workers such as NHS workers and Care workers.
   
• 16th May 2020
  Redbreast Dream Cask 28 Year Old Ruby Port Edition
  Irish Distillers today announced the release of its third limited edition expression of Redbreast Dream Cask to mark World Whisky Day, this time the creative folks at Midleton have unveiled a Redbreast Dream Cask 28 Year Old Ruby Port Edition, a combination of four whiskeys which were aged for a minimum of 28 years and then vatted together and left to marry in the ruby port pipe cask.
   
• 15th May 2020
  Raise A Glass With Whyte & Mackay On World Whisky Day
  Whilst restrictions remain in place around the world, the annual World Whisky Day will return tomorrow Saturday 16th May, as an online celebration of the whisky community. A series of events will take place online, featuring Jura Single Malt Whisky, and key figures from across the industry including World Whisky Day Founder, Blair Bowman, and special guests.
   
• 14th May 2020
  Jura Red Wine Cask Finish
  Jura launches first whisky in a new Cask Editions series, the Jura Red Wine Cask Finish will be available exclusively from Sainsbury's here in the UK.
   
• 14th May 2020
  Douglas Laing The Epicurean Cognac Cask Finished Limited Edition
  Douglas Laing announce a limited edition Cognac Finished expression of their Epicurean blended malt whisky.
   
• 14th May 2020
  Whisky Leaders Celebrate Industry's Resilient Spirit
  Leading lights across the Scotch sector have come together for World Whisky Day, this coming Saturday 16th May, to affirm their confidence in Scotland’s iconic whisky industry and resilient spirit demonstrated in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone from whisky makers to festival organisers and marketeers behind putting Scotch on the map, have rallied together since the start of pandemic. Initiatives have included fundraising drives for the hospitality sector, making hand sanitiser and holding virtual tastings and events.
   
• 13th May 2020
  Bimber Distillery Launch The Bimber Klub
  Bimber Distillery in London today announced the launch of the Bimber Klub, a new membership option that provides a lifetime of whisky experiences for the growing number of Bimber enthusiasts.
   
• 13th May 2020
  Tamdhu Iain Whitecross Single Cask Vintage 2003
  Tamdhu has announced the release of a single cask whisky which has been hand picked by Tamdhu Assistant Distillery Manager, Iain Whitecross. The Tamdhu Iain Whitecross Single Cask 5892 Vintage 2003 expression is a First Fill European sherry butt matured whisky which will be available exclusively from the distillery via their online shop.
   
• 6th May 2020
  Kavalan Distillery Select No. 2
  Kavalan distillery has announced the launch of Kavalan Select No.2, the second release in their entry level Distillery Series, which is described as deeply aromatic with an irresistible floral and herbal complexity, blending woody and spicy notes in rich layers.
   
• 5th May 2020
  Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 3
  Despite the COVID-19 pandemic Tamdhu distillery has revealed the next instalment of their big sherried cask strength Collectors Journey series, the Tamdhu Dalbeallie Dram 3, which was scheduled for release during the Spirit of Speyside festival.
   
• 1st May 2020
  International Beverage Holdings Ambitious US Growth Plan
  In whisky business news International Beverage announce ambitious US growth plan for the future with the announcement of a new US partnership with artisanal spirits importer and distiller Hotaling & Co.
   
• 29th April 2020
  Glencairn Crystal Marks 20 Years Of The Glencairn Whisky Glass
  The iconic Glencairn whisky glass celebrates 20 years as the world's favourite whisky glass and the Glencairn team is set to mark this momentous anniversary in 2020 with a number of milestone moments.
   
• 17th April 2020
  The Glenlivet Spectra A Trio Of Mystery No Age Statement Malts
  The Glenlivet Spectra is the latest release in the mysterious and so far highly rated single malt whisky series from the Speyside distillery. This time though as its name suggests, 'Spectra', the distillery hasn't released just one single malt whisky but a trio of mysterious single malts without any tasting notes, age statement or information on the casks the Spectra trio of whiskies were matured in.
   
• 17th April 2020
  Glenmorangie Partners With Delayed Drinks Initiative
  The Glenmorangie Company is partnering with some iconic Edinburgh venues to launch a Delayed Drinks initiative to mitigate the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic on the Scottish capital’s bar scene. Any bars interested in the Delayed Drinks initiative should contact DelayedDrinks@Glenmorangie.co.uk
   
• 16th April 2020
  Glencairn Sponsors Scottish International Crime Writing Awards
  Award winning Scottish family business Glencairn Crystal will sponsor the 2020 McIlvanney Prize for the Scottish Crime Book of the Year and the Bloody Scotland Debut Crime Novel of the Year, with its famous Glencairn Glass – the World’s Favourite Whisky Glass.
   
• 15th April 2020
  Jameson Hosts Online Bartender Programme
  Jameson Hosts, Jameson’s trade engagement platform launches online giving the bar community a platform to come together to connect, learn and share in the wake of the pandemic.
   
• 8th April 2020
  BenRiach & GlenDronach Launch Online Conversation Series
  BenRiach & GlenDronach launch online conversation series which starts tonight at 8pm on Instagram Live. The masters behind BenRiach and The GlenDronach are inviting whisky fans worldwide to embrace their extra time at home with an online conversation series exploring the many possibilities of Single Malt whisky.
   
• 8th April 2020
  Stay Indoors With Smokehead TV Launching This Sunday
  Tune in to Smokehead TV which will launch this Sunday 12th April at 5pm hosted by Smokehead Brand Ambassador, Mikey Sim and custom Ducati aficionado, Tyler Lunceford, tasting the original Smokehead expression.
   
• 8th April 2020
  £1 Million Whisky Collection Auction Part 2
  Although some of the big whisky auctions have closed down during the Covid 19 coronavirus pandemic, Perth based specialist online whisky auction, Whisky Auctioneer, continues with its scheduled online auctions and what an auction they have kicking off on the 10th April. As previously scheduled they will kick off Part 2 of the auction of the World's Largest Private Whisky Collection which will run until 20th April.
   
• 7th April 2020
  Loch Lomond Group Whiskies Go Platinum At San Francisco Comp
  If you are one of the many whisky lovers who is currently locked down at home and you are on the lookout for something new to try to perk you up during this time then why not check out the range of single malts which the Loch Lomond Group has to offer, the groups portfolio of single malts has recently enjoyed one of its most impressive sets of results at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, receiving twelve separate awards, including two coveted platinum medals for its Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Single Malt and Glen Scotia 25 Year Old Single Malt.
   
• 7th April 2020
  Ian Macleod Distillers Lighten Lockdown With Podcast & Tasting
  Ian Macleod Distillers are lightening up the COVID-19 lockdown for their whisky fans with the launch of a new podcast titled Whisky Unscripted, as well as a live Facebook tasting of Tamdhu’s finest range with Distillery Manager, Sandy McIntyre.
   
• 31st March 2020
  Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Year Old
  Ardbeg has announced the launch of a new permanent addition to their core range, Ardbeg Wee Beastie 5 Year Old which has been matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks.
   
• 31st March 2020
  WWA Best Single Cask - Tamdhu Distillery Manager's Single Cask
  Offering some light relief to whisky fans and the drinks community in these uncertain times the folks at the World Whiskies Awards ploughed on with the 2020 competition via their official social channels last week were they crowned the Tamdhu Distillery Manager’s Single Cask the ‘World’s Best Single Cask, Single Malt Whisky’.
   
• 31st March 2020
  Old Particular Invergordon 22 Year Old Easter Edition
  After much deliberation given the current climate, Glasgow based whisky specialists Douglas Laing has launched their first ever Old Particular Easter Edition, a Single Cask, Invergordon 22 Year Old Single Grain whisky which was distilled in May 2020 and bottled this month, March 2020, at its natural cask strength of 48.9% ABV.
   
• 23rd March 2020
  Diageo Pledges 8 Million Bottles Of Sanitiser For Frontline Workers
  In an unprecedented global response Diageo, maker of Johnnie Walker Scotch Whisky and Smirnoff vodka, has pledged to enable the creation of more than eight million bottles of hand sanitiser, by donating up to two million litres of alcohol to manufacturing partners, to help protect frontline healthcare workers in the fight against COVID-19.
   
• 20th March 2020
  Bimber Announces Virtual Tours & Tastings
  In light of the Coronavirus pandemic and similar to other whisky distilleries London's Bimber Distillery has ceased distillery tours but they tell me that they will be 'keeping the spirit alive' as part of the industry’s wider response to the COVID-19 crisis by significantly broadening their digital offerings. Bimber will be producing a range of virtual tours and online tasting events so that enthusiast communities can continue to enjoy the Bimber experience from the comfort of their own homes.
   
• 18th March 2020
  Islay’s Feis Ile 2020 Cancelled
  This will come as no surprise as many distilleries have already suspended tours in light of the Coronavirus pandemic, following a meeting of Islay’s Feis Ile committee yesterday to discuss the Coronavirus pandemic and the implications for this year’s Malt and Music Festival in the midst of the global crisis the committee has made the decision to cancel the Feis Ile 2020 inline with the Scottish governments guidelines.
   
• 17th March 2020
  Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2020 Cancelled
  Given the current worldwide Coronavirus pandemic I think by this stage it could have been assumed by now that the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival 2020 would not be going ahead and today the organisers at the Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival have officially announced this year’s Festival will be cancelled in light of social restriction guidelines in response to the global Coronavirus pandemic.
   
• 13th March 2020
  Situation Vacant Ardbeg Begins Search For New Distillery Manager
  Ardbeg today announced the end of an era at the Islay distillery with the announcement that after 13 years overseeing whisky production the Distillery Manager Mickey Heads will retire at the end of October 2020.
   
• 12th March 2020
  Glenmorangie Forges Conservation Partnership To Save The Giraffe
  Glenmorangie distillery, home to to Scotland's tallest stills has long celebrated the giraffe as a symbol of the distillery. With its extraordinary height, the animal perfectly illustrates the stature of the single malt whisky’s towering stills. Today, the Highland Distillery demonstrates its commitment to this endangered animal by forging a global conservation partnership to help safeguard its future.
   
• 10th March 2020
  Ardbeg The Shortie Smoky Porter Beer
  Ardbeg have teamed up with craft beer company Brewgooder to release their first ever beer - Ardbeg The Shortie Smoky Porter with all profits from its sales being donated to support clean water projects in Malawi.
   
• 5th March 2020
  Redbreast Adds 27 Year Old To Core Range
  Irish Distillers today unveiled a new permanent addition to their Redbreast Irish single pot still whiskey range, the Redbreast 27 Year Old, a cask strength combination of American Bourbon, sherry and port cask matured Irish pot still whiskey.
   
• 5th March 2020
  Glenfarclas Pagoda Ruby Reserve
  Glenfarclas has just released their oldest whisky to date, Glenfarclas Pagoda Ruby Reserve 62 Year Old which was distilled in 1954 and bottled in 2017 although they are only now releasing the whisky for sale as the next instalment in the Pagoda Series. It is a limited edition release which is rather uniquely presented in a Glencairn decanter featuring hand-mounted precious rubies.
   
• 4th March 2020
  Goldfinch Macallan 26 Year Old
  Goldfinch whisky merchants launch a a Macallan 26 Year Old single cask bottling, matured for 25 years in an American oak bourbon barrel, then finished for a year in an Oloroso sherry oak hogshead cask.
   
• 4th March 2020
  The 'End Of The Line' Distillery Set To Open In John O’Groats
  A new micro Scotch whisky distillery is set to open in John O’Groats in 2021, following planning permission secured for a distillery, visitor centre and bonded warehouse. The ‘end of the line’ distillery will have the capacity to produce up to 60,000 litres of whisky each year and will be the first Scotch whisky distillery in John O’Groats since 1837.
   
• 26th February 2020
  Tamdhu Scoops 4 World Whiskies Awards
  Tamdhu has scooped four World Whiskies Awards for its exclusively sherry cask matured Speyside single malt whisky. The Speyside distillery had two Category Winners in the Single Cask, Single Malt Scotch Category with its Edinburgh Airport European Sherry Oak Single Cask coming out on top of the ‘13 to 20 Years’ grouping and Sandy McIntyre’s Single Cask clinching the win in the ‘No Age Statement’ section.
   
• 26th February 2020
  Waterford Inaugural Release - 1st Cuvee: Pilgrimage
  Waterford Distillery has announced its inaugural release which will only be available at a distillery Open Day on 25th April. As you can imagine the inaugural Waterford 1ST CUVÉE: PILGRIMAGE is a limited release with a total of 1,500 bottles available, 1,000 of which will be labelled 'I Was There'.
   
• 21st February 2020
  Kilmarnock Museum Hosts Rare Johnnie Walker Artefacts Exhibition
  Treasured historical artefacts from the roots of the world’s number one Scotch whisky, Johnnie Walker, are to go on public display for the first time in Kilmarnock - the town where the story began 200 years ago.
   
• 21st February 2020
  Diageo Reserve World Class GB Bartender Competition 2020
  Calling all bartenders, Diageo Reserve World Class GB Bartender Competition 2020 is now open for entries but don't hang around as the closing date for entries is the 9th March.
   
• 20th February 2020
  Ardbeg Blaaack - Committee 20th Anniversary Limited Editon
  Ardbeg to mark the 20th anniversary of the Ardbeg Committee with the release of Ardbeg Blaaack which has been matured in New Zealand Pinot Noir casks. Ardbeg Blaaack Committee 20th Anniversary Limited Edition bottled at 50.7% ABV will be available to buy on 4th March.
   
• 20th February 2020
  Douglas Laing XOP The Black Series, Port Ellen Vintage 1979
  Douglas Laing announce the release of XOP The Black Series, Port Ellen Vintage 1979, the oldest expression of Port Ellen from the Glasgow whisky company to date and as you can imagine you will need very deep pockets if you want to taste this one with an expected retail price of £3500.
   
• 20th February 2020
  Four New Bimber Distillery Exclusive Whiskies
  Bimber unveil three single cask distillery exclusive bottling's as well as a filling strength new make spirit distillery exclusive bottling.
   
• 20th February 2020
  The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Unveils 2020 Programme
  The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has announced its 2020 programme of events, which will bring the best of the iconic whisky region to the public this spring. This year’s Festival will be the biggest yet and is expected to bring thousands of visitors to Speyside in celebration of all things Scotch.
   
• 14th February 2020
  The Dalmore Unveils Rare 51 Year Old
  If you are looking for a last minute Valentine's whisky gift idea for that special someone in your life then how about this rare single malt whisky which The Dalmore unveiled yesterday, but bare in mind you will need deep pockets to express your love with this one. It is The Dalmore Aged 51 Years, which is a very limited edition release of only 51 bottles worldwide and as you can imagine it has a eye watering price tag of £55,000, but can you really put a price on love.
   
• 11th February 2020
  Glenkinchie 19 YO To Be Bottled For My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
  Doddie Weir has visited the Glenkinchie distillery and selected a 19 Year Old single sherry cask to be bottled for his 'My Name’5 Doddie Foundation' which raises money to support research into finding a cure for Motor Neuron Disease.
   
• 10th February 2020
  Rosebank Set To Release Two 1993 Single Cask Whiskies
  Ian Macleod Distillers announce the release of two single cask 1993 vintage Rosebank single malt whiskies, each has been matured in a refill Bourbon Hogshead cask but are said to have their own completely distinct and unique character. Only 100 bottles of whisky from each cask will initially be released and will be available to purchase via ballot.
   
• 7th February 2020
  £1 Million Whisky Collection Goes Under The Hammer
  Bidding gets underway for the worlds largest private whisky collection which is estimated to fetch £1 Million. Consisting primarily of single malt Scotch whisky, the collection of over 3,900 bottles will be sold across two auctions, the first part of which gets underway at 12:00pm GMT today.
   
• 4th February 2020
  Jameson's St. Patrick’s Day 2020 Limited Edition
  Jameson has unveiled their St. Patrick’s Day 2020 Limited Edition bottle which this year inspires Jameson fans to get creative themselves and create their own label.
   
• 31st January 2020
  The Spirit of Speyside Festivals 2020
  The popular Spirit of Speyside Festivals are set to return in 2020 and will feature over 700 ticketed whisky themed activities. The Spring Speyside Festival kicks off on 29 April - 4 May at venues across Speyside tickets and tickets will go on sale at noon on 12th February.
   
• 29th January 2020
  Old Particular Elements Series Jura 12 Years Old Water Edition
  Douglas Laing concludes the Old Particular Elements series with the release of the final element, 'Water', a Jura 12 Year Old single cask, cask strength whisky which was finished in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry butt.
   
• 27th January 2020
  Big Peat The Black Edition Completes Limited Edition Trilogy
  Douglas Laing has announced the release of the Big Peat The Black Edition 27 Year Old, the third and final release in their Big Peat Limited Edition Trilogy collection.
   
• 27th January 2020
  An Evening of Scottish Virtuosity 2020 by Murray Cohen
  This years annual Vintages/LCBO sponsored 'An Evening of Scottish Virtuosity' event in Toronto, Canada saw Stuart Brown, the first Canadian whisky ambassador for Johnnie Walker and Diageo whisky present the Diageo Special Releases 2019 line-up as well as the premium John Walker & Sons King George V blend and once again our guest writer, Murray Cohen was there to review the event and of course, the whiskies.
   
• 24th January 2020
  Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest
  Irish Distillers has unveiled the third release in their so far very highly rated Dair Ghaelach collection, the new release is Midleton Very Rare Dair Ghaelach Knockrath Forest which has been finished in barrels made from virgin Irish oak grown in Knockrath Forest, County Wicklow. The virgin oak casks were filled with Irish pot still whiskeys ranging in age from 13-26 years and further matured for another two years.
   
• 24th January 2020
  The SMWS Edinburgh Burns Night Cocktail Menu
  The Scotch Malt Whisky Society venue at Queen Street, Edinburgh are celebrating Burns Night with a huge menu of Bobby Burns cocktails, using some of the rarest single malt whisky in their collection.
   
• 22nd January 2020
  The SMWS Glasgow Burns Night Haggis Hunt
  In celebration of their forthcoming new venue opening in Glasgow The Scotch Malt Whisky Society are offering you the chance to win an annual membership in their Burns Night Haggis Hunt in Glasgow.
   
• 21st January 2020
  Diageo Donates Glenkinchie Cask To My Name’5 Doddie Foundation
  Rugby legend and inspirational Motor Neuron Disease campaigner Doddie Weir visited Diageo’s new Scottish headquarters in Edinburgh yesterday (Monday 20 January) to accept the donation of a cask of Scotch whisky to raise money for his My Name’5 Doddie Foundation to find a cure for Motor Neuron Disease.
   
• 17th January 2020
  Highland Park 2020 The New Year Ahead
  An insight into what's new at the Highland Park distillery on the Orkney Islands and what new bottlings we can expect to see in the coming year ahead including a new Highland Park Cask Strength permanent expression which is scheduled for early summer.
   
• 17th January 2020
  Burns Night With BenRiach Painting By Tasting Notes
  With Burns Night fast approaching I am certain that a few of you will be looking for a good dram to celebrate the occasion whether you will be dancing the night away, tucking into a plate of Haggis & Neeps at a Burns supper, or simply sitting by the fire and raising a glass of Scotland's finest whisky to celebrate Scotland's national bard, Rabbie Burns birthday. But if you are in or around London do you fancy toasting Scotland's national bard at a Burns Night tasting event with a artistic BenRiach twist.
   
• 15th January 2020
  Diageo Promotes Inclusion and Diversity As Part Of INC Week
  Over 2000 Diageo employees are taking part in series of events across Scotland this week to champion inclusion and diversity as part of INC Week. During the week Gail Porter will be amongst the inspiring voices leading sessions.
   
• 4th January 2020
  Restoration Of Binns Clock At Johnnie Walker Visitor Experience
  The famous cantilever clock on the corner of Edinburgh’s Princes Street and Hope Street is to be lovingly restored as part of the project to create the Johnnie Walker Princes Street global visitor attraction in the heart of Scotland’s capital.
   

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