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- 15th
April 2026
Six New Clydebuilt Single Cask
Whiskies Bottled By Ardgowan
Ardgowan Distillery Company has
announced the release of six new single
cask expressions under its boutique
Clydebuilt range, further expanding the
brand’s portfolio while its own single
malt continues to mature. The latest
bottlings comprise five single malts
and one single grain whisky, sourced
from a selection of renowned
distilleries: Aberlour Distillery,
Aultmore Distillery, Benriach
Distillery, Glen Garioch Distillery,
Linkwood Distillery, and a single
grain distilled at Cameronbridge
Distillery.
- 15th
April 2026
Scottish Craftsmens Association 27th
Annual Whisky Experience
Review of the Scottish Craftsmen's
Association 27th annual whisky event
and the whiskies tasted on the night
by guest writer and Scotch Malt
Whisky forum member, Murray Cohen.
The whiskies were Fettercarin 18
Year Old, Ardnamurchan Madeira Cask
Release, Glentaucher 27 Year MacBeth
Series Act Two (The Thanes-Lennox),
Raasay Na Sa Unpeated Oak Cask and
Glenburgie 25 Year Old Gordon &
MacPhail.
- 13th
April 2026
Laggan
Bay Opens On Islay
Laggan Bay Distillery, the newest
addition to Islay's whisky landscape,
has officially opened and begun
production, becoming the island's 11th
single malt distillery. Developed by Ian
Macleod Distillers—owners of Glengoyne,
Rosebank, and Tamdhu—the project
represents a significant long-term
investment in both whisky-making and the
local community.
- 10th
April 2026
Douglas Laing The Epicurean Peated
Edition
Douglas Laing & Co. has unveiled The
Epicurean Peated Edition, marking a
limited and notable first for its
Remarkable Lowland Malt range. This
Small Batch Scotch blended malt whisky
expression introduces a delicate layer
of peat to the brand's signature fresh
and lively Lowland profile, adding depth
while staying true to its reputation as
the Master of Versatility.
- 8th
April 2026
Luss Distillery Receives Five-Star
Visitor Attraction Rating
Newly opened Luss Distillery is
already making a significant impact
to Loch Lomond's tourism offering
having secured a five-star grading
from the Association of Scottish
Visitor Attractions - an early
marker of its quality and visitor
appeal.
- 8th
April 2026
Rare Find 'Teaspooned' Single Cask
Collection
Edinburgh-based Rare Find has
announced the upcoming launch of
three single cask whiskies that
explore the nuances of ‘teaspooned’
malts. The releases include a
Speyside 22 Year Old (hinting at The
Balvenie), a Westport 18 Year Old
(suggesting Glenmorangie), and a
Campbeltown 10 Year Old (alluding to
Springbank).
- 1st
April 2026
Whisky Industry Struggles Against
Export Uncertainty
In whisky business news, Johnston
Carmichael's latest annual food and
drink survey points to a slowdown in
the whisky industry, with optimism
levels lagging behind the wider
sector as businesses grapple with
mounting pressures. UK whisky
producers are finding it
increasingly difficult to stay
positive in the face of rising costs
at home and ongoing uncertainty
abroad, according to new research
from the independent accountancy and
advisory firm.
- 1st
April 2026
Johnnie Walker Red Soul
For the first time, Johnnie Walker Red
Label is unveiling a new global
innovation: Johnnie Walker Red Soul.
Offering a sweeter and smoother
interpretation of the original Johnnie
Walker Red Label, Johnnie Walker Red
Soul has been created to make Scotch
more approachable for those who don’t
typically drink whisky. The product is
set for a global rollout.
- 1st
April 2026
Pernod Ricard In Merger Talks With
Brown-Forman
Pernod Ricard, owner of Absolut
vodka, Chivas Regal whisky, The
Glenlivet, Aberlour and Jameson
Irish whiskey to name just a few is
in discussions over a potential
merger with Brown-Forman, the
US-based owner of Jack Daniel's.
- 1st
April 2026
Deanston 17 Year Old Orange Wine
Cask Finish
Deanston 17 Year Old Orange Wine
Cask Finish is a new limited edition
single malt whisky from the Highland
distiller, it has been finished in
Andalucían Vino de Naranja casks —
and it's one of the more interesting
releases to come out of the Highland
distillery in some time.
- 31st
March 2026
Ardbeg
Day 2026 Release – Ardbeg Dolce
Ardbeg blends Sicilian sweetness
with Islay peat smoke in the new
limited Ardbeg Day 2026 release. The
whisky which was matured in Marsala
dolce casks invites fans to
experience the taste of la dolce
vita… Islay-style.
- 27th
March 2026
Loch Lomond's Gary Mills Named Best
Scotch Whisky Ambassador
Independent distiller Loch Lomond Group
is celebrating a major milestone after
its Global Brand Ambassador, Gary Mills,
was named the Icons of Whisky – Best
Scotch Whisky Ambassador at the
internationally recognised World Whisky
Awards.
- 26th
March 2026
Osprey - A New Independent Speyside
Malt Whisky Brand
Aceo Spirits has unveiled Osprey, a
new independent bottling Speyside
Scotch single malt whisky brand
inspired by the wildlife, landscapes
and enduring character of Speyside.
The brand launched today with a
Osprey 10 Year Old Braeval and a
Osprey 15 Year Old Glentauchers
single malts.
- 25th
March 2026
Laphroaig 12 Year Old Rolls Out
Exclusively In Travel Retail
Laphroaig, renowned for producing
one of the most distinctive Scotch
single malts, has unveiled the
expansion of its Laphroaig 12 Year
Old within travel retail, rolling
out across leading international
airport hubs in response to rising
consumer interest.
- 18th
March 2026
Kilchoman Maury Cask Matured
Kilchoman
has announced the release of Kilchoman
Maury Cask Matured, its first limited
edition release of 2026, showcasing
a full-term maturation in Maury
casks which have imparted rich
layers of dates, raisins and dark
honey sweetness, which complement
Kilchoman’s signature peat smoke and
bright citrus character.
- 18th
March 2026
Glenmorangie The Thirty
Glenmorangie Highland single malt
Scotch whisky has unveiled
Glenmorangie The Thirty, described
as a rich and complex expression
that now stands as the oldest whisky
in the distillery’s core range.
Crafted through a combination of
creativity and expertise, they tell
me that this spicy, fruit-forward
single malt highlights the impact of
extended maturation and cask
finishing.
- 18th
March 2026
Shirakawa 1958 At Gordon Ramsey's
Asian Lucky Cat Restaurant
Rare Shirakawa 1958 Japanese single
malt whisky secures a place on the
menu at Gordon Ramsay’s recently
launched Lucky Cat restaurant at
£2,300 per dram. Shirakawa 1958
originates from the now-closed
Shirakawa Distillery, located around
200km north of Tokyo. It remains the
only official single malt ever
released from the distillery and is
believed to be the oldest single
vintage Japanese whisky ever
bottled.
- 18th
March 2026
Indri Diwali Collector's Edition
2025 Marsala Cask
India’s celebrated premium single malt
whisky, Indri, has confirmed the UK
debut of its award-winning Diwali
Collector’s Edition 2025 Marsala Cask,
offering whisky lovers the chance to
experience one of the country’s most
distinctive modern single malts. The
whisky is produced in small batches
using indigenous six-row Indian
barley. The 2025 edition is matured
in specially selected Marsala wine
casks sourced from Sicilian
producers.
- 16th
March 2026
Tomatin
Gets a New Look Which Emphasising
Its Use Of Oak
Highland whisky distillery Tomatin
Distillery is reinforcing its
dedication to cask management with a
bold new packaging refresh across
its core range of single malt
whiskies. The refreshed packaging
emphasises the craftsmanship,
precision and attention that goes
into every cask, bringing Tomatin’s
renowned wood policy to the
forefront.
- 12th
March 2026
Glen Moray Forbidden Fruit Review
Review of the recently released Glen
Moray Forbidden Fruit, a bright,
fruit-forward (apple and pear) and
very easy to drink dram, yet still
carries enough gentle spice and oak
to keep things interesting—and,
importantly, a whisky that delivers
genuine quality at a price that
still feels fair.
- 10th
March 2026
Ardbeg House Awarded The Times Best
Places To Stay 2026
Ardbeg House, the recently opened whisky
and hospitality destination on Islay,
has been named the best place to stay in
both the UK and Scotland by The Times
and The Sunday Times.
- 10th
March 2026
Murray McDavid Launches AFICIONADO A
Rare Vintage Collection
Murray McDavid unveils AFICIONADO,
an exclusive new collection showcasing
rare, carefully selected vintage single
malt Scotch whiskies. Launching today,
10 March 2026, the collection sits
between the brand's highly regarded
Mission Gold range—known for exceptional
single malts, grains and blends—and its
ultra-premium ULTRA collection, often
described as Masterpieces of Time.
- 9th
March 2026
Cara
Laing Marks 20 Years In The Whisky
industry
In 2026, Douglas Laing & Co.’s
third-generation Managing Director
Cara Laing celebrates twenty years
in the Scotch whisky industry. The
milestone reflects both her personal
journey and the continued evolution
of the Glasgow based, family-owned
independent bottler, whose
commitment to quality, authenticity
and traditional whisky-making has
remained steadfast since 1948.
- 9th
March 2026
Oban Aged 15 Years Port Cask Finish
New for the the US market, Oban Aged
15 Years Port Cask Finish is said to
marry Coastal Salinity from the Western
Highlands of Scotland with Red Fruit
Richness from Portuguese Port Casks.
- 6th
March 2026
Scallywag 18 Year Old Finished in
Pedro Ximénez Sherry Casks
Douglas Laing & Co. has just unveiled
Scallywag 18 Year Old, a new
limited-edition expression that
highlights a deeper, more mature side of
its popular Scallywag Speyside Blended
Malt Scotch Whisky collection. Aged for
18 years the whisky spent its final
maturation period in Pedro Ximénez
sherry casks.
- 5th
March 2026
Glen Scotia Campbeltown Malts
Festival 2026 Bottling
Glen Scotia has unveiled its
Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026
limited-edition single malt, crafted
specially to mark the annual
festival. A vibrant, port-finished
whisky, which is said to capture the
bold coastal character of Scotland's
smallest whisky region.
- 5th
March 2026
Berry Bros & Rudd Blue Hanger 14th
Edition
Berry Bros. & Rudd has unveiled the
long-anticipated 14th edition of Blue
Hanger, one of its most renowned blended
malt whiskies, marking the return of the
series after a pause of more than a
decade.
The 14th Edition is composed of mature
malt whiskies, the youngest being 26
years old. The blend is drawn from seven
casks in total—six ex-bourbon hogsheads
and one ex-sherry butt.
- 3rd
March 2026
Rare Find Launches New Batch Of
Single Cask Bottlings
Rare Find has revealed the newest
additions to its single cask collection,
introducing four new whisky releases
accompanied by an elegant refreshed
visual identity. The Aultmore 15 Year Old will be
offered exclusively to members of the
Rare Find Vault and the other three single cask releases,
Longmorn 19 Year Old, Inchmurrin 11 Year
Old and Sutherland 35 Year Old
will be available from the 12th of March through selected
specialist online whisky shops.
- 2nd
March 2026
House Of Suntory Open Shop At Hong
Kong International Airport
Suntory Global Spirits, a global leader
in premium spirits, has joined forces
with Duty Zero by cdf under China Duty
Free Group to introduce a new milestone
for Japanese whisky fans: the first
permanent House of Suntory shop-in-shop
at Hong Kong International Airport, one
of the most vibrant travel hubs in the
Asia-Pacific region.
- 26th
February 2026
Glencairn Crystal Presented With
Kings Award for Enterprise
Lady Haughey
(Susan) CBE, the Lord-Lieutenant of
Lanarkshire, visited Glencairn Crystal
Studio Ltd on 20 February 2026 to
formally present the business with its
trophy for the King's Award for
Enterprise.
As one of a limited group of
organisations across the UK to receive
this distinction, Glencairn Crystal was
honoured for its achievements in
Innovation—its fourth time earning this
remarkable recognition.
- 24th
February 2026
Whisky Pricing - Are Whisky Drinkers
Being Priced Out?
The recent wave of restructuring
across the Scotch whisky industry
has raised an increasingly urgent
question among whisky consumers and
commentators alike: are whisky
drinkers being priced out of the
very market they helped build?Over
the past two decades, increased
premiumisation has reshaped the
whisky landscape. Older age
statements, luxury packaging,
special releases, and escalating
prices turned whisky into a global
prestige category. But now, as the
world economy slows and household
budgets tighten, demand for
high-cost whisky has started to
falter — and the industry is showing
signs of strain.
- 24th
February 2026
Bowmore & Laphroaig Distillery
Operational Teams Merge
As the global whisky downturn
deepens, Suntory Global Spirits has
confirmed a major structural change
on Islay, merging the operational
and production teams at its two
renowned distilleries, Bowmore
Distillery and Laphroaig Distillery.
- 20th
February 2026
Chivas Brothers Net Sales Down 5%
In whisky business news, Chivas Brothers,
the Scotch whisky division of Pernod
Ricard, has reported total net sales of
–5% for the first half of the financial
year ending December 2025.
- 16th
February 2026
Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat
Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat,
available exclusively in the United
States for now, is matured in
first-fill American oak ex-bourbon
casks. This new permanent expression
highlights sweetness drawn from oak
and malt, balanced by the
distillery’s unmistakable smoky
character.
- 14th
February 2026
Redbreast Moscatel Wine Cask Edition
Redbreast has introduced Redbreast
Moscatel Wine Cask Edition, the fifth
release in the acclaimed Iberian Series.
While all Redbreast expressions mature
in a combination of ex-bourbon and
ex-sherry casks, the Iberian Series
stands apart through its use of
specially sourced sherry casks selected
for these limited offerings. Created by
Master Blender David McCabe, this
edition honours both tradition and
innovation by incorporating Moscatel
wine casks from the historic Bodegas
Quitapenas to further deepen the
signature character of the renowned
Irish single pot still whiskey.
- 12th
February 2026
The Macallan Diamonds Are Forever
55th Anniversary Release
The Macallan has introduced a new single
malt Scotch whisky: The Macallan
Diamonds Are Forever 55th Anniversary
Release. Created to commemorate 55 years
since the film first appeared on the big
screen, this expression highlights a
shared dedication to craftsmanship,
innovation, and storytelling that links
the distillery with Diamonds Are Forever
and the wider world of James Bond.
- 10th
February 2026
London Distillery Ten Times Around
the Sun 10 Year Old
The London Distillery Company has
unveiled Ten Times Around the Sun, set
to become London's first 10 Year Old
single malt whisky—a milestone release
that marks a chapter in the
city's renewed whisky renaissance.
Crafted from Quenchsignificant spring barley
and filled on 20 October 2015 into a
single ex-bourbon cask (#007), Ten
Times Around the Sun is bottled at
51.4% ABV.
- 5th
February 2026
InterBev Spirit of Our Community
Awards Beneficiaries
International Beverage has announced the
Scottish charities that will benefit
from its £25,000 Spirit of Our Community
Awards fund. The Airdrie-based spirits
producer revealed today the three
main beneficiaries of this year’s
awards. A total of £20,000 will be
shared among the selected
organisations, chosen from a wide
range of applicants. An additional
£5,000 will be distributed among
seven runners-up.
- 5th
February 2026
Valentine’s Day Whisky Cocktail
Ideas From Tomatin
Highland distiller Tomatin
is marking this Valentine’s Day with two
new sweet, indulgent whisky
cocktails—ideal for a cosy night in with
friends or a romantic date at home.
Whether you're a long-time whisky lover
or just beginning to explore the world
of single malts, they tell me that Tomatin 10 Year Old and
Tomatin Double Cask offer the perfect
base for February’s Valentine-inspired
serves.
- 4th
February 2026
Ardbeg Ten Year Old Cask Strength Is
Coming!
After more than two decades calling
for it Ardbeg are set to launch an
Ardbeg Ten Year Old Cask Strength
expression exclusively for Ardbeg
Committee members. They tell me it
is bursting with aromas of tar, sea
spray and sweet, smoky richness,
bottled at 61.7% ABV – the highest
strength ever seen in a Committee
Release. My review will be coming
soon, so watch this space!
- 3rd
February 2026
International Beverage Invests In
New US Distribution Hub
International Beverage has announced
the launch of a new international
spirits hub in the United States, a
key step in advancing its ambitious
plans for the growth of its premium
spirits portfolio across American
markets. Based in Manhattan, New
York, the hub represents the
company’s first fully owned and
managed US route to market in more
than ten years.
- 2nd
February 2026
Luss Distillery Officially Opened By
First Minister of Scotland
First Minister John Swinney
officially opens Luss Distillery, a
major new multi-million-pound whisky
tourism destination on Loch Lomond
in the historic village of Luss,
marking one of Scotland’s most
significant recent investments in
whisky tourism.
- 28th
January 2026
The
Dalmore 17 Year Old Joins Core Range
Highland Single Malt Whisky, The
Dalmore, has unveiled a new permanent
addition to its core portfolio: The
Dalmore 17 Year Old. This release marks
a deeper exploration of Sherry cask
maturation, which they tell me delivers
greater richness and complexity.
- 21st
January 2026
Kilchoman Cask No. 1 Prize Draw
Winner Announced
Kilchoman Distillery has announced
the winner of its prize draw as it
marks its 20th anniversary in 2025.
Founded in 2005, Kilchoman was the
first new distillery to be
established on Islay in more than
124 years.
- 18th
January 2026
Cutty Sark Review - A Dram For Burns
Night
I you are looking for a dram to
toast Rabbie Burns this Burns night
may I suggest Cutty Sark, a great
value, classic, light-bodied blended
Scotch with a bright, accessible
Speyside character, straightforward,
balanced, and quietly charming—no
drama, just a clean sail across calm
seas.
- 14th
January 2026
Glencairn Glass Crime Short Story
Competition Returns For 2026
The Glencairn Glass, the official glass
for whisky, is once again raising a dram
to crime fiction with the return of its
much-loved annual Crime Short Story
Competition.
Launching today, 14 January, in partnership
with the Bloody Scotland International
Crime Writing Festival, the competition
invites both established and aspiring
writers from across the globe to submit
an original crime short story of fewer
than 2,000 words. This year’s key
requirement is that the protagonist must
be from Scotland. Entries close on 31
March 2026.
- 14th
January 2026
Lochlea 7 Year Old - The Oldest
Bottling From Lochlea So Far
Lochlea Distillery has unveiled its
oldest single malt release to date: a
limited Lochlea 7 Year Old Single Estate
Single Malt, marking a significant
milestone for the independent,
family-run Ayrshire distillery.
Matured exclusively in seven
hand-selected first-fill Bourbon casks
filled in 2018, the 7 Year Old
represents the natural evolution of
Lochlea’s spirit.
- 12th
January 2026
Tomatin 2011 Single Cask #37607 For
2026 Year Of The Horse
Highland distillery Tomatin has unveiled
a limited single cask
whisky to celebrate the 2026 Lunar New
Year, ushering in the Year of the Horse
2026. Tomatin Year of the Horse 2026
is a 2011 vintage single cask
release, matured in a first fill
Pedro Ximénez sherry butt, Cask No.
37607. You don't see many global
single cask releases from Tomatin so
grab it while you can.
- 6th
January 2026
The
SMWS Celebrates Burns Night In 600
Year Old Crypt
Following a sold-out gathering last
year, the international whisky club, The
Scotch Malt Whisky Society is once again
celebrating Scotland’s national bard
with an immersive Burns Night event in
London later this month. Taking place on
Friday, 23 January in the atmospheric
medieval crypt beneath St Etheldreda’s
Church in Farringdon, the evening
promises a blend of Scottish tradition,
food, music and exceptional whisky.
See
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