The World’s Peatiest Whisky Series Returns With 4 2026 Expressions
On Tuesday, Bruichladdich Distillery unveiled its Octomore 17 Series. The first three expressions in the 2026 iteration of the super-heavily peated Scotch range will be available nationwide beginning Sept. 1. The fourth and final expression, Octomore 17.4, will arrive in the U.S. for the first time — but will come later, in October.
Prices for the series range from $204.99 to $279.99, with Octomore 17.1, 17.2 and 17.3 available through Bruichladdich's online store and specialist whisky retailers. Octomore 17.4 will be released Oct. 1 in highly limited quantities exclusively online.
The annual Octomore series is built around experimentation with heavily peated barley, provenance and cask maturation. Each release is limited and designed to explore how those variables affect the finished whisky.
Octomore was created to challenge conventional ideas about heavily peated Scotch. Although the whiskies use exceptionally high levels of peat, Bruichladdich claims that it uses its tall, narrow-necked stills to help produce spirits with balance and elegance alongside the intense smoke.
The series is a turn away from scotch releases designed for consistency. Bruichladdich uses younger whiskies, high-PPM malted barley and bottling at or near cask strength to highlight differences between individual releases.
All four Octomore 17 whiskies are conceived, distilled, matured and bottled on Islay. They are non-chill filtered, contain no added color and are brought to proof using Octomore Spring water from Islay.
Octomore 17.1 serves as the foundation of the series. Made from 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley malted to 81 parts per million (PPM) of phenol, the whisky was matured entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels. Bruichladdich describes the resulting profile as a combination of salt, smoke and sweetness. The U.S. suggested retail price is $204.99.
Octomore 17.2 uses the same 100% Scottish mainland Concerto barley and 81 PPM peating level but takes a different approach to maturation. It spent four years in second-fill French oak casks that previously held bourbon before finishing in first-fill Port wine casks. The whisky carries notes of pepper, citrus and berries and has a suggested retail price of $244.99.
Octomore 17.3 shifts the focus from the cask to the barley's provenance. The whisky is made with barley grown in Irene's Field on Octomore Farm on Islay, about two miles from Bruichladdich Distillery. The single-farm, single-field and single-vintage whisky was peated to 132.1 PPM and matured for five years in first-fill bourbon barrels and second-fill Ribera del Duero, Sauternes, Eiswein and Syrah casks. The 17.3 has a suggested retail price of $279.99.
"You don't get a whisky with greater provenance than this," Bruichladdich Master Blender Adam Hannett said in a news release. "We know the farmer, we know the field where the barley was grown, and we know this will intrigue whisky drinkers with its peating level of 132.1 PPM."
Octomore 17.4 Arrives Stateside
The final expression, Octomore 17.4, marks a change for the series in the U.S. Previously reserved for distillery exclusives and limited markets, the .4 expression is coming to American consumers for the first time.
Malted to 108.2 PPM, Octomore 17.4 was matured in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks and finished in French virgin oak. Bruichladdich describes the whisky as combining oak spice and dried fruit with peat smoke and maritime character.
It will carry a U.S. suggested retail price of $249.99 and will be released in highly limited quantities Oct. 1 exclusively online.
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The Highland-based Dalmore Distillery has announced the launch of the fourth and final release in its limited-edition Cask Curation Series, produced in collaboration with esteemed cask partner Blandy’s Madeira.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Madeira Cask Edition comprises three single malt Scotch whiskies, aged 30, 34 and 45 Years Old. Each has been finished in a different, hand-selected Madeira Pipe, specifically chosen to accentuate different facets of The Dalmore’s spirit.
This final edition in the Cask Curation Series sees The Dalmore partner with Blandy’s Madeira, which has been creating award-winning wines on the island for two centuries, across seven generations of the same family. Renowned for its uncompromising dedication to traditional production, including the Canteiro ageing process, Blandy’s Madeira is defined by remarkable longevity and depth of flavour.
Madeira wines are renowned for their rich, decadent sweetness, offering far more than a dessert wine. In bringing these two worlds together through precise cask curation, the intention was never to dominate the spirit, but to reveal and enrich what was already waiting within.
Working with Blandy’s Madeira, The Dalmore’s whisky makers selected three distinct styles of Madeira wine, each carrying its own history, depth and character, to demonstrate how these different styles, themselves shaped through decades of maturation, could complement the spirit and reveal new dimensions of The Dalmore.
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Madeira Cask Edition, comprises:
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Madeira Cask Edition – Aged 30 Years (49.3% ABV) has been matured for 29 years in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, before an eight-month finishing period in a 2010 Terrantez Madeira Pipe. One of Madeira’s rarest traditional styles, Terrantez is elegant and semi-dry in character, with its citrus lift, aromatic spice and refined structure complementing the bright and expressive nature of the mature spirit.
Commenting on the whisky, Dr Kirstie McCallum, Master Blender, said: “A unique expression of The Dalmore bringing to the fore the sweet citrus and nutty notes of the core spirit balanced with an exotic spice. A truly aromatic and complex whisky, with many layers to explore.”
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Madeira Cask Edition – Aged 34 Years (44.5% ABV) has been matured for over 33 years in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, before an eight-month finish in a 2018 Bual Madeira Pipe. Bual is richer and more rounded in style, bringing warmth, layered sweetness and depth, while its generous character complements the broader, more developed nature of this whisky.
Describing the whisky, Dr Kirstie McCallum, Master Blender, said: “Seductive and enticing with layers of dried fruit, honey, exotic woods, and warming spices. A sensory experience evoking travel to distant shores.”
The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Madeira Cask Edition – Aged 45 Years (40.7% ABV) is the oldest expression in the trio, and the oldest bottling across the Cask Curation Series. Matured for 44 years in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, this whisky was enriched by a three-month finish in a 2012 Malvasia Madeira Pipe. The richest and most decadent traditional style of Madeira, Malvasia delivers dark fruit richness, luxurious texture and lingering spice.
Commenting on the whisky, Dr Kirstie McCallum, Master Blender, said: “A classic expression of The Dalmore, bold dried fruit, spiced orange, dark chocolate, toffee and a hint of liquorice. This expression was closely nurtured through its finish to reach the pinnacle of balance between the aged sweet Malvasia and the rich 45-year-old Dalmore. A true expression of whisky-making artistry.”
First launched in 2023, the Cask Curation Series showcases The Dalmore’s heritage and artistry in multi-cask maturation, enabled by its treasured, exclusive relationships with cask partners, each a producer of some of the world’s finest wines. The Series also honours and evokes the spirit of travel, a passion point for The Dalmore consumer, highlighting the journey of the casks from wineries and bodegas around the globe to The Dalmore distillery in the Scottish Highlands.
Commenting on the collaboration, Francisco Albuquerque, Blandy’s Madeira Master Wine Maker, said: “At Blandy’s Madeira, we strive to balance heritage with a spirit of innovation in every wine we create. As a family-owned company, we are proud to uphold traditions that have defined Madeira for generations, while continuing to evolve. Our partnership with The Dalmore reflects our shared commitment to tradition, quality, and innovation.”
Limited to just 150 sets, The Dalmore Cask Curation Series: The Madeira Cask Edition will be available later this month from selected specialist retailers, for a RRP of £37,350.
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The Balvenie has released an Eighty-Eight-Year-Old Single Malt scotch whisky, the oldest expression in its history, as part of The 1931 Collection. The whisky was distilled in 1931 and bottled in 2019 by malt master Kelsey McKechnie, with just 17 bottles in existence.
Crown Royal x Juicy Couture Drop Limited Edition Y2K-Inspired Merch
READ THE STORYThe liquid was filled into a European oak sherry butt sourced from Jerez, Spain, on 5 March 1931. Recorded as cask #239, it lay in the Speyside distillery’s warehouse for 88 years before McKechnie determined it had reached maturity.
“Today marks a seminal moment in The Balvenie’s history as we unveil our oldest whisky, ever,” said McKechnie. “It is both inspiring and humbling to be the malt master to bring this precious liquid to the world.”
McKechnie described the whisky as “a sensorial experience evoking the serene silence of evergreen woods”. According to the brand’s official notes, the nose offers “honey, subtle mint leaf and buttery fudge”, while the palate reveals “rich aromatic oak” flowing into “creamy toffee, velvety honey and a warming spice”. The finish is long and drying.
The cask inspired two further limited-edition releases.
The 1931 Collection Twelve-Year-Old is made from 100% home-malted barley, matured in American oak and finished in ex-sherry European oak butts from Jerez. The Fifteen-Year-Old is made from 100% home-grown and home-malted barley, following a similar maturation process.
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Charles Metcalfe, global ambassador at The Balvenie, said: “Once in a while, a whisky comes along that is so remarkable it has the potential to shape the future of scotch.”
The Balvenie has collaborated with New York-based artist Daniel Arsham, who designed a sculptural form for the Eighty-Eight-Year-Old. Crafted from eight layers of hand-patinated bronze, the piece contains a copper disc made from a decommissioned distillery still.
“I wanted to create something that feels both ancient and contemporary, to make the passage of time tangible,” said Arsham.
The collection will debut at Frieze Seoul through an immersive performance directed by Arsham.
The Eighty-Eight-Year-Old is available to private clients and collectors. The Fifteen-Year-Old (MSRP: US$199.99/£148) is available from September through global travel retail, while the Twelve-Year-Old (MSRP: US$99.99/£74) is available in selected markets.
The world’s oldest whisky title feels like it’s transformed into a full-blown arms race. We’ve covered a new crown holder every year for the past 3 years. The Macallan held it with an 84-year-old back in 2024, Gordon & MacPhail snatched it with an 85-year-old Glenlivet last year in 2025, and now the crown has moved once again.
But this time it’s, not even close. The Balvenie just unveiled its Eighty-Eight Year Old Single Malt, and it’s the centerpiece of the new 1931 Collection.
One Cask Against the Clock
The story starts on March 5, 1931, when new-make spirit went into a refill European oak sherry butt from Jerez, logged in handwritten records as cask #239, and then it just sat. Through the Great Depression, a world war, and 15 different UK prime ministers, this one barrel just kept doing its thing in Dufftown.
Now, whisky isn’t supposed to survive that long. Evaporation and oak will eventually kill almost any cask, and Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie reportedly had to re-rack the liquid into a smaller vessel to keep it from fading away entirely.
When she sampled it in 2019, she had it bottled and stashed without telling the world. And, here we are seven years later with 17 bottles in total.
Why 1931, Specifically
That vintage isn’t just a random number either. 1931 is the year The Balvenie opened its Home Malt Floor, the traditional floor maltings the distillery still runs today, which is a rarity in modern Scotch production.
The two companion releases in the collection honor that lineage directly. The 12 Year Old uses 100% home-malted barley, while the 15 Year Old goes further with barley both grown and malted on site.
Yes, That’s a Daniel Arsham
The 88 comes housed in a sculpture by artist Daniel Arsham. Eight hand-patinated bronze layers represent the decades, 88 layers of oak line the back, and a copper disc cut from a decommissioned Balvenie still sits at the center.
The whole collection debuts this week at Frieze Seoul with a performance directed by Arsham himself. As for the liquid, the brand describes honey, mint leaf, and buttery fudge on the nose, with creamy toffee and warm spice carrying into a long, drying finish.
Spec Sheet
Whiskey: The Balvenie Eighty-Eight Year Old
Type: Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Age Statement: 88 Years
Distilled: March 5, 1931
Cask: Refill European oak sherry butt #239 (Jerez, Spain)
Bottled: 2019
Aroma: Honey, mint leaf, buttery fudge
Palate: Creamy toffee, velvety honey, warm spice, aromatic oak
Finish: Long and drying
Bottles: 17
Pricing & Availability
The Eighty-Eight Year Old is limited to 17 bottles, offered exclusively to private clients and collectors, and The Balvenie isn’t publishing a price (if you have to ask, and so on). The rest of us can chase the 1931 Collection 15 Year Old ($199.99, global travel retail starting in September) or the 12 Year Old ($99.99, select markets).
Recap
The Balvenie Eighty-Eight Year Old Single Malt Scotch
Bottled from a single 1931 sherry cask and limited to just 17 examples, The Balvenie’s 88-year-old single malt is officially the oldest whisky ever released.
From a remarkable century-spanning Johnnie Walker collection and Loch Lomond’s oldest-ever peated release to The Dalmore’s Marsala-finished single malt and The Macallan’s final coconut-inspired Harmony Collection expressions, we round up September 2026’s most notable whisky news.
September brings a rather pleasing contrast to the whisky world, where the deeply historical sits beside the resolutely experimental, and where collectors, connoisseurs and curious drinkers alike have no shortage of reasons to pay attention. There is the prospect of more than a century of Johnnie Walker history passing through Whisky Auctioneer, a new 31-year-old peated expression from Loch Lomond, and an anniversary bottling from The Glendronach that looks back to two centuries of Highland whisky making.
Elsewhere, the month’s releases show how confidently leading producers continue to explore the language of cask finishing. Bardstown Bourbon Company draws on casks from the Isle of Jura and Oregon’s Garryana oak, The Dalmore turns to Semisecco Marsala barriques, while The Macallan concludes its Harmony Collection with a pair of coconut-inspired single malts, one destined for shelves and the other for the airport traveller.
Below, Simon Wittenberg gathers the details behind September’s most interesting whisky arrivals and auction news.
Bardstown Bourbon Company’s 2026 Annual Releases
Bardstown Bourbon Company in the USA has revealed two limited releases for 2026 costing US$140 (around £100) each. Both bottles feature commissioned artwork by Louisville artist Margaret Archambault.
Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish started off as a bespoke blend of straight bourbon and rye. The blend was then finished for a further 32 months in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks emanating from Scotland’s remote Isle of Jura – previously used to mature single malt Scotch whisky.
The 2026 Discovery expression is the latest to be added to the Bardstown Bourbon Company’s acclaimed Discovery Series, and has been derived from a blend of 7, 10, and 11-year-old bourbons prior to a period of maturation in Garryana oak barrels, designed to add subtle layers of spice and depth.
The Johnnie Walker Collection: One Hundred Years of Striding
As part of this month’s listings, Whisky Auctioneer will be selling one of the most extensive collections of Johnnie Walker whisky bottles from 11th to 21st September. Compiled throughout a period of two decades by Frans Op den Kamp, the line-up features expressions from the brand that span over a century, which include 1,600 full-size bottles, in excess of 600 miniatures, and more than 1,000 original pieces of advertising and memorabilia.
The lots span the 1900s to the present day, reflecting two decades of collecting by a devotee of the Striding Man.
Loch Lomond Waypoint 31 Year Old
Loch Lomond Whiskies in Scotland has started the month of September with the unveiling of their new Waypoint 31 Year Old expression. Restricted to just 2,600 bottles worldwide and priced at £750, this is the oldest peated whisky ever brought to market by the Loch Lomond Distillery.
This is also the third addition to the brand’s Waypoint Series, following in the footsteps of the previously launched 16 and 17 Year Olds. This single malt has been laid down in three different types of ex-Bourbon American Oak casks before being finished for a year in Tawny Port pipes. The result is a superbly balanced dram boasting notes of dark chocolate, raspberry, and cedarwood, which is presented in a stunning etched and handcrafted wooden case.
The Dalmore Distillery Select 2026: Semisecco Marsala Finish
The Dalmore has announced the latest addition to its Distillery Select Series – a collection which made its debut in 2024. The new arrival comes in the form of a 14-year-old single malt finished in Semisecco Marsala casks.
Boasting an ABV of 53.7%, only 1,100 examples are available at £350 each, and it is the result of maturation in American white oak ex-bourbon barrels, followed by transfer to Semisecco Marsala barriques for nearly two years. This limited edition houses notes of floral overtones, as well as clementine, stone fruits, and honeyed malt. The finish brings a touch of oak and sweetness, with citrus undertones.
The Glendronach Exclusive Boynsmill House Edition
In commemoration of the distillery’s 200th anniversary since being founded in 1826, The Glendronach in Aberdeenshire has unveiled a limited-release 14-year-old single malt whisky (46.8% ABV) priced at £90. Featuring a rich copper hue, this expression has been matured for over a decade in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry casks before being housed in claret wine barrels.
The result is a rich and robust whisky that brings a delightful fruit and nut medley, where Highland toffee intertwines with bramble and stone fruit.
The Macallan Harmony Collection Inspired by Fresh Coconut
Speyside distillery The Macallan has brought its Harmony Collection to a close with two final single malts, namely ‘Inspired by Fresh Coconut’ and ‘Inspired by Toasted Coconut’. Sporting an eye-catching black visual identity and devised by Kirsteen Campbell, The Macallan Inspired by Fresh Coconut (46.3% ABV), retailing for around £140 per bottle, offers notes of fresh coconut, citrus and tropical fruits, combined with vanilla, sweet oak and gentle spice. The palate delivers hints of coconut milk, zesty lime and soft sweetness, before giving way to a bright, floral finish.
The Macallan Inspired by Toasted Coconut, available at selected airports, is an expression that brings crème caramel and white chocolate to the nose, prior to treating the palate to coconut truffle, charred pineapple, and frangipane. A long and warming finish of sweet oak and tropical fruits ensues.
The Macallan has also created six bespoke cocktail serves to complement the whiskies – each designed to highlight and interpret the coconut character in different ways.
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The race for the oldest whisky in the world continues, and a new release just took the title from last year’s winner. The Balvenie just announced the release of an 88-year-old single malt scotch, the oldest whisky to date from the distillery, and the oldest whisky that you can currently find in a bottle.
The previous title for oldest whisky in the world belonged to last year’s 85-year-old Glenlivet, which was released by independent bottler Gordon & MacPhail. But this whisky beats that lengthy age statement by three years. The Balvenie is the sister distillery to its next-door neighbor Glenfiddich (both are owned by Scottish company William Grant & Sons). While it has released some ultra-aged whiskies before, this one beats the previous highest age statement by a few decades.
The Balvenie Eighty-Eight-Year-Old was distilled on March 5, 1931, and spent its entire maturation lifespan in a European oak sherry butt from Jerez, Spain (cask #239). In 2019, malt master Kelsey McKechnie felt that it had reached its peak in terms of age and flavor, and decided to bottle it (the cask yielded just 17 bottles). “One morning in 2019 I sampled a whisky that had reached perfection,” she said in a statement. “Exceptional in both substance and significance, I quietly instructed for it to be bottled and locked away for safekeeping. Distilled by the Balvenie’s craftspeople in 1931 and filled into a refill sherry butt sourced from Jerez, it then lay silently in our warehouse for a staggering 88 years. It is both inspiring and humbling to be the malt master to bring this precious liquid to the world.”
It’s worth mentioning once again that age does not necessarily equal quality in whisky of any category. Sometimes the liquid is good after many decades in casks, and sometimes it’s not. We were not able to sample this extremely rare whisky, so for the time being we’ll have to rely on McKechnie’s tasting notes, biased though they might be. Overall, she described it as a “sensorial experience evoking the serene silence of evergreen woods.” That’s quite a concept to wrap your head around, but the specific tasting notes she provided are aromas of honey, mint, and fudge on the nose; followed by notes of aromatic oak, creamy toffee, velvety honey, warming spice, heather, and woodland fern on the palate.
The 88-year-old is actually part of a trio of whiskies that are being released as the 1931 Collection. The other two are much younger—12 and 15-year-old single malts, both made from barley that was malted at the distillery’s own floor malting, and aged in ex-bourbon barrels before being finished in sherry casks.
As you might expect, the 88-year comes with some very special packaging. The crystal decanter is inside of a sculpture designed by artist Daniel Arsham, which is meant to represent the eight decades the whisky spent in oak, and includes a copper disc from a decommissioned still at its center. The brand has not revealed the price of this rare whisky, only that it’s “available to private clients and collectors” (but it’s surely going to be quite high). The 12-year is available for $100 and the 15 for $200, however, starting this month in select markets around the country.
The Balvenie has unveiled the oldest single malt whisky ever released: an 88-year-old drawn from Cask 239, filled on 5 March 1931 and bottled in 2019. Just 17 bottles exist.
The whisky surpasses Gordon & MacPhail’s 85-year-old Glenlivet, released in 2025, but it also leads a three-part collection built around a significant year in The Balvenie’s malting history. A newly constructed home malt floor opened at the distillery in 1931, providing the connection between the record-breaking whisky and new 12 and 15-year-old expressions made with barley malted there.
Cask 239 was a European oak refill sherry butt sourced from Jerez. Malt master Kelsey McKechnie sampled the whisky in 2019 and decided that it had reached its endpoint, rather than allowing it to remain in wood in pursuit of 90 or 100 years. It was transferred to glass at a natural strength of 43.2% ABV.
Despite its extraordinary age, the whisky remains identifiably Balvenie. The nose opens with honey, subtle mint and buttery fudge before moving into floral heather, damp bracken, worn leather and quiet earthiness. The palate is remarkably vibrant: creamy toffee and velvety honey meet aromatic oak and warming spice, with dark fruit and woodland ferns emerging as it develops. The oak is drying but not aggressively tannic, and the finish is long, earthy and resonant.
“At 88 years old, it has licence to do its own thing,” McKechnie said, describing tasting it as encountering “a little nugget of Scotch whisky history.”
The Balvenie 1931 Collection 12 Year Old is made with 100 per cent home-malted barley, combining grain grown at the Mains of Balvenie farm with barley from partner farms. Initially matured in American oak, it was finished in ex-sherry-bodega European oak butts from Jerez and bottled at 47.5% ABV. It is brighter and more spirit-led than the 88-year-old, with warm biscuit, green malt and orange peel on the nose. Honeyed toffee and barley sugar follow, lifted by crystallised ginger, raisin and aromatic oak. The finish is rich, smooth and gently spiced.
The 15 Year Old uses only barley grown on the home farm and malted on The Balvenie’s floors. It follows the same broad maturation pattern and is bottled at 47.8% ABV, but three additional years create a markedly heavier whisky. Sweet cereal, toasted oak, earthiness and spiced citrus lead into vanilla, raisin and delicate red berries. Its honeyed texture carries through to a lingering, nutty finish, with a suggestion of char adding further depth.
The 12-year-old will be released in selected markets, while the 15-year-old will be exclusive to global travel retail. The 88-year-old is available only to private clients and collectors.
The record belongs to Cask 239, but the collection’s wider significance lies in the line it draws between that surviving whisky, the malt floor opened in 1931 and the home-malted barley being used at The Balvenie today.
George Washington’s Mount Vernon is celebrating Virginia Spirits Month throughout September with a 20% discount on its whiskey, bourbon and brandy. The Virginia estate is also hosting special whiskey tastings every Saturday of the month at its reconstructed distillery.
Crown Royal x Juicy Couture Drop Limited Edition Y2K-Inspired Merch
READ THE STORYThe discount applies to spirits produced at Washington’s rebuilt distillery, where products are made using 18th-century methods on wood-fired copper pot stills.
The site stands on the location of Washington’s original operation. By 1799, the distillery was producing nearly 11,000 gallons of whiskey annually, making it one of the largest in America at the time.
“George Washington’s distillery tells a fascinating story about his entrepreneurial spirit and his willingness to innovate,” said Doug Bradburn, Ph.D., president and CEO of George Washington’s Mount Vernon.
He added: “Virginia Spirits Month is a unique opportunity to experience that history in a very tangible way and to see how Mount Vernon is preserving the craftsmanship and traditions that were part of Washington’s life.”
Among the spirits available is Mount Vernon’s newly released George Washington’s 375ml Bourbon Whiskey, a seven-year-old bourbon distilled, aged and hand-bottled to mark America’s 250th anniversary.
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According to the brand, the bourbon was inspired by Washington’s decision to turn to corn after a dry season devastated his rye harvest. The official notes from the brand list cedar, molasses and orange oil.
Visitors can also explore the estate’s rye whiskey range. This includes the Washington’s Generals Series Premium Straight Rye Whiskey and the limited-edition Commander-in-Chief whiskey, aged for eight years.
Further options include George Washington’s Rye Whiskey, made to reflect the unaged whiskey of Washington’s era, and a seasonal Apple Brandy.
On Saturdays throughout September, guests can sample the whiskey while touring the Distillery & Gristmill. Tasting tickets include a commemorative Glencairn glass and general admission, with discounts available for members.
The Washington’s Generals Series is a collector’s edition label program created in partnership with White Historical Painting. New labels will be released annually on Washington’s birthday, honoring additional Revolutionary War generals.
Spirits can be purchased at the Shops at Mount Vernon and at the distillery. Online sales are available with shipping to Virginia, Washington, DC, and select military bases.
Mount Vernon is owned and operated by the Mount Vernon Ladies’ Association, the oldest national historic preservation organization in the US.
Chattanooga Whiskey's Bottled in Bond: Fall 2022 Vintage is a blend of four Tennessee High Malt bourbon mash bills, including two new recipes pulled from different corners of their archives: Barrel 54 and Barrel 177.
The Fall 2022 Vintage is hitting shelves at their Experimental Distillery on Thursday, September 3, for $52.99, with bottles making their way to stores in the weeks ahead.
Barrel 54 was developed at Chattanooga Whiskey's Experimental Distillery back in late 2015 and it remains one of the most unique mash bills in their library.
It's a very unconventional recipe — where most bourbon mash bills are rounded out with rye or wheat, Barrel 54 uses a combination of malted spelt and a huskless malted oat, which naturally add a fuller texture and weight to the palate.
The other new mash bill, Barrel 177, does the opposite, using its malted grains for aroma and flavor rather than texture. Melanoidin malt is uniquely kilned to brown from the inside, developing the same compounds that give a graham cracker its color and flavor. Meanwhile, Carafa — a German chocolate malt — is drum roasted and pulled from the roaster at the point it tastes like dark chocolate.
Fall vintages have to earn the name, and this one is appropriately built like a s'more, with melanoidin malt as the graham cracker, German Carafa malt as the chocolate, and Barrel 54 as the toasted marshmallow, giving you that same textural contrast straight off the fire.
Fall 2022 Vintage Details
- Mash Bill: 40% SB055, 20% SB054, 20% SB091, 20% SB117
- Age: Greater than 4 Years
- Proof: 100 (50% Alc/Vol)
- Cooperage: Toasted & Charred Oak, 53 Gallon
- Batch Size: 10-12 Barrels
- Style: Straight Bourbon Whiskey
- Tasting Notes: S’mores, dark chocolate, clove, and coffee bean
Limited quantities will also be available on Seelbachs.com in the coming weeks
The Eight-Year-Old, 100-Proof Expression is 100% Maryland-Made, Highlighting Sagamore's Commitment to Maryland-Style Whiskey
BALTIMORE, Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Sagamore Whiskey, the award-winning Maryland-style whiskey brand rooted in Baltimore's historic rye tradition, today announced the national release of its Sagamore Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey, available nationwide beginning September 1st, 2026. Distilled, aged and bottled entirely in Maryland, the new expression marks a significant milestone in Sagamore Whiskey's continued journey toward becoming a fully Maryland-made whiskey brand.
Distilled in the spring of 2018 at Sagamore Whiskey's Baltimore distillery and aged for eight years, the Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey is crafted in accordance with the rigorous standards established by the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897. The designation requires whiskey to be produced by a single distiller at a single distillery during one distilling season, aged for at least four years and bottled at 100 proof, offering consumers a mark of quality, authenticity and transparency.
The expression brings together two rye mash bills, one high-rye and one low-rye, following the proprietary blending approach that has helped define Sagamore Whiskey's award-winning portfolio. Bottled at 100 proof, the whiskey pours a rich amber and opens with aromas of powdered sugar, soft leather and baking spices. On the palate, notes of grilled peaches, brown sugar and sweet cherry give way to a warm and lively finish layered with rye bread, baked apple crumble and light maple syrup. The result is a balanced and approachable expression of Maryland-style rye whiskey.
"Seeing this whiskey go from the still to the bottle after eight years is incredibly rewarding," said Ryan Norwood, Master Distiller at Sagamore Whiskey. "We've had a long time to watch these barrels develop, and this release really shows what makes Maryland Style so special to us. It has plenty of character and depth, but it's still approachable and easy to enjoy. Knowing that we distilled, aged and bottled this whiskey right here in Maryland makes this one especially meaningful for our team, and we're excited to finally share it with whiskey drinkers across the country."
Shaped by the spirit of hospitality, Sagamore Whiskey brings together award-winning whiskey, modern culture and meaningful experiences, through its Maryland Style: a historic approach to rye whiskey, known for balancing rye spice with a softer, richer character and notes of sweetness and fruit. Sagamore brings this to life through dual mash bills, triple distillation and thoughtful blending, creating a balanced and approachable rye that honors Maryland's longstanding whiskey-making tradition.
The Sagamore Bottled in Bond Straight Rye Whiskey will be available nationwide beginning September 1st at select premium retailers and at the Sagamore Whiskey distillery in Baltimore, Maryland, with a SRP of $59.99. For more information, visit SagamoreSpirit.com.
About Sagamore Whiskey:
Sagamore Whiskey is an award-winning American whiskey brand rooted in Baltimore, Maryland and dedicated to the modern expression of Maryland Style, a historic approach to rye known for balancing rye spice with a softer, richer character. Guided by a spirit of hospitality, balance, approachability and craft, Sagamore creates layered, versatile whiskeys made to be enjoyed in good company. Through dual mash bills, triple distillation and thoughtful blending, the brand honors Maryland's whiskey-making heritage while bringing its own modern perspective to the style. Located on Baltimore's waterfront, the brand's award-winning distillery welcomes approximately 40,000 visitors annually. The brand's portfolio has earned more than 200 international awards and includes Sagamore Small Batch Rye Whiskey, Sagamore Cask Strength Rye Whiskey, Sagamore Double Oak Rye Whiskey, Sagamore High Rye Straight Bourbon Whiskey and a variety of limited-edition Reserve Series releases. For more information, visit SagamoreSpirit.com.
Media Contact:
Regan Carlin
Colangelo & Partners
[email protected]
SOURCE Sagamore Whiskey
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Google News(Whisky 綜合)|原題:The Best Irish Whiskey From The Irish Whiskey Masters 2026 - The Whiskey Wash
美國威士忌媒體 The Whiskey Wash 報導 The Spirits Business 舉辦的愛爾蘭威士忌大賽結果。8款威士忌獲得 Master 獎牌,其中 5 款來自 Midleton 的 Irish Distillers(Powers 和 Spot 系列),另 3 款分別為 Atom Brands 獨立裝瓶的 Bushmills、The Craft Irish Whiskey Co 的 The Donn,以及 Teeling 33 年份單一麥芽。報導詳細介紹各得獎酒款的風味、背景與定價,反映愛爾蘭威士忌近年的復興趨勢——從 1970 年代僅剩 Bushmills 和 Midleton 兩家,到如今新興蒸餾廠和單一壺式蒸餾威士忌品類重現。
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By the late 1970s Ireland was down to two working whiskey distilleries, Bushmills and Midleton. The picture has changed a good deal since, with Teeling opening the first new distillery in Dublin in over 125 years in 2015, and single pot still returning as a category after coming close to disappearing altogether. Irish whiskey has been experiencing a resurgence, and The Spirits Business recognized this at their latest Irish Whiskey Masters competition.
Crown Royal x Juicy Couture Drop Limited Edition Y2K-Inspired Merch
READ THE STORYEight Irish whiskeys took Master medals at this year’s contest. Five went to Irish Distillers at Midleton, across the Powers and Spot ranges. The other three were an independently bottled Bushmills from Atom Brands, The Donn from The Craft Irish Whiskey Co, and a 33 year old from Teeling.
Here is a closer look at all eight, and let us know in the comments what you make of the results.
Powers Gold Label
Award: Master
Category: Blended – Ultra-Premium
Tasting Notes: Cinnamon, clove oil, white pepper, russet apples, ripe pears, charred oak, green peppers, nutmeg, orchard fruits, vanilla, crisp barley, spices, honey
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Find Your Next Bottle: $35 / £27
James Power started distilling in Dublin in 1791, and the business became John Power & Son in 1822 at its John’s Lane site. Powers was one of the first Irish distilleries to sell whiskey in bottles rather than by the cask, and the gold label used on those bottles gave the whiskey its name. The company merged into Irish Distillers in 1966, and production moved to Midleton in County Cork.
Gold Label is a blend of pot still and grain whiskey matured in American oak, bottled at 43.2% ABV without chill filtration. Irish Distillers does not publish the ratio of pot still to grain.
The judges called it “just lovely,” with “freshly baked bread, baking spices, lots of raisins and deep plummy character.”
Powers Irish Rye
Award: Master
Category: Blended – Ultra-Premium
Tasting Notes: Burnt orange, maraschino cherries, toffee banana, freshly baked rye bread, buttered croissants, charred oak, clove, white pepper, ginger, vanilla, sugar cane, peppermint, caramelized apples, brown sugar, sweet cereal, red liquorice, chili oil, honey glazed fruit, cereal
Find Your Next Bottle: $40 / £35
Irish Distillers archivist Carol Quinn went through the company’s old mash bills and recipes, which showed that Powers had worked with rye at various points in its history. The whiskey that came out of that research was announced in 2023, and Irish Distillers describes it as the world’s first 100% Irish rye whiskey.
The rye itself was grown at Cooney Furlong Farm in County Wexford. Maturation takes place in a mixture of virgin, first fill, and refill American oak, and the whiskey is bottled at 43.2% ABV with no age statement.
At the time of launch, Quinn said: “Throughout the history of the famous Powers John’s Lane Distillery there was a willingness to challenge the old ways of doing things and experiment with new ideas, from urban farming on the distillery roof in the 1940s, to bottling in-house and the introduction of the world’s first miniature Irish whiskey, the ‘baby Power’. This has fed very much into the DNA of Powers Irish Rye today, both in the use of rye and in the method of distillation.”
The judges found it “so complex,” with “green apple skin, Calvados personality, and pure, fresh Nordic rye bread.”
That Boutique-y Whisky Company Bushmills Single Cask
Award: Master
Category: Single Malt – Ultra-Premium
Tasting Notes: Sweet, milky black tea or chai, buttery shortbread, ripe mango, milk chocolate, syrupy sultanas, creamy caramel, banana, soft peach, dark plum, antique cigar box
Find Your Next Bottle: $338 / £249.95
That Boutique-y Whisky Company is part of Atom Brands, the group that also owns the retailer Master of Malt, and it has been releasing single cask and small batch bottlings since 2012. Independently bottled Bushmills does not come around often, which the company notes on its own product page.
This one is 22 years old, triple distilled, and was laid down in October 2002 before being re-racked into an ex-Maury wine cask in January 2023 for an extended finishing period. There are 390 bottles. It came out as part of a five-bottle limited edition collection released in early 2026, all of which were bottled at 45.8% ABV.
The judges noted a “pronounced aroma of dried red fruits and citrus,” and a palate that was “smooth, textural and rich, with an explosion of juicy red currants, wild strawberries and cherries.”
The Donn
Award: Master
Category: Single Malt – Ultra-Premium
Tasting Notes: Orange zest, digestive biscuits, caramel, pecan nuts, marzipan, dark chocolate, caramel, toasted walnuts, prunes
Find Your Next Bottle: Join the waitlist
The Craft Irish Whiskey Co was founded in 2018 by Jay Bradley and does not run its own distillery. The company is probably best known for The Emerald Isle set, one of which sold for $2.8 million in January 2024.
The Donn takes its name from Donn, a figure in Irish mythology who is the god of the dead and, in mythology, is the first ancestor of the Gaelic people.
The 2023 Inaugural Edition was bottled at 46.15% ABV. Maturation takes place in ex-bourbon, Tawny Port, heavily toasted virgin Hungarian oak, and a series of Pedro Ximénez casks. In April 2026 the company said the whiskey is 6.9 years old.
The judges described an aroma that was “rich and heavily Sherried” and a palate that was “beautiful, rich, silky” with “black cherries, chocolate, and vanilla fudge.”
Teeling 33 Year Old Single Malt Rum Cask
Award: Master
Category: Single Malt – Ultra-Premium
Tasting Notes: Earthy notes, dried fruits, toffee, burnt sugar, fruit, molasses, wood influence
Find Your Next Bottle: €3,480
Jack and Stephen Teeling founded the Teeling Whiskey Company in 2012, and their Newmarket distillery in Dublin opened in 2015. A 33 year old therefore predates the distillery by some margin, and the whiskey comes from what Teeling calls its Very Rare Cask Collection, drawn from the oldest single malt stock in the company’s warehouses and selected by master distiller and blender Alex Chasko.
The bottling is cask 546, limited to 141 bottles at 52.1% ABV, finished in a rum cask, and sold exclusively through Dublin and Cork Airport Duty Free.
The judges picked out a “touch of maritime” on the nose along with “caramel notes. The palate has a nice sweetness, baked banana, fudge, and a pleasant woodiness.”
Green Spot
Award: Master
Category: Single Pot Still – Super-Premium
Tasting Notes: Fresh aromatic oils, spices, orchard fruits, barley, toasted wood, cloves, green apples
Find Your Next Bottle: $55 / £46
Mitchell & Son has been trading in Dublin since 1805, and the family matured whiskey in a network of underground cellars beneath the city’s streets. Casks filled with spirit from the old Bow Street Distillery were marked with a daub of paint indicating how long they would be aged, with blue for seven years, green for 10, yellow for 12, and red for 15, hence the colored Spot Whiskey names. The whiskey is now produced at Midleton by Irish Distillers, though Mitchell & Son still owns the brand.
Green Spot is a single pot still whiskey with no age statement, made up of whiskeys aged between seven and 10 years and matured in a combination of new and refill bourbon casks alongside sherry casks. It is bottled at 40% ABV.
The judges found it “
Classification: Light Whiskey
Company: Onyx & Amber
Distillery: Sourced from Ross & Squibb Distillery (MGP)
Release Date: August 2026
Proof: 141.10
Age: 21 Years
Mashbill: 99% Corn, 1% Malted Barley
Color: Copper
SRP: $145 / 700mL (2026)
Caramel chew candy | Cinnamon frosting | Cream soda | Molasses | Maple syrup | Seasoned oak
Melted caramel | Browned butter | Dulce de leche cheesecake | Turtle brownie
Caramel pecan pie | Melted caramel | Mocha | Seasoned oak
Onyx & Amber’s “Copper Buffalo” Batch 2 takes a 21 year old American light whiskey and further develops it in Buff Turkey barrels, resulting in an intensely rich, caramel-driven pour.
Onyx & Amber launched in April 2025 in Denver, Colorado, by Benjamin Rosen, growing out of his decade-plus involvement with the Colorado Bourbon & Rye Collectors group, which conducted more than 150 single barrel selections and raised over $500,000 for charity. The company works out of the former Rising Sun Distillery and focuses on sourcing whiskey and aging/finishing it almost entirely in Colorado. Though people may be quick to cite the area's high altitude as their differentiating factor, the company instead emphasizes the effects of Colorado's dry climate and dramatic barometric-pressure swings, which they say drive greater interaction between the whiskey and oak and produce a “richer, more viscous, more concentrated product than the same distillate aged anywhere else.”
In late 2025, Onyx & Amber launched “Copper Buffalo” Batch 1, an 18 year old American light whiskey that was finished in ex-Buff Turkey barrels. They followed it up in early 2026 with a non-finished 20 year old light whiskey that featured a deeply sweet and dessert-like flavor profile we called “a delicious-tasting pour.” “Copper Buffalo” Batch 2 began as part of the 20 year old light whiskey batching that was pulled off and put in 18 year old ex-Buff Turkey barrels for an additional about 6 months, where it crossed the 21 year old mark.
The key with “Copper Buffalo” Batch 2 is it already started dessert-like. Adding high aged Buff Turkey barrels helped double down on the caramel notes that were already present, and further elevate them to new intensity. Caramel completely dominates Batch 2, but it isn’t in the same manner you get with a younger, more traditional tasting bourbon featuring a caramel note. Instead, Batch 2’s caramel note is warm and gooey, producing buttery richness throughout.
It starts with an incredible, dessert-like aroma, with scents of caramel chew candy, cinnamon frosting, cream soda, molasses, maple syrup, and seasoned oak. The palate opens with warm, melted caramel that is buttery and almost dairy-like in its viscosity. Brown butter, Dulce de leche cheesecake, and nutty turtle brownie follow. The finish isn’t dramatically different, with more caramel and pecan in a pastry-crusted pie. Melted caramel follows again, then mocha and seasoned oak to close things out.
Given the more caramel and seasoned oak notes found in “Copper Buffalo,” the whiskey’s HAZMAT proof does show a bit more. Despite its sweetness, the proof has more bite, and the flip side is the flavor intensity that follows. High proof light whiskey is often easier to sip compared to high proof bourbons due to their sweetness, and with Copper Buffalo sharing qualities of both, there is a trade-off that is made.
Onyx & Amber is on a roll with their American light whiskey releases. Each has offered slightly different flavor profiles and ever-increasing age statements. Prices have risen with each release, but given their age and the thoroughly enjoyable sip they offer, it's hard to feel shortchanged. Fans of American light whiskey will find a lot to love about “Copper Buffalo” Batch 2, and even those who feel the style of whiskey is often a bit too basic will be surprised at what this sip offers.
Google News(Whisky 綜合)|原題:Sagamore Whiskey Announces National Release of Bottled in Bond Rye - Fred Minnick|僅標題
(僅標題資訊)Sagamore Whiskey宣布其Bottled in Bond裸麥威士忌將在美國全國範圍內發售。Bottled in Bond是美國威士忌的傳統標章,表示該酒款在同一家蒸餾廠內裝瓶、至少陳年4年,且酒精濃度為100 proof。此舉代表Sagamore試圖在競爭激烈的美國裸麥威士忌市場中擴大其版圖。
Canadian whisky slumps in US control states
By Nicola CarruthersSales of Canadian whisky in US control states saw the biggest drop of all spirits categories in July as Scotch and Tequila grew.
The National Alcohol Beverage Control Association (NABCA) released its latest annual sales data for 18 markets, covering the month of July.
The new data showed a 8.5% volume drop for Canadian whisky during July and a value decrease of 8.4%. It was the largest decrease of all spirits categories for that month in both volume and value.
For the 12 months to July 2026, Canadian whisky sales in control states were down by 7.4% in volume and by 7.9% in value.
Canada and the US are currently embroiled in a trade war, which recently escalated with a 50% US tariff placed on Canadian products. Canada is planning similar action on US products.
Since March 2025, American alcohol has been pulled from all but two Canadian provinces in response to US president Donald Trump’s initial tariffs. Canada operates a government-run model for alcohol sales.
NABCA noted that US control states posted “mixed results” in July with total spirits volumes flat (up 0.3%) while value was down by 2.2%.
Performance was impacted by four fewer selling days in Michigan, and a change in Utah where package agency stores changed from a traditional purchase model to a transfer-based model.
Meanwhile, New Hampshire sales (up 21.5% in volume in July) were supported by ‘strong promotional activity’, with the state’s ‘Summertime Bonus Card Bonanza’ boosting Scotch and Tequila.
Tequila saw a 3.1% volume uptick in July but dipped by 1.6% in value.
Scotch whisky had a similar volume performance, rising by 3.2%, however its value sales were flat.
The ‘cocktails’ segment, led by canned ready-to-drink (RTD) products, continued to post double-digit growth.
This category rose by 19.5% in volume and by 18.5% in value.
Other categories to post volume growth were cachaça (up 10.9% from a small base), cordials (liqueurs), which increased by 1.1%, and Irish whiskey (up 0.4%).
Value-wise, cachaça rose by 11.8%, while cordials increased by 1.6%.
After Canadian whisky, the biggest volume and value drop came from Cognac/brandy, down by 6.4% in both areas.
It was followed by volume decreases for gin (down 5.2%), rum (down 4.5%) and American whiskey (down 3.6%).
For the 12 months to July 2026, spirits sales across all control states dipped by 0.6% in volume and by 2.6% in value.
In the on-premise over the past year, volumes of spirits increased by 0.5% but decreased by 1.7% in value across control states.
The on-premise channel delivered a 0.2% rise in volume for July, while value fell by 2.5%.
In June, American whiskey and vodka returned to growth in US control states.
Related news
Scotch suffers in control states as RTDs grow
Google News(Whisky 綜合)|原題:Koopers Whiskey Names Austin Hospitality Veteran Jeremy Murray Director of Sales to Lead Brand Expansion - Wine Industry Advisor
(僅標題資訊)Koopers Whiskey 宣布任命在奧斯汀飯店業有豐富經驗的 Jeremy Murray 為銷售總監,負責推動品牌的擴張計畫。此舉顯示該威士忌品牌在美國市場的發展動態。
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Chattanooga Whiskey
Chattanooga, TN (September, 2026) – Chattanooga Whiskey today announced its latest Bottled in Bond Vintage: Fall 2022. The blend introduces two mash bills new to the series, pulled from different corners of the distilling team's archives: Barrel 54 and Barrel 177.
Barrel 54 was developed in late 2015 at the company's Experimental Distillery. Despite being one of Chattanooga Whiskey’s earliest recipes, it remains one of the most unique in their library. Where most bourbon mash bills are rounded out with rye or wheat, Barrel 54 uses a combination of malted spelt and a huskless malted oat, which naturally add a fuller texture and weight to the palate.
"The Barrel 54 recipe passes every legal test for a bourbon, but its mash bill is very unconventional – not only which grains are used, but the textural characteristics they bring to the whiskey. We originally named it 'second cousin' as an analogy, because it's clearly related to what we do…but not directly. A recipe like this isn't showing up at every family reunion, but things get interesting when it does." - Grant McCracken, Founding Distiller
The other featured mash bill, Barrel 177, does the opposite of “second cousin” – using its malted grains for aroma and flavor rather than texture. Melanoidin malt is uniquely kilned to brown from the inside, developing the same compounds that give a graham cracker its color and flavor. Meanwhile, Carafa – a German chocolate malt – is drum roasted and pulled from the roaster at the point it tastes like dark chocolate.
"Fall vintages have to earn the name, and this one is appropriately built like a s'more. The melanoidin malt is the graham cracker, the German Carafa malt is the chocolate, and the oats and spelt in Barrel 54 are the toasted marshmallow, giving you that same textural contrast straight off the fire." - Grant McCracken, Founding Distiller
Made in accordance with the Bottled in Bond Act of 1897, every component of the Fall 2022 Vintage was distilled and barreled between July 2022 and December 2022 at the company's Riverfront Distillery. As usual, the blend was a collaboration by the full distilling team over several months of blind tastings.
Bottled in Bond: Fall 2022 Vintage will be available at the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery on Thursday, Sept. 3, and on shelves in select states in the following weeks at $52.99 for a 750ml bottle. Limited quantities will also be available online at Seelbachs.com. Expect notes of s’mores, dark chocolate, clove, and coffee bean.
About Chattanooga Whiskey:
Founded in 2011, Chattanooga Whiskey fought to change Tennessee law – winning the right to distill whiskey in Chattanooga for the first time in over a century. That bold beginning laid the foundation for everything that followed, including the creation of the Chattanooga Whiskey Experimental Distillery and the invention of their distinctive Tennessee High Malt style. To scale their most successful Experimental recipes, the company later opened their Riverfront Distillery, which transformed small-batch innovation into nationally recognized core expressions.
Since then, Chattanooga Whiskey has grown into one of the most innovative craft distilleries in the country and was just named Craft Producer of the Year for 2026 by Whisky Magazine's Icons of Whisky. Today, the Experimental Distillery continues to push the boundaries of craft whiskey, introducing more than 50,000 visitors annually to Chattanooga Whiskey’s now iconic story.
Chattanooga Whiskey: www.chattanoogawhiskey.com
Experimental Distillery 1439 Market Street, Chattanooga, TN
Riverfront Distillery 890 Riverfront Parkway, Chattanooga, TN
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The Dalmore is showcasing another spectacular pick from its single malt stocks with the release of its Distillery Select 2026 edition.
Crown Royal x Juicy Couture Drop Limited Edition Y2K-Inspired Merch
READ THE STORYThe 2012 Semisecco Marsala Cask Finish is a 14-year-old single malt, first matured in ex-bourbon barrels before a finish of one year and nine months in casks that formerly held a medium-sweet variant of this Sicilian fortified wine.
Highland distillery Dalmore has worked with Marsala casks for decades, most notably as one of the six cask types that comprise its King Alexander III expression. Showcased alone, they reveal a different side to Dalmore’s character.
Tasting Dalmore 2012 Semisecco Marsala Cask Finish
The Distillery Select 2026 is light and fragrant, with notes of honeycomb, crystallised ginger, aniseed, apricot, violets and vanilla. Dalmore’s hallmark citrus and chocolate notes are brightened, coming through as clementine and white chocolate-studded biscuits.
Departing from the sherry and port finishes for which The Dalmore is famed may not please everyone, but it provides an intriguing insight into the versatility of this well-respected distillery. Global communications manager Steph Forsyth says the Distillery Select series “gives us permission” to experiment with whiskies outside the distillery’s typical remit, and the 2026 edition is a shining example of this.
The Dalmore 2012 Semisecco Marsala Cask Finish is bottled non-chill filtered at 53.7% ABV. Just 1,110 bottles have been released, available to purchase at the distillery and through its website from August 31st.
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About The Dalmore Distillery Select Series
Debuted in 2024, the annual Distillery Select releases are bottled from small parcels of casks chosen by Dalmore’s whisky-making team, which is led by Richard Paterson, Kirstie McCallum and Gregg Glass. Casks such as this year’s Marsala parcel, demonstrating a ‘lighter’ side of Dalmore, are a favourite of McCallum’s.
The series was designed as a way to explore new sides of Dalmore’s single malt whiskies, focusing on limited runs sourced from stand-out casks. The whisky-making team is rigorous in their cask assessment processes, conducting twice-yearly checks and marking out casks they feel could develop into something worthy of a limited bottling.
Previous releases in the Distillery Select series have comprised three whiskies, but this year’s contains just one, upping the exclusivity ante. Casks highlighted in the collection so far include Colheita tawny port, Cabernet Sauvignon, Amarone, and vintage Calvados.
The Dalmore’s New Brand Home
The launch of the Distillery Select 2026 edition comes only a few months after Dalmore reopened following a three-year renovation project, which included building a brand-new stillhouse.
The new production space includes a full-lauter mash tun, 10 wooden washbacks, and four pairs of stills meticulously designed to mirror Dalmore’s originals. This mirroring goes far deeper than Dalmore’s documented design quirks, such as the flat-topped wash stills and the horizontal spirit-still condensers; the original stills were laser-mapped to ensure precise replicas. The goal is to replicate as closely as possible the spirit made in Stillhouse 1, which will remain in operation.
It’s not only the production spaces that have had a makeover but the guest experience, too. The renovation project included the creation of a new entrance hall and Archive Room, housed in one of the distillery’s original Victorian buildings; a full refurbishment of the former maltings to transform it into an entertaining space, complete with its own bar; and the creation of a private dining area with an outdoor terrace overlooking the Cromarty Firth.
Tours are by appointment only and are not cheap, coming in at £250 per person, but for that guests are given a completely bespoke experience, organised in advance with the brand home team to ensure it’s ticking all their boxes.
Craig Swindell, global brand ambassador, said: “The distillery renovation gave us time to pause and think about how we wanted to host people… They are generally with us for three to four hours and really get to immerse themselves in our world.”
The on-trade remains the best place for whisky fans and the whisky-curious to ‘try before they buy’ – with the category drawing more young people than has been the case in the past.
But really capitalising on that demand will rely on making the category as accessible as possible.
The well-publicised squeeze on household budgets has made the purchase of a bottle of what can be a very expensive product a risky proposition for people – especially if they haven’t tried that particular bottle before.
Pubs and bars, meanwhile, offer a comparatively affordable way to try those new drams, with the added advantage of knowledgeable bar staff to help guide them to their next dram.
“Liquid to lips will always be a key catalyst in bringing the whisky category back to where it belongs,” said Liam Stephen, regional sales executive at Murray McDavid.
“This is particularly important within the on-trade, where consumers can access a much wider variety of whisky at a more affordable price point than purchasing a full bottle.
“This makes the on-trade a crucial environment for driving consumer engagement, education and ultimately long-term growth within the whisky category.”
Felix Bottomley, head of marketing for single grain whisky Wee Smoky, agreed.
He said: “When people are watching every pound, they’re not going to gamble £45 on a bottle of something unfamiliar, but they’ll happily try a dram or a well-made cocktail across the bar.”
And while there’s no shortage of information about whisky available online, there’s no substitute for taking a more hands-on approach.
“We’re seeing consumers use bars and restaurants to broaden their understanding of the category, whether through tasting flights, smaller measures, guided serves or simply a conversation with a knowledgeable bartender,” said Ryan McFarland, chief commercial and strategy officer at Drinksology Kirker Greer.
“These moments help remove some of the intimidation around whisky while creating a more memorable drinking experience.”
Tackling that intimidation factor remains important, with the attitude of the venue and the bartender playing a role in encouraging more people into whisky.
“The more approachable we make whisky, the more people will discover that they already enjoy it,” said Gregor Hannah, director of independent bottler Lady of the Glen.
“I’d like to see more informal tasting events, bartender training and consumer experiences that focus on flavour rather than technical detail.
“Instead of talking about age statements, cask types and production methods straight away, start by asking people what flavours they enjoy and build from there.
“The wine industry has done this well for years by investing in education and encouraging people to explore without making them feel they need to be experts. Scotch can absolutely do the same.”
Bottomley at Wee Smoky said the company’s recent launch of premixed whisky cocktails was in part a solution to this very issue.
He said: “Neat, in a heavy glass, with someone hovering to ask ‘so, what do you get from that?’ is intimidating for a lot of people, and that pressure is exactly what keeps newcomers away.
“We don’t see it in other major spirit categories and we’re keen to present a different world of whisky to people.”
McFarland at Drinksology Kirker Greer reckoned the more open-minded approach to how whisky is served has been particularly helpful to the younger generation of pub customers.
“Bartenders are often ahead of wider consumer trends, but their enthusiasm has a genuine influence on younger drinkers,” he said.
“A recommendation from a trusted bartender carries a huge amount of weight.
“Younger consumers are approaching whisky differently from previous generations. They’re less interested in rules around how it should be enjoyed and more interested in flavour, provenance and discovering something unique.
“That curiosity is helping broaden the category beyond traditional Scotch drinkers.”
That was echoed by Tara Lindley, director of sensory and new product development at American whiskey brand High West Distillery, who said newcomers to whisky (or whiskey, for that matter) ‘are interested in unique flavours and discovering different styles, and bartenders play an important role in introducing them to the category’.
“Cocktails can be a great gateway, someone might discover rye through a Manhattan or bourbon through an Old Fashioned, and from there start exploring whiskey more widely,” said Lindley.
It’s reflective of a more curious mindset overall from younger consumers, according to Hannah Mitchell, UK sales manager for Arbikie.
“I have witnessed such a shift in younger people wanting to be equipped with the knowledge of the products they are buying – not just limited to drinks,” she said.
“The allure of whisky is in its heritage, the storytelling, the cool posters everyone now has on their kitchen walls, it can reflect one aspect of their personality.
“There is also the growing interest in heritage products from across the world; soju, sake, vermouth, rum coming from new emerging markets.
“In a world where we’re increasingly encouraged to focus on what divides us, it’s often our differences, the cultures, traditions, and heritage products that make us unique, that spark the greatest curiosity. We’re drawn to learn from them, celebrate them, and welcome them into our own homes and lives.”
Andy Lennie, global whisky expert for Fettercairn Distillery and Whyte & Mackay, agreed.
“I’ve watched bar culture evolve throughout my career,” he said.
“When I started bartending in 2008, high-volume cocktail bars were hugely popular. That was followed by the rise of speakeasy-style venues, with a greater emphasis on craft, atmosphere and service.
“More recently, we’ve seen the local pub become fashionable again.
“I think that reflects a younger generation that values genuine social experiences, good company and a welcoming atmosphere just as much as the drink itself. Whisky fits naturally into that environment because it’s a drink that encourages conversation and sharing.
“Of course, a great dram is always the cherry on top.”
Wemyss Malts has confirmed the return of Smoky Shores, now carrying a 14-year age statement, after the original expression sold out in full following its 2022 launch. The blended scotch whisky is available across the UK and EU with a recommended retail price of £65 (€75-78).
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READ THE STORYThe follow-up pairs two single malts with contrasting relationships to peat. One is drawn from a distillery long synonymous with peated malt, shaped by a distinctly smoky style.
The other is a less familiar peated expression, drawn from a distillery better known for its unpeated house style.
Master Blender Isabella Wemyss selected and married the two from a small parcel of hogsheads. She set one style against the other to rebuild the coastal profile that made the original a favorite.
Fourteen years of maturation has deepened the whisky’s savory complexity and lends it a buttery gold color. A thread of citrus keeps the smoke from tipping into heaviness.
The release is bottled at 46% ABV and left non-chill filtered to preserve its texture. It carries a PPM of 10.
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Only 3,552 bottles have been produced, making it one of the most tightly limited releases in the Wemyss Malts calendar this year.
“Smoky Shores struck a chord with those who tasted it the moment we released it, and I always knew there was more to explore here,” said Isabella Wemyss, master blender at Wemyss Malts.
“Fourteen years maturation has allowed that character to evolve, while keeping everything people loved about the original spirit – the saltiness, the smokiness, and the crisp citrus bite.”
According to the official notes from the brand, the nose offers coastal brine fused with rich peaty smoke. The palate leads with medicinal peat and sea salt, harmonized by a subtle zest of orange peel. The finish is long and lingering, closing on notes of white pepper and warming clove.
Wemyss Malts is an independent, family-owned bottler based in Edinburgh, Scotland. The company also owns Kingsbarns Distillery in Fife and the Darnley’s Gin brand.
The expression is available online and from Luvians (Fife), Bread and Butter (Anstruther) and Isle of Skye Distillers (Portree).
Google News(Scotch/Distillery)|原題:The Best Highlands & Islands Whisky From The Scotch Whisky Masters 2026 - The Whiskey Wash
2026年蘇格蘭威士忌大師賽(Scotch Whisky Masters)由The Spirits Business舉辦,高地及島嶼區(Highlands & Islands)共有4款單一麥芽威士忌獲得Master獎章。得獎酒款包括:Levenside 10 Years Old(12年以下組)、Talisker 10 Year Old(12年以下組)、Glencadam 18 Years Old(13-18年組)及Glencadam American Oak Reserve(無年份組)。這些酒款風格迥異,從僅在澳洲超市Coles販售的Levenside,到聲譽卓著的Talisker,再到近年復興的Glencadam,展現了該區威士忌的多樣性。值得注意的是,4款獲獎酒中有2款以40% ABV瓶裝。
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The Highlands and Islands covers more ground than any other Scotch whisky region, running from the Isle of Skye across to the eastern coast of Angus, and the whiskies made across it vary just as widely.
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READ THE STORYAt the Scotch Whisky Masters 2026, run by The Spirits Business and judged blind, four single malts from the region were awarded Master medals across three flights. Two of those came from the Aged up to 12 Years category, one from the Aged Between 13 and 18 Years heat, and one from the No Age Statement flight.
So, let’s take a look at what is, according to The Spirits Business, the best that the Scottish Highlands and Islands have to offer.
Levenside 10 Years Old
Award: Master
Category: Single Malt: Highlands & Islands – Aged Up to 12 Years
Tasting Notes: Candied ginger, sweet peach, citrus, Highland toffee, syrup, orange blossom, honey, sugared almonds
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Find Your Next Bottle: AUD$70
Levenside is an own-label single malt sold by Coles in Australia, where it is stocked through Liquorland, First Choice Liquor Market and Vintage Cellars. The whisky is produced for Coles by the Loch Lomond Group, and the IWSC lists the same bottling under both the Coles Liquor and Loch Lomond names.
It is a lightly peated Highland single malt, matured for 10 years in ex-bourbon oak casks and bottled at 40% ABV.
The Master is not its first medal. Levenside 10 Years Old took a Silver at the Scotch Whisky Masters in 2023, a Gold at the IWSC in 2024 and a Gold at the World Whiskies Awards in 2025.
This year the judges found “sweet baked apple and tropical fruit” in it, and for a supermarket bottling carrying an age statement, it holds its own against considerably better-known names.
Talisker 10 Year Old
Award: Master
Category: Single Malt: Highlands & Islands – Aged Up to 12 Years
Tasting Notes: Peat smoke, sea-water, fresh oysters, citrus, barley-malt, pepper
Find Your Next Bottle: $44 / £30
Talisker sits at Carbost on the shore of Loch Harport on the Isle of Skye, and was founded in 1830 by brothers Hugh and Kenneth MacAskill. The distillery runs five stills, two wash and three spirit, and condenses in worm tubs, one of only a few distilleries in Scotland still to do so.
According to scotchwhisky.com, the wash stills are very tall, with “an exaggerated U-shaped bend in the lyne arm” and a purifier pipe at the lowest point that returns heavier elements to the still for redistillation.
Triple distillation was used until 1928, and a fire in 1960 closed the distillery for two years, after which replicas of the original stills and worm tubs were installed. Malt has been bought in from Glen Ord since 1972 and is medium peated at 18 to 22 ppm.
The 10 Year Old joined the Classic Malts in 1988 and is bottled at 45.8% ABV. It remains one of the core Talisker expressions. Judges found “leafy green peat smoke” on the nose, then “milk chocolate, roasted pear and fruity dark chocolate.”
Considering Talisker’s reputation in recent years, namely that it seems to have somewhat fallen from grace amongst critics, this win is a huge accomplishment for the distillery.
Glencadam 18 Years Old
Award: Master
Category: Single Malt: Highlands & Islands – Aged Between 13 and 18 Years
Tasting Notes: Fresh stone fruits, pear blossom, dried pineapple, panna cotta, baking spices, baked peach, rice pudding, lemon curd, crème caramel, nutmeg, cinnamon, poached pears, ginger biscuits, apricot Danish,sweet spice
Find Your Next Bottle: $152 / £121
Glencadam was founded in 1825 by merchant George Cooper in Brechin, Angus, and is the last working distillery in the town. For much of its life, the whisky went into blends, including Stewart’s Cream of the Barley under Allied Distillers.
Allied mothballed the site in 2000, and Angus Dundee Distillers bought it in 2003, running its first mash that August. The distillery marked its bicentenary in 2025 with the opening of a visitor centre.
The 18 Year Old returned to the range after aged stocks ran out. Angus Dundee said the whisky is “bottled at 46% alc/vol, at natural colour and is non-chill filtered, echoing the original bottling,” distilled and matured in hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon barrels.
Judge Clinton Cawood described it as “fruit-forward and bright on the nose. The palate is superb, loaded with oranges and spices.”
Glencadam American Oak Reserve
Award: Master
Category: Single Malt: Highlands & Islands – No Age Statement
Tasting Notes: Vanilla pod, buttercream, orchard fruits, golden raisin, Turkish delight, poached pear, apple blossom, acacia honey, roast chestnut, mocha, lemon rind, sweet-cooked fruits, white grapes, apple crumble, peppery cask spice
Find Your Next Bottle: $40 / £30
The stills at Glencadam are unusual in that the lyne arms are angled upwards rather than down, which maximizes reflux. There is one pair of stills, both 14,000 liters, and the spirit is unpeated.
Master distiller Robert Fleming hand-selected American oak ex-bourbon barrels from Kentucky for this release, which were filled with new-make spirit, matured in the distillery’s dunnage warehouses and then chosen for bottling. Glencadam bottles it at 40% ABV as a small batch release, and lists it in the core range as the entry point to its single malts.
Judge David T Smith found “lovely sweet notes, soft hay notes and straw, a touch of camomile, balanced wood, and lovely creaminess.”
Glencadam has garnered a loyal following in recent years, with its refreshed packaging update in January 2026 celebrating both its bicentenary and the entrance into a new era for the brand.
What Do You Make of the Results?
Four Master medals from one region, and very little in common between the whiskies that won them. Talisker is stocked almost everywhere and made with peated malt and worm tubs, while Glencadam spent three years mothballed before Angus Dundee reopened it, and now accounts for two of the four Masters. Levenside is sold only through one Australian supermarket group. Two of the four were bottled at 40% ABV, which is worth noting given how often higher strengths are assumed to do better in competition.
Have you tried any of these four? Are there any you would like to get your hands on, and what do you make of the awards? Let us know in the comments.
The Edinburgh-based Holyrood Distillery, has announced the launch of its latest limited release, said to bring the distillery’s flavour-first approach to whisky-making to life through a carefully curated selection of malt, yeast and casks not typically seen together in the whisky world.
Holyrood Smoulder (47.1% ABV) is a single malt Scotch whisky produced using a mash bill of Heavy Peated Highland Peated Malt (75.73%), Scotch Pot Still Malt (17.42%), Plumage Archer (5.71%) and Brown Malt (1.14%). It was matured in a combination of first-fill Bourbon barrels, ex-Rum Barriques and Oloroso Octave casks.
The latest release takes inspiration from its main tasting note, gentle, spicy smoke, and brings it to life through Smoulder. It is a tongue-in-cheek play on the romance novel genre, featuring over-the-top tasting notes and playful artwork. Holyrood is not only looking to push the boundaries of whisky-making, but also to challenge the way whisky is talked about.
In a further jocular twist, the bottle label, designed by illustrator Jamie Edler, takes the smouldering character of the whisky and brings it to life through the passionate gazes shared between lovers, as commonly seen in classic romance novels.
Holyrood Smoulder has been described as delivering an intoxicating earthiness that deliberately tantalises the tongue, deepening with every second. A slow build, the final seductive crescendo of smoky and deeply nutty flavours is said to be worth the wait.
Commenting on the launch, Calum Rae, Distillery Manager, said: “At Holyrood, we take our whisky-making very seriously, but we also believe whisky can be fun and playful. We’ve taken inspiration from the main tasting note, which is a gentle, spicy smoke, and brought it to life through Smoulder. It is a tongue-in-cheek play on the romance novel genre, with over-the-top tasting notes and a bit of fun art.”
Calum, continued: “At Holyrood, we not only push the boundaries of whisky-making, but we also want to challenge how whisky is talked about. We hope people will love the taste and quirkiness of Smoulder as much as we do. From a tasting note point of view, I can say wholeheartedly that the first sip reveals a tantalising taste of what’s to come, before slowly building into a flavour-bursting crescendo that is definitely worth the wait!”
Holyrood Smoulder is now available from the distillery shop and selected specialist retailers, for a RRP of £58.00.
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Waypoint 31YO marks Loch Lomond’s oldest peated whisky
By Rupert HohwielerScotch producer Loch Lomond Group has launched the third whisky in its Waypoint series: a 31-year-old single malt.
The 31-year age statement is the highest in the series, which debuted in 2024 with a 16-year-old, followed by a 17-year-old release last year.
The Waypoint range is inspired by Loch Lomond’s setting in Scotland and its ‘enduring spirit of exploration’.
The 31-year-old also represents Loch Lomond’s oldest peated expression.
Master blender Michael Henry said: “As you follow this extraordinary trail from Inversnaid to Inverarnan, every mile becomes more challenging, but the sense of achievement and reward grows with it.
“The route takes you through one of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscapes and encourages you to keep exploring and discovering the wonders that surround you. That same spirit of exploration lies at the heart of our single malts.
“Through the Waypoint series, we seek to bring the landscape and stories of Loch Lomond to life through whisky making, creating expressions that capture the excitement of discovering something truly exceptional.
“The Waypoint series is a celebration of our namesake, Loch Lomond. It has been one of my favourite collections to work on, and it is a privilege to introduce this highly exclusive and prestigious 31-year-old expression to the series.”
The whisky was made at Loch Lomond’s Highland distillery in Alexandria, Scotland.
It was distilled in swan neck stills and then matured in three types of ex-Bourbon American oak casks before a 12-month finish in Tawny Port pipes.
Regarding the process and resulting profile, Henry said: “Our unique whisky-making capability, led by our straight neck stills, allows us to create a distinctly fruity spirit with our signature character of fruit, honey and soft smoke. Heavily-peated whiskies are rare within our collection, so bringing our oldest ever peated single malt to bottle is a huge honour.
“After 31 years of maturation, the whisky has developed a deep, rich rose colour and remarkable layers of dark chocolate, raspberry, cedarwood and woodsmoke.
“What makes it particularly special is how clearly the character of the original distillate still shines through, despite its significant maturation journey. It is a whisky of real depth and complexity, while remaining unmistakably Loch Lomond.”
The whisky is non-chill filtered, natural in colour and bottled at 44.1% ABV.
There are 2,600 bottles available globally, priced at £750 (US$1,015).
Earlier this year, Loch Lomond also unveiled The Original Series, as well as two whiskies to mark the 154th Open Championship.
The brand won three Gold medals at The Scotch Whisky Masters 2026.
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Google News(Scotch/Distillery)|原題:Europe’s Best Whiskies From The World Whisky Masters 2026 - The Whiskey Wash
2026年世界威士忌大師賽歐洲單一麥芽威士忌組別(不含愛爾蘭與蘇格蘭)共產生1個Master與8個Gold獎項。羅馬尼亞Carpathian Single Malt Whisky Peated Sherry Cask Strength奪得Master,展現堅果與煙燻風味。英格蘭威士忌崛起,The Lakes與White Peak等新興廠商各獲2個Gold。克羅埃西亞新廠Duh u Boci的Nebo Peated Single Malt也獲Gold肯定。歐洲威士忌版圖正快速變化,英格蘭已有60家蒸餾廠營運,羅馬尼亞與克羅埃西亞等地也開始有成果。
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World whisky is an emerging category, and the European map is changing quickly. England is the obvious growth story, with the English Whisky Guild counting more than 60 distilleries now operational, but it is not the only one. Romania and Croatia both have single malt producers who are only a few years into filling casks, and both turned up at the Scotch Whisky Masters 2026 with medals.
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READ THE STORYThe competition is run by The Spirits Business and judged blind by a panel of experts. Its category for European single malts made outside Ireland and Scotland produced one Master and eight Golds this year. Let’s take a look at them.
Carpathian Single Malt Whisky Peated Sherry Cask Strength
Award: Master
Category: Europe (excluding Ireland and Scotland) – Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Not publicly available
Find Your Next Bottle: $157 / £116
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The only Master in this flight went to Romania. Judge Smith described it as “rich, decadent, and inviting, nutty with a little bit of smoke. Oily, rich texture but good integration of alcohol.”
Carpathian is made by Alexandrion Group at its Saber 1789 distillery at Bucov in Prahova County, near Ploiești. The group is chaired by founder Nawaf Salameh, and opened a second, purpose-built whisky distillery on the site in 2023. Master distiller Allan Anderson spent three decades in Scotch and Irish whiskey before taking the job.
Production uses Romanian malted barley and local spring water, with double distillation in copper pot stills. The peated releases are made with malt smoked to around 35ppm.
This particular whisky is matured in a sherry STR quarter cask and bottled at 62.5% ABV. It does seem to be a bit of a mysterious whisky, though. Despite Carpathian acknowledging its award at the World Whisky Masters 2026, it does not appear on any product page in the UK. However, it is listed on the Iconic Drinks website.
The Lakes Signature Single Malt Whisky
Award: Gold
Category: Europe (excluding Ireland and Scotland) – Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Rich polished oak, soft leather, dried fruits, pecan nuts, dark chocolate, orange zest, sultanas, raisins, figs, orchard fruits, citrus, treacle, vanilla, cinnamon, nutmeg
Find Your Next Bottle: $86 / £69
The judges found this one “warm and fruity.”
The Lakes Signature arrived in late March 2025 as the distillery’s first permanent single malt, following the seven-part Whiskymaker’s Reserve series. It is matured in Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez sherry-seasoned casks and bottled at 47% ABV without chill filtration or added color.
The distillery sits beside Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria and was founded in 2011 by Paul Currie, who co-founded the Isle of Arran Distillery. Whiskymaker Sarah Burgess joined from The Macallan in 2023 and told Mark for Forbes she has “continued the philosophy of using the art of élevage.”
She added: “These techniques differentiate us from scotch and other English single malts as the use of élevage is a rarity in the world of whiskymaking and allows us to be even more experimental and creative in our quest to create depth of outstanding flavour.”
Wire Works Port Cask Whisky
Award: Gold
Category: Europe (excluding Ireland and Scotland) – Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Cinder toffee, demerara sugar, strawberry laces, vanilla fudge, milk chocolate, marzipan, cherry pie filling
Find Your Next Bottle: $74 / £60
White Peak Distillery has been making waves in the English whisky industry in recent years.
White Peak Distillery is located on the banks of the River Derwent at Ambergate in Derbyshire. Its house style comes from a seven-day fermentation using a bespoke yeast blend that includes spent brewer’s yeast from the nearby Thornbridge Brewery, followed by slow distillation in copper pot stills designed in-house.
Port Cask joined the Wire Works Provenance Core Range in October 2025 as its third permanent expression. It combines fresh Tawny Port barriques from Dias Cooperage with first-fill American oak ex-bourbon barrels, and is bottled at 50.2% ABV, non-chill filtered and natural color.
White Peak Distillery is also the location where Never Say Die Bourbon spends its English period of maturation.
Carpathian Single Malt Whisky Fetească Neagră Cask Finish
Award: Gold
Category: Europe (excluding Ireland and Scotland) – Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Black pepper, cloves, candy, vanilla, raisins, bananas, grilled pineapple
Find Your Next Bottle: $81 / £59.95
Fetească Neagră, or Black Maiden, is a red grape variety grown in Romania, and the casks used here came from Alexandrion’s own Domeniile Alexandrion wineries in the Dealu Mare region. Few distilleries anywhere have access to casks from their own wine production.
The whisky spent its early years in a charred first-fill ex-Kentucky bourbon cask of white American oak before moving into a toasted European oak red wine cask, and it is bottled at 46% ABV.
It sits in the Romanian Wine Cask Collection alongside Shiraz, Cabernet Sauvignon and Pinot Noir finishes, with natural color and no chill filtration.
Carpathian Single Malt Whisky Greek Beer Cask Finish
Award: Gold
Category: Europe (excluding Ireland and Scotland) – Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Cloves, mint, sweet candies, honey
Find Your Next Bottle: $81 / £59.95
A Greek beer cask in a Romanian whisky makes more sense with a little background on the company. Alexandrion’s flagship brandy was originally made in Greece before production moved to Romania, and the group still operates there. This bottling belongs to its Greek & Cypriot Cask Collection.
It was distilled in 2018 and matured for six years in total, starting in American white oak bourbon casks and finishing in a single bourbon cask that had previously held Greek beer. Like the rest of the range, it uses 100% Romanian-grown barley.
The Lakes Boundless Single Malt Whisky
Award: Gold
Category: Europe (excluding Ireland and Scotland) – Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Incense, dried fruits, black cherry, citrus orange oil, tobacco, leather, aromatic white pepper, toasted oak, dates, raisins, figs, orange zest, vanilla, spice, toasted almonds
Find Your Next Bottle: GTR Exclusive
This is the harder of the two Lakes winners to get hold of, since Boundless was unveiled at TFWA Cannes on 27 September 2024 as the distillery’s first single malt designed exclusively for global travel retail. Sales run through Duty Free Global, and it picked up listings with Avolta at UK airports from July 2025.
It was also the first time the team handpicked only first-fill Oloroso casks for the maturation, combining European and American oak. Bottled at 48% ABV. Before this year, it had already taken Gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2025 and Silver at the IWSC.
Nebo Peated Single Malt
Award: Gold
Category: Europe (excluding Ireland and Scotland) – Single Malt
Tasting Notes: Herbal, fruity, smoky, fresh, cereal notes
Find Your Next Bottle: $78 / £57
Nebo comes from Duh u Boci, meaning The Spirit in the Bottle, a Zagreb distillery set up in 2017 by two former pilots, Tomislav Anadolac and Hrvoje Bušić, who made their name with Old Pilot’s Gin.
Per the distillery, the peated malt runs between 30 and 45ppm, and maturation uses three cask types: new Croatian oak from the Golub cooperage, second-fill American oak that held peated bourbon, and barrels over 30 years old from Islay. Bottled at 48% ABV in 500ml.
The judges not
Whiskey Paired With Burgers Is The Dream Combo You Need To Try
There's no denying that burgers and beer are a natural combo. That said, some might say that burgers are better when paired with wine. However, in all honesty, burgers are so versatile that they leave plenty of room for experimenting. And believe it or not, whiskey makes a surprisingly good pairing, too. The main reason is that whiskey's sweetness (particularly in bourbon) beautifully balances the saltiness of a burger. But that's only part of what makes the duo work.
Nick Hirsch, Beverage Director of RMD Group, stressed that the caramel, vanilla, and toasted oak flavors found in bourbon go hand in hand with burgers. "Those flavors naturally play well with the char and caramelization you get from a properly grilled burger," Hirsch said in an exclusive conversation with Chowhound. "A little barrel spice is great too, as it gives you contrast against the richness of the beef rather than just piling richness on top of richness."
Sara Havens, director of the alternative investment platform Whiskey for CaskX, shared that two-thirds of a whiskey's flavor comes from the charred barrel. This, in turn, gives it a smokiness that closely mirrors what happens during grilling. On top of that, whiskey usually contains at least 40% (ABV). This higher alcohol content will cut through the fattiness of the beef, and, as a result, make it less heavy.
Choosing the right whiskey for the right burger
When it comes to choosing the right whiskey, the type of burger really matters. A classic beef burger will go nicely with a simple bourbon. It's also a good idea to go with a higher-proof bourbon. As Sara Havens suggested, "I would also choose a bourbon or whiskey that was at least 100 proof so it doesn't get lost in whatever condiments you add to it."
Meanwhile, Nick Hirsch proposed turning to rye as the flavors get stronger. Rye works best with savory and spicy flavors that can match its intensity, like strong cheeses and fatty meats. "If you start adding sharper flavors-aged cheddar, bacon, caramelized onions, and peppery sauces — that's where I might switch to rye," Hirsch stated. "Its spice and drier profile can stand up to a burger with a little more going on."
When pairing a cheeseburger, Havens would go for a high-rye bourbon or rye whiskey, because of the smooth, soft mouthfeel. These types of whiskey also have a notes of black pepper which go well with burgers. Her ideal burger would have American or cheddar cheese, lettuce, mayo, and mustard. "And the whiskey or bourbon I'm pairing with it could include Four Roses Single Barrel; Bardstown Bourbon Company Origin Series Bourbon; Buzzard's Roost Toasted Barrel Rye Whiskey; Green River Rye Whiskey; Catoctin Creek Rabble Rouser Bottled-in-Bond; or Jack Daniel's Rye Whiskey," she added.
There's no wrong way to enjoy whiskey with a burger
When it comes to serving the whiskey, Nick Hirsch highlighted he would either opt for a large ice cube or a simple old fashioned. A large cube will take longer to melt down. This will keep the whiskey nicely chilled and offer just the right amount of dilution. Additionally, it won't mask the drink's character. "An Old Fashioned works for the same reason, as long as you don't overcomplicate it," Hirsch stated. "Whiskey, bitters, and just enough sweetness still lets the burger and the whiskey do most of the talking." Now just might be the perfect time to learn how to make the best old fashioned you've ever had.
At the same time, Sara Havens prefers to keep things simple. According to her, a big, fat, juicy burger with all the toppings goes best alongside a glass of whiskey served neat. A neat pour of room temperature whiskey (the temperature of your whiskey matters more than you think) would bring out the spirit's real flavors and aromas. In addition, with no ice, water, or mixers, the whiskey's flavor will stay consistent from the first sip to the last. "I want maximum flavor from my whiskey, so hold the cubes, the rocks, the splashes, and the sugar," she concluded.
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Charles Steele, a Portland-based attorney, is a native of the Pacific Northwest. His legal background provides him with an analytical approach to understanding whiskey and other aged spirits. Primarily a legal writer, freelancing for The Whiskey Wash offers Charles a unique opportunity to showcase his versatility as a writer. Although his preference lies with whiskey and whiskey-based cocktails, he has a profound appreciation for all unique and unconventional liquors, from Malört to Ojen - if it's peculiar, he's intrigued.
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Google News(Scotch/Distillery)|原題:Scottish Pro Golfer Bob MacIntyre and American Elijah Craig Bourbon Invite Fans to Bridge the Great Whisk(e)y Spelling Divide: Whiskey or Whisky? - PR Newswire
Iconic American whiskey's Scottish brand ambassador continues his mission to unite whisk(e)y fans from both sides of the Atlantic
BARDSTOWN, Ky., Sept. 1, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Elijah Craig, the award-winning family of premium American whiskeys, and Bob MacIntyre, PGA TOUR® professional golfer and brand ambassador, are bidding to unite Bourbon and Scotch lovers by lobbying for a uniform spelling of the word that already unites them: Whiskey vs. Whisky. As we enter National Bourbon Heritage Month (September), Elijah Craig is asking fans to vote and bring whisk(e)y lovers from both sides of the pond together under one shared spelling.
In a new video, Bob reveals his choice: whiskey with an 'e' in a nod to Elijah Craig, the American whiskey pioneer credited with introducing the groundbreaking practice of charring oak barrels before aging Bourbon in them, transforming a once-clear liquid into the beautiful, complex brown liquid we know as whiskey today. It is why Elijah Craig is widely referred to as the Father of Bourbon.
"I've spent plenty of time on both sides of the Atlantic, and one thing I've learned is that great whiskey, with or without the 'e,' is rooted in craftsmanship, tradition and bringing people together," said MacIntyre, who is currently ranked ninth worldwide. "As a proud Scot, I'll always be fond of my Scotch whisky roots, but in the spirit of bourbon's U.S. heritage and bringing whiskey lovers together, I think the 'e' deserves its place."
Scotch and Bourbon fans alike can visit ElijahCraig.com to have their say by voting for their preferred spelling. Voting is open now through September 29 at 11:59PM. The result will be announced on the last day of Bourbon Heritage Month, September 30, on Elijah Craig's Instagram.
MacIntyre's and Elijah Craig's latest bid to unite the world of whiskey follows MacIntyre's invitation for Scotch lovers to swap their favorite spirit for a dram of Bourbon on International Whiskey Day in late March – as he noted at the time, ideally with Elijah Craig, the Official Bourbon of the PGA of America and the Ryder Cup.
Scotch fans looking to add the 'e' back into their whiskey rotation with the Father of Bourbon can reach for Elijah Craig's award-winning Small Batch, known for its distinctive warm spice, Toasted Barrel, with a second toasted finish for an added layer of sweet oak complexity, and Straight Rye with notes of rich baking spices and honey.
Follow Elijah Craig on Instagram to stay informed on the latest releases and visit ElijahCraig.com to find a retailer near you.
About Elijah Craig Bourbon
Elijah Craig is one of the most award-winning families of premium Bourbons and Ryes. Its inaugural Barrel Proof Rye release (2025) is Whisky Advocate's reigning Whiskey of the Year. The Reverend Elijah Craig, the brand's namesake, is known as "The Father of Bourbon," having established his distillery in 1789 on the banks of Elkhorn Creek in modern day Georgetown, Kentucky. He is credited with being the first distiller to age his wares in charred oak barrels. The clear, unaged corn liquor became transformed into a bold amber liquid with a distinctively smooth flavor that makes Bourbon what it is today. Produced by Heaven Hill Distillery, the family of whiskeys includes Elijah Craig Small Batch, Elijah Craig Straight Rye Whiskey, Elijah Craig Toasted Barrel Bourbon, Elijah Craig Barrel Proof Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, and Elijah Craig Single Barrel Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey. First brought to market in 1986, Heaven Hill Distillery's Master Distillers were selecting a small number of barrels of the finest Bourbon to make Elijah Craig Small Batch long before the term "small batch" even existed. It is this attention to detail and superb craftsmanship that give Elijah Craig an ideal balance of age, robust body, and rich flavor. Along with Whisky Advocate's Whiskey of the Year, the brand's accolades have included Best Small Batch Bourbon, Best Single Barrel Bourbon (aged 11+ years) and Best Straight Bourbon at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Excellent Highly Recommended honors at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge. For more information, please visit www.elijahcraig.com
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SOURCE Elijah Craig
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