At the 2026 International Whisky Competition, the Kavalan Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask Single Cask Strength Single Malt Whisky was honored with the Golden Barrel Trophy and named Whisky of the Year. Notably, this marks the second consecutive year that the brand has held the top spot, following the resounding victory of the Kavalan Peatist Fino Sherry the previous year.
What's even more surprising is that this "legend" didn't originate in any ancient capitals, but was born in Yilan, a peaceful coastal county in northeastern Taiwan, China.
Established in 2005 by the King Car Group, the Kavalan distillery initially faced considerable skepticism from experts due to its tropical climate, which is generally considered the enemy of the lengthy aging process. However, it was precisely this natural factor that proved to be the key to its success.
Thanks to the pure water flowing from the Himalayas combined with the humid climate and characteristic tropical heat of Yilan, the interaction between the whisky and oak barrels occurs much faster than in colder climates. As a result, Kavalan whisky achieves a rich, full-bodied maturity with unique layers of tropical fruit flavors that would take decades to achieve in Scotland.
The name Kavalan is known to be closely linked to the history, geography, and people of Yilan, where the winery is located. "Kavalan" is the name of the indigenous people who have lived on the Yilan Plain for centuries. Before being officially called Yilan, the entire plain was known as "Kavalan" (the Ge Ma Lan Prefecture during the Qing Dynasty).
A visit to Kavalan Distillery in Yilan is an immersive journey into the world of handcrafted artistry and modern winemaking culture. From the entrance, visitors are impressed by the uniquely decorated, retired oak barrels lining the walkways. Stepping inside, the rich aroma of malt and toasted oak permeates the space.
Visitors will be guided through each rigorous production stage, admiring the enormous grain storage tanks, the gleaming copper stills, and the vast barrel storage areas. If you're lucky, you might even have the chance to observe through a large glass window the artisans performing the process of toasting the oak barrels over a high flame – a crucial step that gives the whisky its rich, dark color and complex aromas.
Besides learning about the process, a tasting experience is an unmissable part for any visitor. You can choose to enjoy basic product lines at the Spirit Castle area or participate in premium tasting sessions right at the winery.
In particular, the DIY Whisky Blending activity is the most exciting experience here. Visitors can play the role of a master blender, experimenting with test tubes containing whiskies aged in different casks such as Ex-bourbon, Vinho, Sherry, or Peated to create their own personalized whisky recipe and take it home in a luxurious gift box.
For those who don't drink alcohol, the second floor of the building offers a spacious Mr. Brown's café with floor-to-ceiling windows. Here, you can sip on a fragrant coffee or a unique caramel pudding drizzled with whisky, while enjoying the lush green scenery of the surrounding mountains and forests.
Before leaving, the shopping area at Spirit Castle is an ideal stop for souvenirs. You should look for products from the famous Solist range or the world-award-winning Peatist Oloroso Sherry Cask. Besides original single malts, visitors can also buy souvenirs such as whisky glasses with the Kavalan logo, oak coasters, or try Buckskin craft beers and Mr. Brown canned coffee from the same company.
Don't forget to bring a small notebook to stamp unique commemorative messages at the store's entrance.
To get to the Kalalan Winery, visitors have several convenient options. If departing from central Taipei, the quickest way is to take the Kamalan or Capital Bus line from Taipei Bus Station to Yilan Railway Station, which takes about an hour.
The Express train is also a great sightseeing option. From Yilan Station, a taxi or local bus ride takes about 15 minutes to reach the factory gate. For those seeking maximum convenience or traveling in a group, booking a day tour departing from Taipei that includes visits to nearby attractions in Yilan would be the perfect choice for a full day of exploration.
Welcome to Taste Test, where every week our critic Jonah Flicker explores the most buzzworthy and interesting whiskeys in the world. Check back each Sunday for his latest whiskey review.
What would happen if you tried making a blend of some of the most collectible bottles you can find—I’m thinking Pappy 15, Michter’s 20, and Boss Hog. On second thought, that seems like an expensive experiment to undertake with uncertain results, but the folks at Brown-Forman decided to try something similar. The new Kentucky Boy bourbon combines three of the company’s most revered whiskeys—Birthday Bourbon, King of Kentucky, and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked—and the final blend is truly excellent.
Kentucky Boy arrived fairly quietly a few weeks ago, at least as far as the general public was concerned, but according to master distiller emeritus Chris Morris it made a big splash at the Kentucky Bourbon Festival. I spoke to him recently, and he told me that he spent several hours signing bottles for eager fans waiting in a line wrapped around the block. Kentucky Boy was conceived of by Old Forester assistant master distiller Caleb Trigo and Woodford Reserve master distiller Elizabeth McCall as a tribute to Morris for his 50th anniversary with Brown-Forman. The name came from an old brand that they discovered in the company’s archives, which was a young bourbon released regionally in the years following Prohibition. This new version, however, is something very different.
According to Morris, this is literally a blend of the aforementioned bourbons: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked is that distillery’s bourbon, but with a secondary maturation in a new set of charred oak barrels; King of Kentucky is Brown-Forman’s annual single-barrel, barrel-proof release that has become a collector’s item over the past few years; Birthday Bourbon is Old Forester‘s annual expression released to celebrate founder George Garvin Brown’s birthday (the most recent edition is fantastic). So what does it actually mean to combine all of these whiskeys? Turns out that it’s more than just slapping various names on different barrels. The Double Oaked example is pretty straightforward as to how it differs from regular Woodford, and according to Morris the other two bourbons are set aside after barreling specifically for their particular labels. In other words, there are some significant ways in which these liquids are allocated and monitored as they age.
I asked Morris if he knew what the percentages of each whiskey were in the blend, and he said he did not, but he did say that it’s definitely not equal parts. Whatever the case might be, Kentucky Boy is a really superb bourbon. The concept of combining brand names like these into one whiskey is certainly a marketing gimmick in part, but you can’t argue with the results (you can, but you’re gonna lose that argument). The bourbon is clearly well-aged, with rich notes of oak, dark chocolate, tobacco, and leather (the Double Oaked makes itself known), but it doesn’t go overboard. It definitely reads as a Brown-Forman product, with ripe fruit and banana notes that peek through as you sip, but the palate is chock full of flavors like butterscotch, vanilla, cinnamon, cherry cola, and just a hint of black pepper and nutmeg. There’s also a flash of heat at 100 proof, and honestly I’m glad this wasn’t release as a barrel-proof expression.
But good luck finding a bottle, because Kentucky Boy was released in a limited run and has proven to be quite popular. The whiskey is available at retailers in Kentucky and via Old Forester’s online store that ships to a few states, but bottles are already selling for triple the $100 asking price at secondary websites. Because of course they are. Still, that’s cheaper than a lot of other highly collectible bourbons out there, and I firmly believe that this is one bottle you will not regret dropping some cash on.
Score: 95
- 100 Worth trading your first born for
- 95 – 99 In the Pantheon: A trophy for the cabinet
- 90 – 94 Great: An excited nod from friends when you pour them a dram
- 85 – 89 Very Good: Delicious enough to buy, but not quite special enough to chase on the secondary market
- 80 – 84 Good: More of your everyday drinker, solid and reliable
- Below 80 It’s Alright: Honestly, we probably won’t waste your time and ours with this
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：The Father of Japanese Whisky Is Still the Guiding Light of the Brand He Founded - Robb Report
Nikka威士忌推出Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials 2026，開啟五年限量系列的首發。此系列深化對創辦人竹鶴政孰（日威之父）的致敬，首款聚焦余市蒸餾所的煤炭直火蒸餾特色。限量2萬瓶全球發售，特別加入2000年蒸餾的稀有原酒（該年威士忌產量稀少），強調竹鶴創辦Nikka至今近90年仍恪守的工藝理念：「威士忌不只是飲品，而是啟迪人生歡樂的精神象徵」。
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It’s standard operating procedure for a company to follow its founder’s philosophy at its inception. It’s not so common for that philosophy to still guide the company almost 50 years after the founder’s death. But Nikka Whisky and the principles of its founder, Masataka Taketsuru—known as the “Father of Japanese Whisky”—have been inseparable since the brand was founded in 1934 and remain so today.
For proof, look no further than the latest Nikka release. Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials 2026, the first of five limited edition annual releases, carries forward more than just his name. The series takes that homage a step further by exploring the philosophies, methods and practices that shaped Masataka Taketsuru’s approach to whisky making.
A Life in Whisky
Masataka Taketsuru was born into a longtime sake brewing family in Hiroshima in 1894. While studying brewing in high school, he became interested in Western spirits, and joined a company that was planning to make the first whisky in Japan. To learn whisky making firsthand, Taketsuru attended university in Scotland and apprenticed at three whisky distilleries in Speyside and the Lowlands, where he learned about every step of the process. He took that knowledge — along with his Scottish-born wife, Rita — back to Japan with him. Scotland, and the distilling techniques he learned there, were the inspiration for Taketsuru’s entire career; he built the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries in areas where the climate and water sources were similar to that in Scotland.
By the time Taketsuru returned to Japan, the company that had sponsored his studies was no longer able to proceed with its whisky project, and in 1923 he was recruited by Kotobukiya, the company that would later become Suntory, to create the first Japanese whisky distillery in Yamazaki. He stayed with the company for the next decade.
In 1934, upon the expiration of his contract, Taketsuru struck out on his own to build the Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido. The first bottles of his Nikka Whisky were released in 1940. The young company faced adversity throughout World War II and the turbulent postwar era that followed, but Taketsuru forged ahead, maintaining his vision for Nikka, which not only survived but thrived. In the 1960s, he fulfilled his dream of building a second distillery, Miyagikyo, that could distill softer malt whiskies in the Lowlands style of Scotland.
Masataka Taketsuru died in 1979, but his credo remains the cornerstone of what Nikka does to this day: “Whisky is not just a drink. It is the spirit that inspires people to celebrate the joy of life.”
A Whisky Worthy Of Its Founder’s Name
In 2000, Nikka released Taketsuru Pure Malt, a blend of whiskies from both the Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilleries, to honor its founder. Taketsuru placed paramount importance on innovating through blending, and Pure Malt is a groundbreaking blend that honors Taketsuru’s philosophy while also looking forward. Blended whiskies typically rely on grain whisky for lightness and smoothness, but Pure Malt uses only malt whisky. The combination of Yoichi’s robust malts and Miyagikyo’s elegance together create a perfect balance between big, vibrant flavor and a delicate smoothness.
Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials takes the essence of Pure Malt and digs deeper into specific elements of the whisky-making process. The planned five-year project, featuring a different limited edition bottling each year, kicks off with Pure Malt Essentials 2026.
The focus for the initial release is on the whiskies from the Yoichi distillery in Hokkaido and the influence of the coal-fired stills there. Coal produces a bolder, smokier whisky than steam, the heating method used by most distilleries. Coal-fired distillation, an essential part of Yoichi whiskies’ character, is a method that goes back to Taketsuru himself.
A Limited Edition, Including Rare Whiskies From The Turn Of The Millennium
Pure Malt Essentials is a direct descendant of the original Taketsuru Pure Malt. To further emphasize the connection, Pure Malt Essentials 2026 has tapped into the archives, including in the blend whiskies from both Yoichi and Miyagikyo distilled in 2000 — the year Pure Malt was originally released. It was a year in which Nikka, and the global whisky market in general, was in the midst of a long downturn. As a result, very little whisky was produced by Nikka that year, making these rare stocks even more precious. 20,000 bottles of Pure Malt Essentials 2026 will be released worldwide, with fewer than 200 cases going to the U.S. A new Pure Malt Essentials bottling will be released each year until 2030, the 30th anniversary of Taketsuru Pure Malt.
Every aspect of Pure Malt Essentials is intentional and purposeful, and that extends to the packaging as well. Each release will have a unique, bespoke label based on the whisky in the bottle. The 2026 edition, with its emphasis on Yoichi whisky, is traditional Japanese indigo blue — Yoichi’s representative color — on white paper.
As the whisky that bears its founders name, Taketsuru Pure Malt has borne the responsibility of capturing the style and the ethos of Masataka Taketsuru in liquid form for more than a quarter century. The Taketsuru Pure Malt Essentials series takes that homage a step further by emphasizing specific methods and practices, breaking down the process and, in the end, building a fuller portrait of Masataka Taketsuru — the distiller, the company founder, and the man.
WhiskyNotes（比利時獨立裝瓶評論）｜原題：Old Skye / Old Raasay / Old Skye (Decadent Drinks)
比利時獨立裝瓶商 Decadent Drinks 推出「Old...」系列，涵蓋蘇格蘭島嶼三大酒廠。本批次包括 Torabhaig 8 年份（2018 年，52%，200 瓶）、Isle of Raasay 8 年份（2018 年，52%，首次波本桶，200 瓶，89/100 分）與 Talisker 14 年份（2011 年，56.8%，120 瓶，90/100 分）。Torabhaig 帶有青草泥煤與海潮風味但略顯年輕；Raasay 展現礦物質感與清爽新鮮度；Talisker 則成熟複雜，具高收藏潛力。三款已在 Royal Mile Whiskies、Master of Malt 與 The Whisky Exchange 等零售商上市。
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I didn’t expect the ‘Old…’ series from Decadent Drinks to become this big. After all there’s only so many distilleries on Scottish islands. But no, they keep them coming.
In the latest batch there’s young Raasay and Torabhaig, and together with Talisker, it completes an ensemble of all three distilleries across Skye and neighbouring Raasay.
Old Skye – Torabhaig 8 yo 2018 (52%, Decadent Drinks 2026, 200 btl.)
Nose: rather vegetal peat. Hints of cooked cabbage, but this fades. Then warm bonfire smoke and sea spray and a subtle yeasty / bready note. Then sweet grapefruit, wet limestone and a hint of salted butter.
Mouth: thick and oily, with more leafy and coastal peat. A naturally sweet note of lemon and barley water and more bready notes. Then a dirty or muddy side, in the style of Ledaig. Hints of ale, pepper and lemon peels, along with a saline edge and smoked olive oil.
Finish: long and leafy, with charred herbs and lemons, plus a big umami layer.
I’ve had some really good Torabhaig but their casks go in different directions. This is rather spirit-driven, two first-fill barrels married for one year in a third-fill butt. Good but the youthful side and the slightly dirty character make it a little challenging for me. Available from Decadent Drinks or retailers like Royal Mile Whiskies.
Old Raasay – Isle of Raasay 8 yo 2018 (52%, Decadent Drinks 2026, first-fill bourbon cask, 200 btl.)
Nose: Clynelish-style wax, with a pleasant dustiness (hay) and varnish. A peppery whiff, along with wet stones and a subtle touch of sourdough. Soaked cereals with lemons and pears in the background, as well as greengages. Gets brighter over time.
Mouth: a slightly more industrial type of waxiness now, very mineral, with chalk and wet wool. Then green herbs, even a medicinal hint of samphor. Grapefruit skins and hints of green banana, along with pine resin, olive oil and white pepper.
Finish: long and mineral, with zesty citrus and a slightly sweeter waxy side.
A very clean and direct Raasay with a nice industrial touch and an impressive waxy texture, as well as a very focused freshness. Pretty impressive, in fact. Available from Master of Malt or directly from Decadent Drinks. Score: 89/100
Old Skye – Talisker 14yo 2011 (56,8%, Decadent Drinks 2026, 120 btl.)
Nose: much more mature than the others. Nice seaweed notes, distant tobacco and faded ashy smoke. Hints of smoked meat and unlit matchsticks. Then the expected black peppercorns, some muddy notes and a little sweet citrus. High complexity.
Mouth: yesterday’s fireplace, with more pepper, wee hints of charred orange peels and a little mercurochrome. Then hints of aniseed, metal tools, old leather and charred rosemary. A tiny hint of berry sourness in the background. Later plenty of brine and back to fir bids, rooty notes and ashes.
Finish: long and earthy, with hints of fishermen’s rope, tar, pepper and brine.
I had to blink twice when I saw the price. Then again the quality is high, with old-school peaty notes and a great array of subtleties. I’m sure casks like this would still shine in thirty years. Still available from The Whisky Exchange. Score: 90/100
Google News（ウイスキー）｜原題：【ザ・カハラ・ホテル＆リゾート 横浜】開業6周年と、シリーズイベント第30回を記念。ウイスキーと卓越した技術が交差する特別な1日を The Session#30 -Hotel Anniversary- - 山陽新聞
橫濱卡哈拉度假飯店將於2026年9月23日舉辦第30場The Session調酒活動，慶祝飯店開業6周年。活動邀請廣島名店The Bar TopNote的オーナーバーテンダー野間真吾擔綱，以夏威夷ティキ文化為主題，使用Royal Brackla等威士忌調製4款限定特調雞尾酒。野間真吾曾獲得國內外雞尾酒賽事6次冠軍，其所經營的The Bar TopNote為廣島首家獲選「The World's 50 Best Discovery」的酒吧。活動時間下午3點至5點及晚上7點至11點，票價3,795日圓起（含服務費）。
Google News（ウイスキー）｜原題：TOYAMAウィスキーフェス ／「TOYAMAウイスキーフェスvol.4」10月11日開催 - pr-free.jp
日本富山県將於2026年10月11日舉辦「TOYAMA威士忌祭典Vol.4」，在富山駅步行範圍內的YKK AP ARENA展開。本次活動集結全球300種以上威士忌，提供100多種免費試飲及付費試飲機會，讓愛好者可與釀造師及進口商直接交流。現場並安排美食及威士忌講座（另計費）。前售票價5,000日圓，當日票5,500日圓，對想品飲多款威士忌並深入瞭解威士忌文化的台灣愛好者而言，是認識日本富山在地威士忌文化的好機會。
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Down One Bourbon Bar Closes in Downtown Louisville - Hoodline
位於美國肯塔基州路易維爾威士忌街（Whiskey Row）的 Down One Bourbon Bar 已永久關閉，結束 13 年營運。該酒吧以廣泛的波本威士忌和威士忌選擇及南方風味美食聞名，是路易維爾威士忌文化的重要據點。東家 AJS Hotels 公司承諾將在 2027 年將這個地下空間改造為新概念場所，目前未公布具體計畫。這次關閉引發對威士忌街安全與復興的關注，該街區位於 KFC Yum! 中心對面，過去年間多次發生安全事件。
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Down One Bourbon Bar and Restaurant has closed its doors for good at 321 W. Main St. in downtown Louisville, the venue announced via social media Saturday, with its corporate owner promising to transform the subterranean space into a new concept sometime in 2027.
The closure marks the end of a 13-year run for the bourbon bar, which opened in 2013 inside a space converted from an underground parking garage, according to The Courier-Journal. In its social media announcement, the bar said it plans to turn the space into an exciting new experience in 2027, with more details to come, and signed off with a simple message to regulars: thank you for the memories, and cheers to what's ahead. Down One was known for its sprawling bourbon and whiskey selection alongside American classics and Southern-inspired food, and the Courier-Journal describes it as having been an integral part of Louisville's whiskey scene.
Down One is owned and operated by AJS Hotels, the Al J. Schneider Company, Louisville's largest hotel owner-operator, which also runs the neighboring Galt House Hotel, Embassy Suites Louisville Downtown, and Crowne Plaza Louisville Airport, per company background materials from AJS Hotels. The Al J. Schneider Company was founded in 1947 by contractor Al J. Schneider and marked its 75th anniversary in 2022, having built out much of downtown Louisville's riverfront, including Waterfront Plaza and One Riverfront Plaza, with Schneider credited with anchoring the city's 1970s waterfront renaissance.
Not the Bar's First Reinvention
This is not the first time AJS Hotels has shuttered and rebuilt the space. The bar previously closed and reopened on October 1, 2022, under the company with a revised menu centered on street tacos, craft cocktails, and weekly live entertainment, a relaunch marketed at the time as part of a post-pandemic hospitality revitalization, according to the Galt House Hotel. That history suggests the latest shutdown is less an abrupt abandonment of the Whiskey Row footprint than another deliberate re-concepting of a space AJS Hotels has reworked before.
The bar's subterranean interior carried its own piece of Louisville history. Its stained art glass was saved in 1982 by developer Al J. Schneider from the demolished Brennan Building on South Fourth Street and repurposed into skylights for a private speakeasy room accessed through an antique phone booth, according to The Bourbon Babe. That glass originally belonged to the Art Nouveau-style Vienna Restaurant.
An Anchor on the Urban Bourbon Trail
The venue itself spans 1,400 square feet of interior dining space plus an outdoor patio along Whiskey Row, accommodating up to 55 patio guests and full buyouts for 120, per details published by Down One Bourbon Bar. The subterranean space connects directly to the Galt House parking structure. Sitting directly across West Main Street from the 22,000-seat KFC Yum! Center, the bar leaned heavily on event-driven foot traffic from concerts, conventions, and University of Louisville basketball watch parties tied to the arena's steady calendar of regional sports and entertainment events.
Closure Lands Amid Whiskey Row Scrutiny
The closure comes as Whiskey Row, the historic commercial corridor dating to the 1840s that once served as the primary hub for Kentucky's bourbon distillers and spirit merchants before Prohibition, continues to draw attention for both its 21st-century revitalization into a hotel and tourism destination and its public safety challenges. Hoodline previously reported on a shooting along the corridor that left a teenager dead and another person critically injured last month. Citywide, Louisville Metro's Safe Louisville data released in July showed homicides down 22% and non-fatal shootings down 28% from the prior year, a trend city officials and downtown business leaders have pointed to as they work to bolster foot traffic and hospitality along Main Street.
For now, AJS Hotels has not detailed what will replace Down One's bourbon-and-Southern-food concept when the 2027 transformation arrives, leaving open whether the company will keep the space anchored to whiskey tourism or pivot toward something else entirely. What's clear is that the Whiskey Row address will go dark for event nights across from the Yum! Center in the meantime, a notable gap for a block built around steady foot traffic.
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Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Scene of distillery fire: What burned, what remains at historic Old Crow site - Lexington Herald Leader
肯塔基州歷史悠久的Old Crow蒸餾廠發生火災，摧毀三棟建築物，包括兩座歷史悠久的紅磚酒桶庫。所幸無人傷亡，廠內無存放酒桶或物料。現有營運商Glenns Creek Distilling的場區未受影響，已恢復營業。該廠址建於19世紀末，原為Old Crow Distillery，1987年遭Jim Beam收購後停產，2014年被收購並改為Glenns Creek Distilling。
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Scene of distillery fire: What burned, what remains at historic Old Crow site
AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom.
- A fire destroyed three buildings, including two historic brick rickhouses.
- Glenns Creek Distilling reopened because none of its operation was impacted.
- Meier said no one was injured and no barrels or materials were stored inside.
After a dramatic fire at the historic site of the Old Crow distillery in Kentucky, the operator of a new whiskey venture on site has resumed operations and said he feels “very blessed.”
Glenns Creek Distilling owner David Meier posted online that he sees a “silver lining” in the near-disaster, which struck about 3:30 p.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 30.
“In the case of the fire, no one was injured so that is good news. We did not have any barrels or any material stored in the buildings. The buildings were a bit of a hazard and were in danger of collapse and someone could have been hurt,” Meier said. “I want to extend a thank you to all of the emergency responders who came out and handled the situation. I will get a list of all the companies who came out so I can send them my thanks.
“We are open for business and visitors because none of our operation was impacted. Thank you to all of our wonderful visitors and friends who sent their well wishes and prayers. We are very blessed to have so many wonderful people who care about us.”
Meier did not immediately respond to a request for comment. After the fire, power was out to the facility and surrounding area.
The dramatic fire destroyed three buildings, include two historic brick rickhouses. The site had been built in the late 1800s as the Old Crow Distillery, which stopped producing whiskey in 1987 after it was acquired by Jim Beam. Much of the plant was derelict when Meier acquired the property on the Woodford and Franklin County line in 2014 and established Glenns Creek Distilling.
This story was originally published October 2, 2026 at 11:35 AM.
After three years of ageing, Tipsy Tribe has released what it describes as the first whisky made in Brussels.
Behind the bottle are Aylin, from Turkey, and her husband Daniel, from the United States – a couple who left their professional lives behind to build a brewery and distillery in Koekelberg.
At the end of September, Tipsy Tribe Brewery & Distillery officially unveiled its first Brussels Whisky at its Koekelberg premises, marking the culmination of a project that began more than three years ago.
Only 64 bottles of the first batch are available, making the release a particularly limited one.
First put into barrels on 9 March 2023, the whisky has since been aged in virgin American oak. It is made from Belgian malt, corn and rye, following an American-style whisky profile.
But behind this first bottle is also the story of two expats who decided to change direction professionally and build something of their own.
From corporate careers to craft spirits
Aylin and Daniel came to Brussels with professional backgrounds far removed from brewing and distilling. Before Tipsy Tribe, they worked in more conventional corporate environments and in the EU bubble.
The idea of starting their own business gradually took shape. They had already been experimenting with beer when the Covid-19 period pushed them to think more seriously about what they wanted to do with their professional lives.
"We wanted to see if we could make this a full-time job, but also to pursue something that gives us fulfilment in life," Aylin told to The Brussels Times.
Today, Tipsy Tribe produces craft beers as well as gin, vodka, raki, liqueurs and other spirits. Whisky, however, required a different kind of patience.
Unlike most of the spirits produced at Tipsy Tribe, whisky cannot simply be made and bottled. After distillation, it has to spend at least three years ageing before it can legally be sold as whisky.
"You make it, you put it there, and then you have to wait three years," Aylin said.
The first Brussels whisky was made entirely in-house, from grinding the grains through distillation, ageing and bottling. Initially produced using small-scale equipment, the distillery increased its capacity tenfold in 2025 with the arrival of a new still.
The result is a 45% ABV whisky inspired by American bourbon profiles, but made with Belgian ingredients and in a distinctly Brussels setting.
Interest in the first release was strong: some bottles were made available for pre-sale and sold out within 48 hours, while the bottles reserved for sale at the launch event were gone within the first half hour.
The remaining bottles have been set aside for the brewery-distillery’s taproom, meaning visitors can still come to Koekelberg to taste the whisky by the glass.
For Aylin, that mix also mirrors the couple behind it. “The fact that this whisky is Belgian, but with a foreign inspiration, is a perfect embodiment of the multicultural nature of Brussels and our team at Tipsy Tribe,” she saif.
A whisky rooted in Koekelberg
The choice of location has an additional historical resonance. Koekelberg has links to the history of distillation, with Jean-Baptiste Cellier-Blumenthal having experimented there in the 19th century with the design that would become the modern column still.
"Belgium is known for its amazing beers, but what is less known is its rich history with spirits," said Aylin. "So having the first whisky made in Brussels in a distillery in Koekelberg is an ode to that rich heritage."
The couple also wants the project to remain connected to its neighbourhood. The first bottle from the batch was auctioned during the launch, with the proceeds going towards school materials for a local Koekelberg school, École Armand Swartenbroeks.
In total, the initiative raised more than €700, mainly through the auction, with additional contributions from guests.
The whisky itself was also met with positive feedback at the launch. "We received feedback that the whisky tasted great and had a very smooth finish. Medium oaky char and smoke on a silk body, hints of vanilla and caramel. Sweet, smooth, creamy and grainy finish," said Aylin.
For two expats who arrived in Brussels with careers in other sectors, the whisky therefore marks more than the launch of a new product. It is the result of a decision to build a new professional life around brewing, distilling and their adopted city.
And after three years of waiting, the first Brussels whisky has finally left the barrel.
Raise a toast: Premium whisky, gin from UK may get cheaper by 10-15%
New Delhi: Prices of some premium whisky and gin brands in Delhi may fall by 10% to 15% after excise department assesses the impact of India-UK trade agreement on liquor prices, according to some officials of the department.
A senior excise official said Delhi govt is studying provisions of the pact and how the lower customs duty on qualifying British whisky and gin should be reflected in liquor prices in the capital.
However, the 50% slash does not mean an equally sharp fall in the price of a bottle in Delhi as the retail price of imported liquor also includes state excise duty, taxes, margins and other costs. The actual benefit to consumers will, therefore, depend on individual brands and their revised prices, the official said, adding that the revised prices could kick in this month.
A similar exercise is already underway in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, where prices of several UK-origin liquor brands are set to fall from Oct 10. The reduction for some premium labels is expected to be between 5% and 15%.
At the same time, another proposal being considered in Delhi could push liquor prices in the opposite direction. Govt is examining an increase in excise duty as part of changes to Delhi’s excise policy, officials said.
If approved, a higher state levy could push up liquor prices and, for some imported brands, offset part of the benefit arising from the lower customs duty. However, a decision on the proposed excise-duty increase may take some more time.
The change at the top of the department could mean the two developments affecting liquor prices may not happen at the same time. Some qualifying UK-origin brands could first get the benefit of the customs-duty cut before any increase in excise levy kicks in later.
A senior excise official said Delhi govt is studying provisions of the pact and how the lower customs duty on qualifying British whisky and gin should be reflected in liquor prices in the capital.
However, the 50% slash does not mean an equally sharp fall in the price of a bottle in Delhi as the retail price of imported liquor also includes state excise duty, taxes, margins and other costs. The actual benefit to consumers will, therefore, depend on individual brands and their revised prices, the official said, adding that the revised prices could kick in this month.
A similar exercise is already underway in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, where prices of several UK-origin liquor brands are set to fall from Oct 10. The reduction for some premium labels is expected to be between 5% and 15%.
At the same time, another proposal being considered in Delhi could push liquor prices in the opposite direction. Govt is examining an increase in excise duty as part of changes to Delhi’s excise policy, officials said.
If approved, a higher state levy could push up liquor prices and, for some imported brands, offset part of the benefit arising from the lower customs duty. However, a decision on the proposed excise-duty increase may take some more time.
The change at the top of the department could mean the two developments affecting liquor prices may not happen at the same time. Some qualifying UK-origin brands could first get the benefit of the customs-duty cut before any increase in excise levy kicks in later.
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Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：This Japanese whisky is almost too beautiful to open - Whisky Monkeys
三得利（House of Suntory）與擁有470年歷史的京都和服名舖Chiso合作，推出Hibiki Japanese Harmony 2026限定版。瓶身融合日本24節氣的24個切面設計，加上Chiso的花卉圖騰裝飾，以金色、深紅、翠綠、靛藍與粉紅等色彩描繪橘、桐樹、櫻花、梅花等象徵日本四季與吉祥寓意的植物。酒款為Hibiki Japanese Harmony（43% ABV），已自10月1日起在精選零售商上架，建議售價€129（約台幣4,200元）。這款幾乎美到捨不得開瓶的限定版成為收藏家與威士忌愛好者的新寵。
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Whisky lovers with a nose for Japanese whisky have something new to look forward to. The House of
Suntory has released a special edition of
Hibiki Japanese Harmony—and the bottle alone is almost reason enough to bring it home.
For the Hibiki Japanese Harmony 2026 Limited Edition,
The House of Suntory joined forces with Chiso. This isn’t just any Japanese fashion house. Based in Kyoto, the company has been crafting kimonos since 1555, carrying more than 470 years of Japanese tradition. The collaboration has produced a striking bottle that clearly stands apart from the regular release of
Hibiki Japanese Harmony.
A distinctive makeover for Japanese whisky
The iconic Hibiki bottle features 24 facets, a nod to
Japan’s 24 traditional micro-seasons. For this limited edition, Chiso has adorned the bottle with a colorful floral design inspired by the country’s shifting seasons.
The bottle showcases a variety of plants and flowers, each with its own meaning. Tachibana symbolizes enduring prosperity, while Kiri is associated with good fortune and prestige. And of course, the famed Japanese Sakura—cherry blossoms—are present as well.
The design also incorporates plum blossoms and camellias. With a palette of gold, crimson, emerald green, indigo, and pink, the result is wonderfully eye-catching. It turns the bottle into as much a display piece as a vessel for whisky.
It’s not the first time Hibiki has partnered with Japanese artists for a special release. The whisky brand has previously collaborated with Eriko Horiki and Hiroshi Senju, among others.
What’s inside this special Hibiki bottle?
While the exterior has been reimagined for this edition, the liquid inside remains Hibiki Japanese Harmony. This Japanese blended whisky is bottled at 43% ABV.
- Nose: Honey-like sweetness, candied orange peel and white chocolate.
- Palate: Rose, lychee, a hint of rosemary, mature wood notes and sandalwood.
- Finish: Subtle, smooth and lingering, with delicate notes of Japanese Mizunara oak.
If you’re keen to add this special bottle to your collection, you won’t have to wait years. The Hibiki Japanese Harmony 2026 Limited Edition – Chiso Collaboration has been available at select retailers since October 1. The official suggested price is €129.
Whether you actually crack it open or keep it pristine on your shelf—that’s an entirely different question.
| New whiskies at Whisky Exchange | |
| Highland Park 17 Year Old Between You and I | 116 pounds |
| The Glenturret Remanence | 88,95 pounds |
| Compass Box This is a 20-year old whisky | 63,95 pounds |
FAQ
- What makes the Hibiki Japanese Harmony 2026 Limited Edition special?
For this special release, The House of Suntory collaborated with the Japanese kimono house Chiso. The bottle features an exclusive design with flowers and plants that pay tribute to Japan’s seasons.
- How much does the Hibiki Japanese Harmony 2026 Limited Edition cost?
The Hibiki Japanese Harmony 2026 Limited Edition has an official suggested price of €129 and is available at select retailers.
- Which whisky is in the Hibiki 2026 Limited Edition?
The bottle contains Hibiki Japanese Harmony, a Japanese blended whisky at 43% ABV. The limited edition stands out primarily for its exclusive bottle design.
A new release from Shizuoka occupies an unusual place on the shelf, because in its home market it can legally be called neither bourbon nor Japanese whisky.
Craft Wonder, a Tokyo drinks brand, launched Whiskey Wonder Limited Edition 001 on October 2. It is a set of three single-barrel whiskeys, all distilled and matured by Whiskey&Co. at its Distillery Water Dragon in Mishima. Japan Whisky Press reported the details of the release the following day. All three barrels were filled with the same new make on the same day. Each then spent two years in new American white oak with a No. 4 “alligator” char, and each was bottled on its own at 50.5% ABV, or 101 proof.
The companies have disclosed that the mash bill uses Japanese-made corn grits, rye and malt, but they have not published the proportions. Whiskey&Co. calls its method Japanese “Bourbon Whiskey” Style, a phrase that keeps the release clear of two protected names at once.
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Why the Label Stops Short of Bourbon
Bourbon has been a protected term in Japan for nearly five years. On December 22, 2021, Japan formally recognized bourbon and Tennessee whiskey as distinctive products of the United States. In the Distilled Spirits Council’s words, this means only bourbon “produced in the United States according to official U.S. standards may be sold in Japan.”
US federal regulations require bourbon to come from a mash of at least 51% corn. It must be distilled to no more than 160 proof, go into new charred oak containers at no more than 125 proof, and be bottled at 80 proof or higher. Bourbon has no minimum age, but a whiskey needs at least two years in wood before it can be called straight.
On paper, Water Dragon follows the barrel side of that recipe closely. New charred oak is the choice that defines the style, and the two-year age happens to match the American threshold for straight whiskey. Without the corn percentage, though, nobody outside the distillery can say whether the mash would meet the 51% rule. Either way, the place it was made rules out the name.
Every Kirkland Bourbon Ranked, From Worst to Best
READ THE STORYToo Young to Be Japanese Whisky
Age, rather than geography, is what keeps the whiskey out of Japan’s own category. The Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association brought in its labeling standard in 2021, with a transition period that ended in April 2024. Under that standard, spirit must mature in wooden casks in Japan for at least three years before it can be sold as Japanese whisky. The standard also requires malted grain, distillation and bottling in Japan, and a minimum strength of 40% ABV.
Water Dragon’s whiskey meets almost every other part of that standard. It contains malt, it was distilled and bottled in Mishima, and it is well above the minimum strength. It is one year short on age, and Japan Whisky Press noted in its report that this gap keeps it out of the category.
The standard is voluntary and binds only the association’s own members. Japan’s tax law still defines whisky so loosely that, as the Tokyo-based site Nomunication has pointed out, a product containing only 10% actual whisky can carry the word. In March 2025 the association announced that it would seek geographical indication status for Japanese whisky, which would make its rules legally binding across the industry. The National Tax Agency is reported to be working on a legal definition, although no timeline has been made public.
The Commercial Case for Bourbon-Style Whiskey in Japan
For a young distillery, the economics behind the bourbon-style approach are clear enough. Japan Whisky Press observed that spirit aged in new charred oak picks up color and flavor quickly, especially in summers as hot as Shizuoka’s. Water Dragon only opened in 2023, so the method lets it sell mature-tasting whiskey years before a Scotch-style operation could.
Whiskey&Co. was founded in January 2021, and its president, Shohei Omori, has said that the company “specialized in the style and adopted its signature spelling.” Its whiskeys have already won a master medal at The World Whisky Masters 2025 and a top gold for new-born spirits at the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition 2026.
The approach also has precedent in the same corner of Shizuoka. According to the Malt Whisky Yearbook 2026, Kirin founded Fuji Gotemba in 1973 together with Seagram & Sons and Chivas Brothers. Most Japanese distilleries followed Scottish practice, but Fuji Gotemba also took on production methods from Canada and the United States. Its grain whiskies, made with column stills, a kettle and a doubler, showed long ago that North American technique could take root at the foot of Mount Fuji.
Three Barrels From One Spirit
The release is built to show how far identical spirit can drift in different barrels. Nakagawa, who leads CRAFT WONDER, chose the three casks, numbered 99, 100 and 103, from eight he tasted at the distillery. In the brand’s press release, he argued that blending them would have hidden the differences that grew out of identical spirit.
Craft Wonder describes Barrel 99 as dense and fruit-driven and Barrel 100 as the spiciest and most structured. Barrel 103, in the brand’s words, is the softest, with caramel and vanilla. The brand also says Mishima’s soft Fuji groundwater, used for mashing and for bringing the spirit down to strength, gives a smoother texture than the hard limestone water associated with Kentucky. That claim is the brand’s own, and water is only one of many differences between distilling in Japan and in Kentucky.
The bottling strength is also a deliberate nod to American whiskey law. Japan Whisky Press reports that 101 proof was chosen as “one step above the 100-proof benchmark” set by the Bottled-in-Bond Act of 1897.
Supply is very limited, and no more of this edition will be made. Each barrel produced 209 full 700ml bottles at ¥19,800, and there are also 355 sets of three 200ml bottles at ¥20,900. Sales run through a CRAFT WONDER pop-up at Tokyo Midtown until October 29, the brand’s online store and department stores, and no export has been announced.
What Would Settle the Name
Water Dragon cannot use the American word and does not yet qualify for the Japanese one, so its label names a method rather than a category. If the distillery left a future batch in wood for a third year, that whiskey could qualify as Japanese whisky under the association’s standard, despite the new charred oak and corn. The rules would then have to make room for a Japanese whisky made, by design, to taste like Kentucky.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Can you drink whiskey with dinner? - irishtimes.com
愛爾蘭威士忌推廣者 Oisín Davis 出版新書《The Irish Whiskey Cookbook》，收錄 50 道威士忌食譜，倡導將愛爾蘭威士忌融入餐飲文化。書中不僅展示威士忌入菜的烹飪方式（如醬汁、起司火鍋、布朗尼），更提倡用威士忌搭餐——作為開胃酒、主菜搭飲，或在起司盤搭配享用。Davis 認為愛爾蘭威士忌應像蘇格蘭威士忌和波本威士忌一樣被重視，餐廳應更積極推薦威士忌配餐。
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Can you drink whiskey with dinner? Oisín Davis thinks you can, so much so that he has written a book about it. Davis has always been an avid promoter of Irish drinks through tastings, podcasts, events, and, in his first book, Irish Kitchen Cocktails. Next week, he will release his second, The Irish Whiskey Cookbook.
“My first book was all about encouraging people to make cocktails at home – it was very focused on the domestic enjoyment of Irish-made cocktails,” he says. “This one I see as a guide for people who want to enjoy Irish whiskey in a more elevated manner both at home and when they are out.
“With the book, I am trying to do is celebrate something that is very unique to Ireland, which is our Irish whiskey – it’s GI-protected. From a culinary perspective, it’s something we have been masters of for centuries. If we want to have a culinary culture that is unique to Ireland, then we really need to start showcasing the items that are truly unique to the island of Ireland.”
In the new book, Davis aims to highlight a different approach to whiskey, firstly by bringing it into food: “Literally cooking it in a sauce, mixing it into a cheese fondue, bringing the whiskey into a Irish coffee brownie”.
READ MORE
His other “core message” is that if you buy a bottle of whiskey and cook with it, you can keep it open and drink it alongside the food.
But does he believe that whiskey does go well with food as part of a meal?
“Absolutely it does. It may not be something that you would have throughout the entire meal but it an Irish whiskey cocktail or even a nice straight serve is lovely as an aperitif. But if you want to have an Irish whiskey paired with your main course, where we would normally veer towards the wine, I suggest you look at cocktails. That’s what we’ve done in the book; for every dish, there is an Irish whiskey recommendation, whether it’s a straight serve or a cocktail. I love a straight whiskey at the end of the meal at the cheese board. Irish cheeses go absolutely wonderfully well with Irish whiskeys. I think restaurants that have cheese boards and don’t bring out the Irish whiskey, or at least suggest it, are missing out.”
Davis looks at how other producer countries such as the US and Scotland view their whisky and reckons we have “a lot of catching up to do”.
“In both those countries their whiskys are far more integrated into their culinary cultures and into their menus, whether it’s bourbon and a nice barbecue sauce, or how well they pair seafood and their cheeses over in Scotland. It may not be to everyone’s taste to enjoy an Irish whiskey with every course of food at a meal but if you haven’t had an Irish whiskey alongside a nice dessert or an Irish cheese board, I would highly recommend starting there.”
Davis’s book has 50 recipes, all containing Irish whiskey and each with a suggested pairing. “I have recipes that go back as far as the 19th century and I have recipes that are my own and then others that are just kind of twists on other whiskey classics,” he says.
Dishes include duck breast with spiced redcurrant whiskey sauce, chicken and whiskey hot wings, baby back ribs with whiskey, ginger ale and lime, scallops with a whiskey soy glaze, and chocolate whiskey mousse.
Does he have a favourite whiskey recipe?
“There’s definitely a couple of very approachable, very easy recipes that everyone can give a go. From the sweet side I would say that the Irish coffee brownie is very easy to pull off and complements an Irish coffee beautifully. And then the Irish whiskey cream sauce for steaks. I think that any gastropub or restaurant that is celebrating Irish food but is not serving something like an Irish cream sauce with their steaks should be fined.”
The Irish Whiskey Cookbook: 50 Recipes to Cook, Sip and Savour is published by Nine Bean Rows
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch Bourbon - joesdaily.com
Four Roses推出2026年份限量版小批次波本，於10月10日上市，建議零售價249美元。最大看點是調和中含有23年陳年的OESK配方威士忌（蒸餾於2003年左右），與14年和15年的年輕批次混合，共約16,800瓶。此版本以原桶強度、未冷凝過濾方式裝瓶，保留23年陳釀帶來的豐厚風味與口感。調配師Brent Elliott透過跨越9年年份差距的調和，達到橡木影響力的完美平衡。適合四玫瑰收藏家和已購買200美元以上原桶威士忌的愛好者。
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The most interesting number in Four Roses’ 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch isn’t the $249 price or the 109.2 proof. It’s 23: the age of the oldest bourbon in the blend, an OESK-recipe whiskey that has been sitting in a Kentucky rickhouse since roughly 2003. When the 19th edition of this annual release lands on October 10, that 23-year-old joins three younger batches, two at 14 years and one at 15, in a barrel-strength, non-chill-filtered blend of about 16,800 bottles.
I haven’t tasted it yet. Nobody outside Lawrenceburg has. But I’ve been drinking Four Roses long enough to read a blend sheet, and this one tells a story worth your attention: the same OESK recipe appears twice, at 14 years and at 23 years old. Nine years apart, same mash bill, same yeast. That’s a vertical study in what time does to whiskey, hiding inside a $249 bottle.
What’s Actually in the Bottle
Four Roses distills 10 distinct bourbon recipes, and this year’s Limited Edition pulls three of them across four hand-selected batches: a 14-year-old OBSK, a 14-year-old OESK, a 15-year-old OESV, and the 23-year-old OESK. Everything goes into the bottle at barrel strength and non-chill filtered, which is exactly how whiskey this old should be handled. Chill filtering strips out the fatty acids and texture that two decades in oak build up. Skipping it keeps the mouthfeel intact.
For the code-curious, the letters are Four Roses’ recipe system. O means distilled at Lawrenceburg. The second letter is the mash bill: B is the high-rye recipe, E is the lower-rye one. The final two letters are the yeast strain: K brings slight spice, S brings rich fruit, V brings delicate fruit. This year’s blend leans on spice-yeast whiskeys, with two of the four batches built on K strains and a delicate-fruit V rounding out the middle.
Why the 23-Year-Old Matters More Than the Price
Here is the part the announcement doesn’t spell out. A 23-year-old bourbon doesn’t just add age to a blend, it sets the ceiling for oak influence across the whole bottle. At 23 years in new charred oak, you’re getting deep extraction: tannin, wood sugars, the full architecture. The 14- and 15-year-old components keep it from tipping into over-oaked territory and pull the fruit and spice forward. Blending across a nine-year age gap is a balancing act, and it’s the kind of work Brent Elliott’s blending team has built its reputation on. Elliott framed this year’s release as a return to tradition after a year of experimental releases, which reads to me like a distillery reminding everyone what it does best.
Four Roses describes the pour as opening with apricot and light, elegant oak, moving into baking spice, honey, and delicate wood, with a long finish of fruit, vanilla, and caramel. Take distillery tasting notes for what they are, but “beautifully integrated oak” is the phrase I’d underline. At 23 years, if the oak weren’t integrated, they’d be describing furniture.
The Release Details, and Who Should Chase It
Suggested retail is $249, with roughly 16,800 bottles hitting select retailers nationwide and the Four Roses visitor centers in Lawrenceburg on October 10. Past editions have sold through quickly, and a 23-year-old component gives this one a story that won’t hurt demand.
This is for Four Roses completists and anyone who already buys barrel-proof bourbon in the $200-plus tier. At $249 you’re paying for the blending as much as the age. There are cheaper 15-year bourbons on the shelf, but none of them contain a 23-year-old OESK. Skip it if you drink your bourbon at 90 proof over ice, because 109.2 proof will not meet you there. And if the price makes you wince, the standard Four Roses Small Batch remains one of the best values in bourbon.
If you’re hunting a bottle, call your store now. Allocations on this release go to regulars first, and 16,800 bottles spread across the country disappears fast.
I’ll taste it as soon as I can get my hands on a bottle, and I’ll update this with real notes. Until then, the blend sheet alone has me more interested in this edition than I’ve been in a few years. A 23-year-old OESK doesn’t come around often.
Questions People Ask About the Four Roses 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch
What do the OBSK, OESK, and OESV codes mean?
They’re Four Roses’ recipe codes. O means distilled at Lawrenceburg, Kentucky. The second letter is the mash bill: B is the high-rye recipe at 60 percent corn and 35 percent rye, E is the lower-rye recipe at 75 percent corn and 20 percent rye. The last two letters are the yeast strain: K gives slight spice, S gives rich fruit, V gives delicate fruit. Four Roses makes 10 combinations, and this year’s release uses three of them.
Is the 2026 Limited Edition Small Batch worth $249?
It depends on what you value. The $249 buys a barrel-strength, non-chill-filtered blend containing a 23-year-old bourbon, which is genuinely rare at this price. If you collect Four Roses or already buy in the premium barrel-proof tier, the math works. If you just want a great daily drinker, the regular Four Roses Small Batch costs a fraction of the price and remains excellent.
Why doesn’t the bottle carry an age statement?
Because it’s a blend of whiskeys aged 14, 14, 15, and 23 years, and Four Roses has never put age statements on this release. They could technically state the youngest age, but the Limited Edition Small Batch has always been sold on the blend story rather than a number. The announcement gives you the full breakdown anyway, which is more transparent than most age-stated bottles.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：This $25 Bottle Is the World’s Best Bourbon, According to the 2026 International Wine and Spirits Competition - Food & Wine｜僅標題
（僅標題資訊）根據2026年國際葡萄酒烈酒大賽（International Wine and Spirits Competition），一支價格僅25美元的波本威士忌榮獲全球最佳波本威士忌大獎。此結果突顯即使是親民價位的威士忌也能達到專業評審的高度認可，對於預算有限的威士忌愛好者而言是個好消息，也反映出美國波本威士忌市場的競爭激烈與品質多元化。
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：The World’s Best Irish And Taiwanese Whiskey, According To The IWSC - Forbes｜僅標題
（僅標題資訊）IWSC（International Wine and Spirits Competition）公布了其評選的全球最佳愛爾蘭威士忌與台灣威士忌得獎者。此競賽為業界重要的國際評比活動，獲獎酒款代表該地區的優秀代表作。對台灣威士忌愛好者而言，此評選結果值得參考，可了解台灣威士忌在國際舞台上的水準表現。
Google News（Scotch/Distillery）｜原題：5 Whiskies To Try If You Love Crown Royal - The Whiskey Wash
如果你長期喜歡Crown Royal（加冕皇家）威士忌，想進一步探索，本篇推薦5款風味相近的替代選項。除了另一款加拿大威士忌外，還包括蘇格蘭、愛爾蘭和日本威士忌。推薦清單包括：Aberfeldy 12年份（US$40）、Jameson Black Barrel（US$30）、Pike Creek 10年份蘭姆桶版（US$41）、Toki日本調和威士忌（US$28）和Monkey Shoulder調和麥芽威士忌（US$23）。這些酒款都具有Crown Royal的香草、果香和甜感等特色，同時提供不同的風味層次，價格親民。
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If Crown Royal has been your go-to pour for a while and you’re looking for the next step, we’ve got a list of five comparable whiskies. There’s another from Canada, alongside bottles from Scotland, Ireland, and Japan.
Crown Royal’s appeal goes beyond its fetching velvet bag. It’s a whisky with plenty of history and a flavor profile built around sweetness, vanilla, gentle oak and fruit. Everything we’ve listed below shares at least some of those characteristics, while taking you somewhere slightly different without costing a fortune.
Aberfeldy 12 Year Old, 40%, $40 / £42 / ₹5,482
When looking for whiskies that are similar to Crown Royal, Scotch whisky can provide a very welcome next step. Aberfeldy 12 Year Old is a sweet, honey-driven single malt with a very approachable, easy-drinking style from a historic distillery.
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If you don’t want to jump straight into heavy peat or aggressive cask influence, Aberfeldy 12 is a gentle transition into a different whisky category. It’s an affordable, sweet pour that offers more malt character without moving too far away from the approachable style that makes Crown Royal so popular.
Jameson Black Barrel, 40%, $30 / £30 / ₹4,200
Ireland also feels like a natural next step for Crown Royal drinkers. Jameson Black Barrel combines grain whiskey and single pot still whiskey, with double-charred barrels helping to create a bolder, richer flavor profile.
It’s almost a crossover between the easy sweetness of Irish whiskey and some of the richer oak flavors associated with bourbon. Think caramel, toasted oak, vanilla and gentle spice, with a longer-lasting flavor than its famous green-bottled sibling.
Every Kirkland Bourbon Ranked, From Worst to Best
READ THE STORYJameson has been a go-to bottle for generations, and Black Barrel gives you more richness and oak while keeping the smooth, accessible character that made the original so popular.
Pike Creek 10 Year Old Rum Cask, 42%, $41 / £33
Back to Canada for this one. Pike Creek 10 Year Old was previously released with a port cask finish, but this version uses rum barrels for its secondary maturation.
It naturally hits many of the sweeter notes found in Crown Royal, with the rum casks bringing additional brown sugar, vanilla and molasses character. The slightly higher ABV also gives those flavors a little more weight and staying power.
This is a really good-value bottle that shows another side of Canadian whisky without straying too far from familiar territory. It’s also one of the Canadian whiskies we can get reasonably consistently here in the UK, making it something of a niche but well-liked bottle on our side of the Atlantic.
Toki Blended Japanese Whisky, 43%, $28 / £28 / ₹4,000
Japanese and Canadian whisky have more in common than you might initially expect. Both have strong traditions of blending different styles of whisky to create something balanced, approachable and consistent.
Toki is Suntory’s accessible blended whisky, bringing together whisky from its Hakushu, Chita and Yamazaki distilleries. Hakushu contributes bright orchard fruit, herbal notes and gentle smoke, while Chita brings soft sweetness and a rounded texture. Yamazaki adds extra spice and complexity.
There is a little smoke here, but nothing that should frighten someone coming from Crown Royal. Instead, Toki is clean, light and easy drinking, with enough sweetness and fruit to make the transition feel familiar.
It’s a very different whisky geographically, but its balance and drinkability make it an easy recommendation for Crown Royal drinkers looking to explore Japanese whisky.
Monkey Shoulder Blended Malt Whisky, 40%, $23 / £25 / ₹3,780
This one feels like a bit of a no-brainer. Monkey Shoulder is one of the biggest names in the blended malt category. A blended malt is made by combining single malt whiskies from different distilleries, without the grain whisky you would find in a traditional blended Scotch.
Sourced from Glenfiddich, Balvenie and Kininvie, all owned by William Grant & Sons, this is a very vanilla-forward blended malt that has carved out its own space among drinkers looking for something easygoing.
It isn’t the most complex whisky, but it doesn’t need to be. It’s an approachable style that works well neat and is equally at home in cocktails.
For Crown Royal drinkers, that combination of sweetness, smoothness, and versatility should feel immediately familiar, even though the whisky itself is made in a completely different way.
Why These Bottles Work for Crown Royal Drinkers
Crown Royal Fine De Luxe is built around a pretty approachable set of flavors: vanilla, fruit, sweet oak and a smooth, creamy texture. That gives us a useful starting point when looking for bottles to try next.
None of these five whiskies is supposed to be a direct replacement for Crown Royal. Instead, each takes one or more of those familiar characteristics and moves them in a slightly different direction.
Most importantly, none requires Crown Royal drinkers to completely reset their palate. They offer enough familiarity to be immediately enjoyable, while giving you somewhere new to go next.
Google News（Scotch/Distillery）｜原題：Good news for Scotch lovers: Reduction in duty on British liquor may cut prices by 15% in Delhi, say officials - Deccan Herald
<p>New Delhi: The Delhi Excise Department is considering implementing a reduction in customs duty on British liquor, resulting in a price cut of some premium <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/scotch-whisky">Scotch whiskies </a>by up to 15 per cent in the national capital, officials said on Sunday.</p>.<p>After a decision by the Delhi government, prices of some popular Scotch may be reduced by around Rs 200 to Rs 300 in Delhi's retail market, they said.</p>.<p>Last year, India signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom (UK), slashing the import duty on British spirits.</p>.<p>In the trade agreement, India will reduce duty on UK whisky and gin from 150 to 75 per cent and further to 40 per cent in the 10th year of the deal.</p>.<p>The decision, being policy-related, is likely to take some time as the department has no full-time Excise Commissioner at present, they said. Recently, IAS Ravi Jha was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh, leaving the post vacant, which is currently being held by the New Delhi district magistrate.</p>.Desi liquors in high spirits: India’s indigenous brews are raising the bar.<p>The process will pick up after the Delhi government appoints a full-time commissioner, they said.</p>.<p>According to a senior government official, slashing of rates will create a problem in old stocks' disposal due to the difference in rate, which has to be sorted out prior to the reduction in rates of the Scotch whiskies.</p>.<p>Another policy decision regarding a new excise regime is also pending. Delhi government has to frame and implement a new excise policy.</p>.<p>According to the officials, a draft of the new policy has been sent to the Centre for its approval.</p>.<p>The policy is likely to recommend an increase in excise duty and margin on retail liquor sale. This will be in contrast to the move to reduce prices of select brands of Scotch whiskies and would require careful assessment by the government, they said.</p>.<p>The cut in customs duty is unlikely to translate into an equivalent reduction in retail prices. State excise duty, taxes, trade margins and other costs will continue to form part of the final price, they said.</p>.<p>Officials said revised prices could begin appearing this month. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, prices of several UK-origin liquor brands are expected to fall from October 10, with reductions for some premium labels estimated at 5-15 per cent.</p>.<p>According to experts, in the premium segment, such as Johnnie Walker Black Label, prices may fall by Rs 200-300 per bottle. For Scotch brands that are bottled in India, such as Black Dog, 100 Pipers, Passport, Vat 69 and Black & White, the drop may be Rs 100-150.</p>.<p>Typically, a Johnnie Walker Black Label (750 ml) costs around Rs 3,100 and a Macallan, matured 12-Year (750 ml) is priced at around Rs 8,000.</p>.<p>There are entry-level Scotches such as Black Dog, 100 Pipers, Passport, Vat 69 and Black & White, which are imported into India and then bottled here to save tax. They are priced at Rs 1,800 and above. </p>
<p>New Delhi: The Delhi Excise Department is considering implementing a reduction in customs duty on British liquor, resulting in a price cut of some premium <a href="https://www.deccanherald.com/tags/scotch-whisky">Scotch whiskies </a>by up to 15 per cent in the national capital, officials said on Sunday.</p>.<p>After a decision by the Delhi government, prices of some popular Scotch may be reduced by around Rs 200 to Rs 300 in Delhi's retail market, they said.</p>.<p>Last year, India signed a Comprehensive Economic and Trade Agreement with the United Kingdom (UK), slashing the import duty on British spirits.</p>.<p>In the trade agreement, India will reduce duty on UK whisky and gin from 150 to 75 per cent and further to 40 per cent in the 10th year of the deal.</p>.<p>The decision, being policy-related, is likely to take some time as the department has no full-time Excise Commissioner at present, they said. Recently, IAS Ravi Jha was transferred to Arunachal Pradesh, leaving the post vacant, which is currently being held by the New Delhi district magistrate.</p>.Desi liquors in high spirits: India’s indigenous brews are raising the bar.<p>The process will pick up after the Delhi government appoints a full-time commissioner, they said.</p>.<p>According to a senior government official, slashing of rates will create a problem in old stocks' disposal due to the difference in rate, which has to be sorted out prior to the reduction in rates of the Scotch whiskies.</p>.<p>Another policy decision regarding a new excise regime is also pending. Delhi government has to frame and implement a new excise policy.</p>.<p>According to the officials, a draft of the new policy has been sent to the Centre for its approval.</p>.<p>The policy is likely to recommend an increase in excise duty and margin on retail liquor sale. This will be in contrast to the move to reduce prices of select brands of Scotch whiskies and would require careful assessment by the government, they said.</p>.<p>The cut in customs duty is unlikely to translate into an equivalent reduction in retail prices. State excise duty, taxes, trade margins and other costs will continue to form part of the final price, they said.</p>.<p>Officials said revised prices could begin appearing this month. In neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, prices of several UK-origin liquor brands are expected to fall from October 10, with reductions for some premium labels estimated at 5-15 per cent.</p>.<p>According to experts, in the premium segment, such as Johnnie Walker Black Label, prices may fall by Rs 200-300 per bottle. For Scotch brands that are bottled in India, such as Black Dog, 100 Pipers, Passport, Vat 69 and Black & White, the drop may be Rs 100-150.</p>.<p>Typically, a Johnnie Walker Black Label (750 ml) costs around Rs 3,100 and a Macallan, matured 12-Year (750 ml) is priced at around Rs 8,000.</p>.<p>There are entry-level Scotches such as Black Dog, 100 Pipers, Passport, Vat 69 and Black & White, which are imported into India and then bottled here to save tax. They are priced at Rs 1,800 and above. </p>
Illegally imported alcohol seized from Ernesto Choo’s property
Mr Ernesto Choo The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) said it seized a quantity of uncustomed alcohol from a property owned ...
Mr Ernesto Choo The Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) said it seized a quantity of uncustomed alcohol from a property owned ...
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Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：90-POINT RIDE: Sage Kimzey rides Smooth Whiskey for 90.6 points | PBR Teams Highlight - PBR | Professional Bull Riders
（僅標題資訊）此為職業牛仔競技賽（PBR）的賽事亮點報導，與威士忌產業無直接關聯。報導記錄選手Sage Kimzey在2026年PBR Teams Rattler Days德州沃斯堡站第一天第四場比賽中，騎乘一頭名為「Smooth Whiskey」的公牛，獲得90.6分的成績。該公牛名稱恰好包含威士忌相關詞彙，但此新聞主要關於運動賽事而非酒類產業。
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Sage Kimzey rides Smooth Whiskey for 90.6 points in Game 4 on Day 1 of the 2026 PBR Teams Rattler Days in Ft. Worth, TX
#pbr #highlights #bullriding #pbrteams
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12 Unique Mini Gadgets That Can Upgrade Your Home Whisky Or Cocktail Bar
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As well as helping you be more productive while you're sitting at your office desk, gadgets can also help you make the most of your time off when you're trying to unwind. Enjoying a beverage is one of the easiest ways to relax, but the process can easily be spoiled if you realize you've forgotten to prepare correctly beforehand. Perhaps you remember that you don't have any ice to make your favorite cocktail or chill your whiskey, or you left your favorite white wine or prosecco on the counter rather than in the fridge.
There are plenty of gadgets to help solve all of these common problems, and there are plenty of others that can help take your drink-making experience to the next level too. If you've ever wanted to create proper bar-style cocktails but you can never get the proportions of ingredients right, or you want smoke or lights to add some flair to your next cocktail creation, there are gadgets to help you do all of those things and more. We've gone trawling through the depths of Amazon to bring you 12 cool mini gadgets, each of which receives consistently positive feedback from reviewers on the platform.
Euhomy Countertop Ice Maker
Whether your drink of choice is whiskey or a cocktail, you'll probably want to keep some ice on hand to ensure that it's served at the perfect temperature. Some refrigerators utilize clever tech and offer built-in ice makers, but if your refrigerator doesn't, you'll need to get your ice from a different source. Anyone with some spare space on their cocktail or whiskey bar could pick up a mini gadget that means they always have access to a steady ice supply, like the Euhomy countertop ice maker.
It retails for $89.99 on Amazon, and like all of the gadgets here, it's well liked by reviewers. The ice maker is available in a variety of colors to suit virtually all bar styles — buyers wanting a discreet gadget will probably want to opt for the black colorway, while anyone with a brighter, tropical-themed bar might want to pick the green or rose-colored versions.
The brand says that the ice maker can produce up to 26 lbs of ice in 24 hours, with each piece being bullet-shaped so it sticks together less than a conventional cube. If you've forgotten to fill the device, you shouldn't have to wait around long for your evening drink, as the brand claims that the ice maker will produce its first pieces just six minutes after it is refilled. Even if your bar isn't near an outlet, there's no need to worry, as the gadget features a carry handle so you can easily transport it around the house or out into the yard.
Breville BSM600SIL Cocktail Smoking Gun
Professional mixologists are not only experts at blending the perfect proportion of ingredients, but they're also able to add a bit more flair to the cocktail making experience than most people do at home. Some cocktails might arrive in unique glasses, some might be infused with smoke, and some might even be lit on fire before they're served. It's probably easier to leave the fire starting to the professionals, but the other two things aren't difficult to achieve at home with the right equipment.
Amazon is a great place to find that equipment, and if you're looking for a smoking gun to give your cocktails some pizazz, the Breville BSM600SIL smoking gun is a good place to start. The gun retails for $109.95, and it includes wood chips so you can try it out right away. There are two different smoke settings on the gadget, gentle and intense, with the latter being the best option for a more distinctive change in flavor. The gun runs using a set of four AA batteries, which Breville helpfully includes alongside the device. When they run out, you'll need to replace them, although it's probably best to make sure you replace all of them with batteries from the same brand.
Cooluli Mini Fridge
Plenty of cocktail recipes involve soda, and to keep that soda cool, you'll want to keep it in the fridge. Rather than heading back to your kitchen every time you need a new can, the Cooluli mini fridge lets you keep your soda chilled without needing to leave your bar. Unlike a larger refrigerator, the Cooluli can be powered in multiple different ways, either using AC, DC, or USB power. The necessary cords for all three power types are included with the fridge.
It has a capacity of 4 liters, which should be enough to stash multiple soda cans with room left over for some cocktail garnishes. Its small size and versatile power options also mean that it can be picked up and taken with you on the go when you're not using it to keep drinks cool at your home bar. Various color options are available, with the black color option retailing for $59.99. That's a relatively small investment considering that some mini fridges can last for a decade or more.
Ahiier Multi-Color LED Bottle Sticker Lights
Finding the right lighting setup can make a big difference if you're looking to recreate the atmosphere of a night out at your home bar. You'll need to consider not only how the room is illuminated, but also how certain objects and parts of the bar are lit. Cocktail glasses, wine glasses, and bottles can also be given their own lighting if you buy a set of Ahiier LED bottle sticker lights.
A 12-piece set costs $14.99, with each piece providing lighting for up to 24 hours according to its maker. Although reviewers generally like the set, one common complaint is that this claimed battery life is optimistic. Some reviewers claim the lights only last for a couple hours, a few say that some pieces in the set can fail earlier than others. A single set includes seven different light colors.
The lights can be stuck to the bottom of bottles and glasses using the included adhesive, with each one containing four LED bulbs to illuminate the drink from underneath. Many drinkers will likely prefer to leave the lights on their steady illumination mode, but they can also be switched to their fast or slow flashing modes if needed.
Higfra Wine Aerator
Wine aerators promise to give you the benefits of letting a wine breathe without needing to wait like you normally would. There are plenty of potential upsides to aeration, like enhancing its flavor and softening tannins, but wine experts recommend that some wines be left alone for several hours between uncorking and drinking. The Higfra wine aerator, on the other hand, won't keep you waiting for hours. The $36.99 device attaches straight to the top of most common shapes of wine bottle, and it pours aerated wine straight away.
It isn't just useful for maximizing flavor, either. If you're making cocktails where wine or prosecco is an ingredient and you can never seem to pour the right amount, the one-button operation of the aerator can potentially help you dispense the drink more precisely. When it's out of battery, the gadget can be recharged using a USB cable, which is included alongside a velvet storage bag and a pair of flexible guide tubes.
Bartesian Duet Cocktail Maker
Enjoying cocktails is one thing, but enjoying the process of making them is entirely different. Plenty of people like one and not the other, and if you prefer the drinking part to the making part, you shouldn't overlook the Bartesian Duet cocktail maker. Bartesian does the hard work for you, measuring out all of the necessary ingredients of a range of cocktails before squeezing them into a capsule.
To make a cocktail, all you need to do is put the capsule into the cocktail maker, ensure that the device has an adequate supply of liquor, and select the strength of cocktail you want on the screen. The maker then does the rest, and can accommodate mocktails as well as light and strong alcoholic cocktails. There's not even any need to select which cocktail you'd like to make, as the device can identify the capsule you insert automatically. It's no small investment with a retail price of $299, and