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New bourbon releases: Maker’s Mark Mizunara, Russell’s Reserve, Angel’s Envy AI-generated summary reviewed by our newsroom. - Angel’s Envy will release Cellar Collection Volume 6 nationwide on Oct. 9. - Maker’s Mark is launching a new collection exclusive to international airports. - Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse comes from Camp Nelson D at 120.8 proof. Kentucky’s bourbon makers are not slowing down just because the year easing into autumn. Several new releases go in new directions, with special whiskeys from Angel’s Envy, Maker’s Mark and more. Here’s what to look for on shelves near you soon. Angel’s Envy dual finishes On Oct. 9, Angel’s Envy is releasing its first whiskey finished in two different barrels. Cellar Collection Volume 6: Straight Rye Whiskey Finished in Peach Brandy & Toasted Oak Barrels will be available nationwide. It’s a limited-edition release created by master distiller Owen Martin. It’s a blend of rye whiskey finished in peach brandy and toasted oak barrels, resulting in a complex expression with bold rye spice, ripe orchard fruit and rich oak character, according to the news release. The whiskey was aged between 8 and 11 years total, bottled at 106.4 proof. According to the tasting notes, it has a nose of ripe stone fruit, baking spice, vanilla and oak. On the palate, it’s peach, caramel, cinnamon, toasted oak and rye spice, with a long, warm finish of oak and orchard fruit. It has a suggested retail price of $199.99 for a 750mL bottle. Maker’s Mark World Wood Collection Maker’s Mark is launching a new collection that will sell exclusively in international airports. The World Wood Collection, which builds on the Kentucky distillers wood-finishing experience, is releasing its first-ever whisky finished with Japanese Mizunara oak staves as well as American and French white oak staves. According to the distiller, Expedition 01 is a complex, balanced whisky in which each oak contributes distinct flavor notes: Delicate florals and subtle umami from the Mizunara, sweet vanilla from the American white oak, and baking spice and caramel from the French oak. It’s 95 proof, with a suggested retail price of $84.99 for a 1L bottle. The limited edition expression is available ahead of the holiday travel season in premium packaging in New York’s JFK, London’s Heathrow, Instanbul, Perth and Bengaluru airports through Avolta retail outlets. Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse 2026 This year’s Russell’s Reserve Single Rickhouse release comes from Camp Nelson D, one of the highest-elevation rickhouses on the site. It’s the fifth in the lineup and, according to the news release, has the most distinctive profile yet, with unexpected rye-like spice. The warehouse, built in 1946, is one of five still standing on the Camp Nelson property and is on the western side of the campus, elevated and exposes with strong airflow. “Camp Nelson D was the first rickhouse I ever worked in at Camp Nelson when I started as a union employee 45 years ago, so coming back to it for this release meant a lot to me,” said master distiller Eddie Russell in the news release. “We set out looking for those sweeter notes we know and love, but the rye spice notes immediately stood out. It’s the most different Single Rickhouse release we’ve created, proving how every rickhouse can shape whiskey.” It has a nose of baked fruits, apple, baking spices and vanilla, according to the tasting notes. On the palate, it’s cinnamon, cloves, stone fruit and rye bread with a finish of rye spice, pepper, cinnamon and oak. The resulting whiskey is a blend of barrels from floors one, three, four, five and six. Bottled at 120.8 proof, it has a suggested retail price of $300 for a 750mL bottle, available at select retailers in the U.S. and at the Wild Turkey Distillery Visitor Center in Lawrenceburg. Starlight Estate Collection The annual release of Starlight Distillery’s Estate Collection 7-Year Cask Strength Bourbon is made entirely grain-to-glass on the Huber family estate in Indiana. The Estate Whiskey Certified product has a nose of caramelized sugar, toasted oak, dried fruit, vanilla and baking spice, according to the tasting notes. On the palate, it’s brown sugar, French caramel, coconut and plums, with a finish of oak, spice and confectionary sweetness. Bottled at 110.8 proof, it has a retail price of $59.99 and is available at the distillery at 19816 Huber Road, Borden, Ind. Lost Lantern George Dickel Collection Beginning Oct. 21, Diageo is launching the Lost Lantern George Dickel Collection. Vermont-based independent bottler Lost Lantern will offer a collection devoted entirely to one distillery, Tennessee’s George Dickel, and its first partnership with a large, heritage distillery. Working with George Dickel distiller Nicole Austin, who also serves as Diageo’s director of American Whiskey Liquid Development, Lost Lantern co-founders Nora Ganley-Roper and Adam Polonski selected three releases as well as a collection of “single casks” available through individual retailers. There are 10 bottles in all; prices range from $79.99 to $249.99.

The International Spirits Challenge has announced its 2026 trophy winners, and Glenmorangie The Thirty Years Old has been named Supreme Champion Spirit. According to Drinks International, this is “the first time a Scotch whisky has claimed the title for six years.” Yamazaki had held the top award for the previous three years, winning with its 25, 12, and 18 year olds in 2023, 2024, and 2025. Six whiskies from Scotland, Kentucky, and Japan took home trophies this year, with Glenmorangie The Thirty also winning the trophy for distillers’ single malts aged 21 years and over. So, let’s take a look at what the International Spirits Challenge deems to be the best whiskies in the world in 2026. Quick whisky question Single malt is everywhere, but what does it mean? We want to know what the word “single” means to you. Three quick questions, under a minute. ✓ Thank you — your response has been recorded! Something went wrong. Please try again. How Does the ISC Award Its Trophies? The International Spirits Challenge launched in 1995 and is organized by Agile Media, which also publishes Drinks International. Every entry is tasted blind by a panel of judges. Medals are decided by agreement among the panel, and the strongest entries go on to receive trophies. For the Supreme Champion Spirit, the category chairs re-taste the top spirits blind, and the title goes to the highest-scoring trophy winner. What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris READ THE STORYGlenmorangie The Thirty Years Old Award: Trophy (Single Malts 21 Years Old and Over, Distillers) and Supreme Champion Spirit Category: Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes: Raspberries, cherries, blackberries, ripe peach, candied orange, leather, cumin, clove Find Your Next Bottle: £740 / $989 Glenmorangie added The Thirty to its permanent range in March 2026, and it is now the oldest whisky in the distillery’s core lineup. It was created by Dr. Bill Lumsden, the company’s director of whisky creation, and his team. Two-thirds of the whisky spent at least 15 years in Burgundy red wine casks, and the rest was matured in ex-bourbon casks. It is bottled at 43% ABV and launched with an RRP of £740. When the whisky launched, Lumsden called it “our celebration of age and imagination, 30 years in the making.” He added: “Showcasing a whisky long finished in Burgundy casks, The Thirty balances richer, fruity flavours with hints of our signature, elegant style. Unexpected aromas of raspberries and cherries lead into tastes of ripe peach and candied orange cut through by leather and spice.” It first went on sale through Glenmorangie’s website, its visitor center in Tain, and its Heathrow boutique, with more markets following during the year. Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond Bourbon Award: Trophy (Straight Bourbon up to 5 Years Old) Category: American Whiskey Tasting Notes: Citrus, vanilla, black pepper, caramel, oak, barley Find Your Next Bottle: £36 / $19 When the ISC medal results came out in May, Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond was the only bourbon to receive a Double Gold, and it has now added a trophy. Heaven Hill introduced this white label release in 2012. It uses the company’s traditional mash bill of 78% corn, 10% rye, and 12% malted barley and is distilled at the Bernheim Distillery in Louisville. To be bottled-in-bond, a bourbon has to come from one distillery and one production season, be aged for at least four years in a government-supervised bonded warehouse, and be bottled at 100 proof. This is a tested and true value pick. It is easy to find, very affordable, reliable, and tasty. One of the best value bottled-in-bond bourbons on the market. Ardnahoe Bholsa Award: Trophy (Islay Single Malts No Age Statement, Distillers) Category: Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes: Red fruits, orange zest, peat smoke, raisins, dates, plums, Islay peat, pepper Find Your Next Bottle: £58 / $65 Ardnahoe is a very new distillery, but do not let that fool you. The brand has made waves amongst enthusiasts and critics with its youthful yet characterful whisky. Bholsa is no exception. The distillery filled its first cask on November 9, 2018, and its first whisky was released in 2024. Bholsa joined the core range in March 2025. Earlier this year, it won Gold at the Scotch Whisky Masters and Double Gold at the ISC, followed by the trophy. The distillery uses malt from Port Ellen Maltings peated to 40 ppm, ferments in Oregon pine washbacks for 60 to 70 hours, and condenses its spirit in worm tubs, the only ones on Islay. Bholsa is matured mostly in oloroso sherry casks and bottled at 50% ABV, with no chill filtration or added color. The name comes from the Bholsa caves on Islay’s north coast. Loch Lomond 12 Year Old Inchmurrin Award: Trophy (Single Malts up to 12 Years Old, Distillers) Category: Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes: Pear drops, coffee, freshly cut hay, orange, peach, apricot, fudge vanilla Find Your Next Bottle: £38 / $48 Inchmurrin 12 is made using spirit from Loch Lomond’s straight neck stills. Master blender Michael Henry matures it in three types of American oak casks, and it is bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration. The distillery in Alexandria was set up in the mid-1960s by the former owners of Littlemill Distillery. At first it had only straight neck pot stills, which were based on designs developed at Littlemill, and traditional swan neck stills were added in 1998. By using both types of still, along with different cut points and both peated and unpeated barley, the distillery makes various malt styles. It also makes grain whisky. Tintin readers might recognize the name, since Loch Lomond is the whisky Captain Haddock drinks in the comics, although the fictional brand has no connection to the real distillery. Rosebank Remarkable Cask Release One Award: Trophy (Single Malts 21 Years Old and Over, Distillers) Category: Scotch Whisky Tasting Notes: Stewed redcurrants, cacao nibs, chocolate lime, almonds, cut grass, orange sponge, banoffee, vanilla, raspberry, blackcurrant jam, oak, lavender, citrus, dark chocolate, spice, banana Find Your Next Bottle: GTR Exclusive Rosebank, known as the King of the Lowlands, was founded in 1840 by local wine merchant James Rankine on the banks of the Forth & Clyde Canal. It was mothballed in 1993, and over Christmas and New Year 2008, thieves stole its stills and other equipment. Ian Macleod Distillers bought the site in 2017 with a view to revival, and had Forsyths build new stills to match the originals. New make started running again in June 2023. Rosebank is triple distilled and condensed in worm tubs. Remarkable Cask Release One is a 31-year-old vatting of five hand-selected casks, bottled at 46.8% ABV and limited to 700 bottles for travel retail. It is the first release in a planned five-year collection. Since its revival, Rosebank has swept the award circuit, with its 31 Year Old being named Best in Show Whisky at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Yamazaki Single Malt Whisky 25 Years Old Award: Trophy (Japanese Single Malt 21 Years and Older) Category: Japanese Whisky Tasting Notes: Mizunara smoky incense, mature kaki persimmon, ume plum, sandalwood, ginger spice, cocoa powder, sweet wood Find Your Next Bottle: £5,250 / $6,000 This is the fourth year in a row that a Yamazaki has won the ISC’s Japanese Whisky trophy. Before this year it was the 25 Year Old in 2023, the 12 Year Old in 2024, and the 18 Year Old in 2025. Suntory Spirits was also named Japanese Whisky Producer of the Year for the seventh year running. Yamazaki 25 was first released in 1999, and Suntory reworked it in 2021. The ISC judges said: “There’s a reason Yamazaki is so widely accepted as a global benchmark in quality whisky.” Shinjiro Torii founded Yamazaki in 1923 as Japan’s first malt whisky distillery. We covered this year’s win in more detail in our news story. However, this year, Yamazaki was dethroned as Supreme Champion Spirit by Glenmorangie The Thirty. Have You Tried Any of These?

Scotch Whisky Association Appeals Approval of English Whisky Geographical Indication Scottish, Irish and Welsh trade groups said the ruling could blur standards for the single malt category. Friday, October 9, 2026 The Scotch Whisky Association said Thursday that it has filed an appeal against the recent approval of a Geographical Indication for English Whisky, opening a new dispute over how the term single malt should be defined and protected in the U.K. spirits market. In a joint statement released after the appeal was lodged on Oct. 8, the Scotch Whisky Association, the Irish Whiskey Association and the Welsh Whisky Association said they had hoped a negotiated solution could be reached that would protect the integrity of the single malt category while still allowing the English Whisky Geographical Indication, or GI, to move forward. The groups said that did not happen despite discussions with the English Whisky Guild and what they described as offers of compromise. They said they remain concerned about “inconsistencies” in the approval of the English Whisky GI, both in the process used to approve it and in how the rules could be applied in the future. The statement did not set out the full legal grounds of the appeal, and it did not identify the authority handling the case. It also did not provide details of the compromise proposals the associations said they had made. Even so, the message from the three organizations was clear: they see the issue as larger than a disagreement between regional producers. They framed it as a question about the standards that govern one of the best-known categories in whisky. “We hoped that a mutually beneficial resolution could be found to both protect the integrity of the Single Malt category and allow the English GI to proceed,” the associations said. “Despite efforts to find an agreement, including offering compromises to the English Whisky Guild, our Associations remain concerned about inconsistencies in approving the English Whisky GI, both in terms of process and future practice.” The associations also said the producers they represent have “a proud, long-standing and unrivalled tradition of making world-class” whisky and whiskey, and that they want “high-quality definitions” that support a high-quality single malt category “enjoyed by millions around the world.” A Geographical Indication is a protected designation used in food and drink to link a product to a place and to defined production rules. In the drinks industry, GI protections can shape labeling, production methods and how products are presented to consumers in export markets. That gives the current dispute significance beyond England alone, especially because the term single malt carries weight with buyers, collectors, distributors and regulators. The appeal could matter for the wider beverage sector because labeling disputes in premium spirits often spill into broader questions about category standards and consumer trust. If the rules around single malt are seen as inconsistent, that could affect how English producers position their whisky at home and abroad and could also influence how importers and consumers view comparable claims across other spirits categories. The case also brings together three established whisky trade groups from Scotland, Ireland and Wales, a sign that the concerns raised by the Scotch Whisky Association are not being presented as a narrowly Scottish objection. The joint statement shows coordinated backing from associations representing producers in three parts of the British Isles with long histories in whisky and whiskey production. At the center of the disagreement is the meaning and protection of single malt, a term closely associated with traditional production rules and premium positioning. The associations’ statement suggests they believe the newly approved English GI may allow standards they do not think are consistent with how the category should operate. They did not, however, spell out in the statement which approved provisions they oppose most strongly. That leaves several key questions unanswered for now, including how the English Whisky Guild will respond publicly, what legal process the appeal will follow and whether the dispute could be resolved through changes to the GI specification rather than a full legal challenge. The Scotch Whisky Association posted the statement in its newsroom under legal news on Oct. 8. The organization said media inquiries should be directed to its press office. For producers, traders and retailers, the dispute is likely to be watched closely because GI rules can affect not just legal definitions but market access, branding strategies and price positioning. Single malt is one of the clearest examples of that in spirits, where a small change in how a term is interpreted can carry commercial consequences well beyond one region or one application. The associations’ intervention also comes at a time when producers across the U.K. are trying to expand premium spirits categories while maintaining distinct identities tied to place. Any prolonged fight over definitions could create uncertainty for emerging English whisky makers even as established producers argue that tighter standards are needed to preserve confidence in the category. The three associations did not call for the English Whisky GI to be abandoned outright in their statement. Instead, they said they had wanted an outcome that would both protect single malt and allow the English GI to proceed, indicating that their objection is tied to the terms of approval rather than to the idea of an English whisky designation itself.

A Bottle of The Macallan Scotch Just Sold for $2.8 Million at Auction A bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare single malt sold for £2.125 million, or about $2.8 million, at a Sotheby’s auction in Scotland on Oct. 9, setting a new record for the expression and the highest auction price ever achieved by a bottle of whisky in U.S. dollars. The 60-year-old Scotch was distilled in 1926 and bottled in 1986. It was the headline lot at Live from The Macallan Estate, the first auction ever held at The Macallan Distillery in Speyside. The bottle’s £2.125 million price was the second-highest ever paid for a bottle of whisky in British pounds, behind a 1926 Macallan that sold for £2,187,500 in 2023. However, the latest sale set a record in U.S. dollars at $2,807,975, according to Sotheby’s. The bottle also set a new auction record for The Macallan 1926 Fine & Rare, with the previous record of £1.5 million, or about $1.9 million, established in 2019. The sale was part of a 42-lot auction featuring rare Macallan whiskies sourced almost entirely from private collections. The auction brought in £3.3 million, or $4.4 million, exceeding its high estimate of £3.2 million. All lots sold, and 86% achieved prices above their high estimates. “More than a century after it was distilled, it continues to stand alone as the benchmark for rarity, provenance and desirability in whisky,” Sotheby’s Global Head of Whisky and Spirits Jonny Fowle said in a news release. The 1926 vintage is among the most sought-after bottles in Scotch whisky collecting. After spending 60 years in a single sherry-seasoned oak cask, No. 263, just 40 bottles were drawn in 1986. Those bottles received several different designs. A maximum of 14 carried the Fine & Rare label, 12 were designed by British artist Sir Peter Blake, and another 12 featured artwork by Italian artist Valerio Adami. Two bottles were left unlabelled, one of which was later hand-painted by Irish artist Michael Dillon. Advertisement The sale also marked the centenary year of the 1926 vintage, with the auction taking place at the distillery where the whisky was produced. Other Highlights From the Macallan Auction The auction’s second-most valuable lot was a complete set of The Macallan in Lalique Six Pillars Collection, which sold for £350,000, or about $462,490. The six-decanter series, created with French crystal maker Lalique, was released between 2005 and 2016 and contains some of the oldest and rarest single malts bottled by the distillery. The Macallan’s Reach 81 Years Old also sold for £131,250, or about $173,434. Originally unveiled in 2022, the single malt was drawn from one sherry-seasoned oak cask and presented in a mouth-blown glass decanter held by a bronze sculpture of three hands. A special Macallan Romantica Collection created for the auction sold for £162,500, or about $214,278. The collection featured work by Blake, Adami and Dillon, with proceeds benefiting three charities selected by the artists and their representatives: Graeae Theatre Company, Cancer Research UK and Associazione VIDAS. The auction was Sotheby’s second-most valuable whisky sale, behind The Ultimate Whisky Collection in 2019. Sotheby’s now holds the top three prices for bottles of whisky sold at auction, according to the auction house. Scan any liquor or NA bottle to see all expert reviews in one place with the free Daily Pour app. Download today! Founded by Dan Abrams, The Daily Pour is the ultimate drinking guide for the modern consumer, covering spirits, non-alcoholic and hemp beverages. With its unique combination of cross-category coverage and signature rating system that aggregates reviews from trusted critics across the internet, The Daily Pour sets the standard as the leading authority in helping consumers discover, compare and enjoy the best of today's evolving drinks landscape.

The Irish Whiskey, Scotch Whisky and Welsh Whisky Associations have released a joint statement detailing concerns and “inconsistencies” surrounding the English Whisky GI. This comes after the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) lodged an appeal yesterday (8 October) in response to the recent approval of the English GI by DEFRA. As was recently reported by Harpers, the new legal protections for English Whisky are a result of over six years of work from the English Whisky Guild. In the joint statement, the Associations said: “We hoped that a mutually beneficial resolution could be found to both protect the integrity of the Single Malt category and allow the English GI to proceed. “Despite efforts to find an agreement, including offering compromises to the English Whisky Guild (EWG), our Associations remain concerned about inconsistencies in approving the English Whisky GI, both in terms of process and future practice. “The whisk(e)y producers we represent have a proud, long-standing and unrivalled tradition of making world-class whisk(e)y. We want to see high-quality definitions, which underpin a high-quality Single Malt category enjoyed by millions around the world.” Asked by Harpers to expand on its concerns, a spokesperson for the SWA highlighted that the GI allows Single Malt English Whisky to be mashed and fermented away from the distillery, which they said breaks “the crucial connection with single site and place”. The organisation added that the appeal is intended to protect its investment in the quality and reputation of the single malt whisky category. The proposal from the SWA is that malt whisky that is not mashed, fermented and distilled at a single distillery should be described as ‘English Malt Whisky’, with a transition period for distillers who do not meet the requirements, but sell their whisky as single malt. According to the Association, this was rejected by the EWG. When the Guild first announced the introduction of GI status, it claimed that flexibility for distilleries to collaborate with local breweries on mashing and fermentation was “rooted in the category’s modern history” with Hicks and Healey using wort from St Austell Brewery to lay down England’s first modern whisky in 2003. In response to the Irish, Scottish and Welsh Associations, Morag Garden, the CEO of the EWG, said: “The English Whisky GI codifies existing practices in the English Whisky Industry, such as the definition of Single as set out in the now approved GI. Without the English Whisky GI these practices would continue without any regulation. “I think the debate would be far more interesting if it focused on some of the genuinely ground-breaking elements of the English Whisky standard.

SWA appeals introduction of English whisky GI By Joe RogersThe Scotch Whisky Association has lodged an appeal with the UK government, accusing the English whisky geographical indication (GI) of ‘watering down’ single malt. The Irish Whiskey and Welsh Whisky Associations have joined the SWA to issue a joint statement regarding the recent introduction of the English whisky GI. “We hoped that a mutually beneficial resolution could be found to both protect the integrity of the single malt category and allow the English GI to proceed. Despite efforts to find an agreement, including offering compromises to the English Whisky Guild, our Associations remain concerned about inconsistencies in approving the English whisky GI, both in terms of process and future practice. “The whisk(e)y producers we represent have a proud, long-standing and unrivalled tradition of making world-class whisk(e)y. We want to see high-quality definitions, which underpin a high-quality single malt category enjoyed by millions around the world.” The English whisky GI was officially approved by the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) on Friday 11 September. The SWA has characterised its appeal as a response to the government ‘watering down the definition of single malt’. A spokesperson for the SWA said: “We recognise the significance of English whisky securing GI protection, and have been consistently supportive of a GI for English whisky. The Scotch whisky industry remains concerned that the GI allows single malt English whisky to be mashed and fermented away from the distillery, breaking the crucial connection with single site and place. “We have decided to appeal the decision to protect the Scotch whisky industry’s huge investment in the high quality and reputation of the single malt whisky category. As the appeal process is underway, we will not offer further comment at this time.” The SWA had previously raised concerns over this aspect of the new regulations, claiming that it constituted “lower production standards for English single malt.” The trade body has further clarified that it believes whisky not mashed, fermented and distilled at a single distillery could still be described as ‘English malt whisky’. It also says that it would be in favour of ‘a transition period which would allow the very small number of distillers who currently do not meet that requirement to continue selling it as single malt until the end of that period’. Earlier this week, English whisky producers Spirit of Birmingham and Circumstance Distillery in Bristol separately announced they had appealed against Defra’s decision. Both parties cited concerns over wording in the GI that would mean their products could not legally be described as single malt English whisky. Appeals over Defra’s decision to implement the English whisky GI will be heard by HM Courts & Tribunals Service. There are currently 70 whisky distilleries in England. The value of their combined ageing stocks is estimated at £1 billion (US$1.35bn). Related news English distillers challenge whisky GI

Scotch whisky producers appeal approval of English whisky geographical indication Scottish, Irish and Welsh trade groups say the new rules could weaken protections for the single malt category. Friday, October 9, 2026 Scotch whisky producers have formally challenged the recent approval of a geographical indication for English whisky, opening a new stage in a dispute over how one of the industry’s most valuable categories, single malt, is defined and protected across the United Kingdom and Ireland. The Scotch Whisky Association said it lodged an appeal on October 8 in response to the approval of the English Whisky geographical indication, known as a GI. The move was followed by a joint statement from the Scotch Whisky Association, the Irish Whiskey Association and the Welsh Whisky Association, which said their members remain concerned about both the approval process and how the new rules could be applied in the future. A geographical indication is a form of protected product name that links a spirit to a place and sets rules for how it can be made and marketed. In this case, the dispute centers on the English Whisky GI and, more specifically, on the definition of the single malt category within it. In their statement, the three trade groups said they had hoped to reach what they called a “mutually beneficial resolution” that would protect the integrity of single malt while allowing the English GI to move forward. They said efforts to reach an agreement included offering compromises to the English Whisky Guild, but those talks did not resolve their concerns. The groups said they believe there were “inconsistencies” in the approval of the English Whisky GI, both in the process itself and in what the decision could mean for future practice. They did not release the full appeal filing, and they did not provide a detailed legal argument in the public statement. The trade bodies also framed the dispute as one that goes beyond a single application. In their statement, they said the whisky and whiskey producers they represent have a long tradition of making the spirit and want “high-quality definitions” that support a high-quality single malt category consumed around the world. The appeal does not mean the English Whisky GI has been canceled or suspended. Based on the material released by the Scotch Whisky Association, the action marks a formal challenge to the approval, not a final ruling on it. No decision on the appeal was published with the statement. The public material also did not include any estimate of the economic impact of the dispute. The associations did not publish figures on sales, export volumes, affected production, or potential losses tied to the approval or the appeal. That leaves the immediate commercial stakes unquantified, even though the single malt label is widely regarded as a premium designation in the spirits market. The case is likely to draw close attention across the whisky industry because naming rules can shape competition, branding, and consumer perception. A GI can influence who may use a protected term and under what production standards, and disagreements over those standards can have commercial effects even before a court or regulator issues a final decision. The statement released Thursday came only from the associations backing the appeal, and it reflects their position in the dispute. The English Whisky Guild’s response was not included in the material published by the Scotch Whisky Association, and the underlying appeal document was not made public. That means the full arguments on both sides, and the exact points under challenge, are not yet available in the public record released with the announcement. For now, the matter has moved from a regulatory approval into a formal legal or administrative challenge. The dispute now turns on whether the approval of the English Whisky GI, and the way it treats the single malt category, can withstand that appeal.

'Holy grail of whisky' sells for £2.1m at auction A rare bottle of Scotch whisky distilled 100 years ago has sold for £2.1m ($2.8m) at a Sotheby's auction in Scotland. Sold at the Macallan Estate in Speyside, it saw the Macallan 1926 became the second most valuable bottle of whisky ever sold, when measured in pounds. It narrowly missed out on the previous record set by the Adami Edition of the same whisky from the same cask which fetched slightly more in 2023. The spirit was bottled in 1986 after maturing for 60 years, with just 40 bottles drawn from a single sherry seasoned oak cask. It is one of 14 bottles that were decorated with the Fine & Rare label that were first released in 2002. Sotheby's has previously described it as The Macallan 1926 as the "holy grail" of whisky. Cask number 263 was not considered particularly special when it was laid down in 1926 - a year that saw the General Strike, the first public demonstration of the television by inventor John Logie Baird and the birth of Sir David Attenborough. For the next 60 years it slowly darkened and drew flavours from the cask's Spanish wood, and much of it - the Angel's Share - evaporated. An inventory of the old warehouses in the 1980s revealed the whisky had matured into something special, and the cask contained enough for just 40 bottles. Rather than putting them onto normal retail shelves, the distillery commissioned artists to design special labels for 25 of them. The English pop artist Sir Peter Blake - famous for co-creating the Beatles' Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band album cover - designed 12. The Italian painter Valerio Ademi provided artwork for another 12 - although one of these is said to have been smashed during an earthquake in Japan. The Irish artist Michael Dillon hand painted a single bottle, and the remaining 14 were released as part of the Macallan Fine & Rare series. The auction was the first ever auction staged at the distillery itself and, according to Sotheby's, the first in any Scottish distillery at all. It was held to mark 100 years since the distillation of the Macallan 1926, with more than 40 other lots also available. The auction was an exclusive, invite-only event attended by 50 of the world's leading whisky collectors, with additional collectors bidding online. Jonny Fowle, global head of whisky and spirits at Sotheby's, said: "Today's result reflects the enduring fascination that The Macallan 1926 inspires among collectors around the world. "More than a century after it was distilled, it continues to stand alone as the benchmark for rarity, provenance and desirability in whisky. "Achieving the second-highest price ever paid for a bottle of whisky at auction, and setting a new record for a Fine & Rare bottling, at the first auction held at The Macallan Estate during the centenary year of the vintage itself, is a remarkable milestone in the history of whisky collecting." Macallan's creative director Jaume Ferras said the company was "humbled" by the response to the auction. "It was a privilege to welcome Sotheby's and guests to our home, and to see such appreciation for whiskies that represent different chapters in our history," he added.