Whisky's share of liquor sales hits 16.3%, edging past soju's 15.9%
Whisky has overtaken soju in hypermarket liquor sales for the first time, reflecting a shift in drinking habits as more consumers move away from group drinking toward enjoying alcohol at home — alone or in small gatherings — and seek out products that match their personal tastes.
According to E-mart, whisky accounted for 16.3 percent of total liquor sales from January through September this year, surpassing soju's 15.9 percent share — the first time a single spirits category has outsold soju. Industry observers say the milestone signals a broader shift in the liquor market, given that whisky alone — not the broader Yangju category that includes vodka, tequila and rum — crossed the threshold.
Whisky also led in sales growth. Its sales rose 11.1 percent from the same period last year, while soju managed only a 2.0 percent gain. Whisky's growth rate had been running high — 21.8 percent in 2023 and 16.1 percent in 2024 — before slowing to 2.9 percent last year, but it has rebounded to double digits again this year.
Demand for whisky and other Yangju is also rising at other hypermarkets. Lotte Mart posted a 2.3 percent increase in Yangju sales in the first half of this year compared with the same period last year. Blended whisky led the growth with a 13.6 percent rise, while Japanese whisky climbed 12.6 percent.
The shift reflects changing drinking habits. Consumption patterns are diversifying away from group settings centered on soju and beer toward home drinking and solo drinking culture. Whisky suits this trend well — it can be enjoyed in various ways, including as a highball, and an opened bottle can be stored and consumed gradually over time.
Retailers are expanding their product lineups to meet the evolving demand. E-mart is running a "Whiskovery" promotion through Wednesday, offering discounts of 10 to 50 percent on more than 80 whisky varieties. About half the items on sale are new to the lineup, as the retailer aims to cater to consumers venturing beyond mainstream labels to explore new flavors, origins and brands.
"It is less that soju sales have fallen and more that whisky consumption has grown that quickly," a retail industry official said. "Just as with wine, consumers who started with popular whisky products are now seeking out new flavors and regions of origin."
kacew@heraldcorp.com
Whiskey has overtaken soju, South Korea's most popular liquor, in sales at a major hypermarket chain, as drinking habits shift from group gatherings toward solo and at-home consumption driven by personal taste.
Whiskey accounted for 16.3% of total alcohol sales at E-Mart in the first nine months of this year, edging past soju's 15.9% for the first time, the retailer said on the 17th. Whiskey sales rose 11.1% from a year earlier, far outpacing soju's 2.0% growth. Whiskey sales had climbed 21.8% in 2023 and 16.1% in 2024 before slowing to 2.9% in 2025, returning to double-digit growth this year.
It is the first time whiskey alone — rather than the broader spirits category that includes vodka, tequila and rum — has surpassed soju at E-Mart.
Whiskey also gained ground at Lotte Mart, where the spirits category including whiskey grew 2.3% in the first half of this year from the same period a year earlier. Blended whiskey led the gains with a 13.6% increase, while Japanese whiskey sales rose 12.6%.
The shift reflects a move away from the once-common practice of mixing soju and beer at large gatherings toward drinking alone or in small groups at home. Whiskey suits that pattern, industry officials say, because it can be enjoyed in various forms including highballs and keeps well after opening, allowing drinkers to spread a bottle over time.
Retailers are expanding their whiskey offerings in response. E-Mart is running a promotion called "Whiskovery" through the 21st, discounting about 80 whiskey labels by 10% to 50%. Roughly half of the products on offer are being introduced for the first time.
"It's not that soju sales have fallen, but that whiskey consumption has grown that quickly," an industry official said. "As with wine, consumers start with mainstream products and then begin seeking out new flavors and new regions of origin."
A rare bottle of The Macallan 1926 sold for $2.8 million at a landmark Scotland auction, making it the second most valuable bottle of whisky ever sold under the hammer, and setting a new dollar-value record for the coveted "Fine & Rare" bottling.
Hosted by Sotheby’s directly at the distillery’s Speyside estate, the "Live from The Macallan Estate" sale took in $4.4 million across 42 lots, with every item finding a buyer and 86% surpassing high estimates. The white-glove result suggests a potential turnaround for a luxury spirits collector market that had recently cooled.
The legend of Cask 263: The ultimate trophy asset in rare spirits
Aged for 60 years in a single sherry-seasoned oak cask before being bottled in 1986, The Macallan 1926 produced just 40 bottles, making it the distillery's oldest and most prized vintage. The micro-release included 14 "Fine & Rare" labeled bottles, 24 featuring artwork by Sir Peter Blake and Valerio Adami, and a handful of bespoke or unlabeled editions. The $2.8 million hammer price edges past previous benchmarks set in 2019 ($1.9 million) and 2023 ($2.7 million), cementing the 1926 vintage's status as the ultimate trophy asset in rare spirits.
“There’s a perfect storm of factors around the 1926,” says Johnny Fowle, Global Head of Whisky & Spirits, Sotheby’s. “Rarity alone doesn’t explain it. Those 40 bottles developed an extraordinary history of their own which has become indelibly linked to their auction history: different versions of the 1926 have repeatedly established landmark prices. It has become something bigger than simply an old and rare whisky. It is the defining bottle in the history of whisky collecting.”
A century of Cask #263: The Macallan’s centenary benchmark
The auction marked a century since the distillation of The Macallan 1926, which is responsible for transforming rare Scotch into a genuine alternative asset class. The occasion also coincided with the 40th anniversary of Cask #263 being bottled in 1986, a double milestone commemorated earlier in the year through the release of the distillery's Romantica Collection.
To anchor the sale, The Macallan consigned three exclusive lots from its own vaults. Chief among them was a bespoke "Sotheby’s Edition" of the Romantica Collection, bottled at an intentional 42.6% ABV to mirror the strength of the 1926 vintage.
Created as one of only two artist-edition sets, with the second retained in the brand's private archive, the lot opened the event by smashing its $79,000–$132,000 (£60,000–£100,000) pre-sale estimate to achieve a final hammer price of $215,000 (£162,500).
Bucking the trend: How the Macallan outperformed a cooling secondary market
Against a backdrop of economic headwinds, trade disputes, rising tariffs, and a broader drop in global alcohol consumption, the rare whisky market has faced a prolonged contraction. Auction values for secondary-market bottles have steadily drifted lower, affecting even blue-chip distilleries like The Macallan.
Despite these broader industry issues, the record-breaking results at Speyside proved that top-tier demand hasn't disappeared, it has simply become far more selective. The auction's exceptional performance relied on a carefully engineered strategy executed directly by The Macallan: leveraging hyper-exclusive provenance, curated private cellar access, and the unmatched prestige of the 1926 vintage to drive fierce competition among high-net-worth collectors.
The auction kind of proved that high-end buyer appetite extends far beyond a single headline-grabbing trophy bottle. While the 1926 vintage commanded global attention, bidding activity across the catalog revealed a growing eagerness among collectors to secure historic Macallan releases from across the distillery’s timeline.
A prime example was the charitable lot featuring The Macallan Romantica Collection, which fetched $214,278. The trio of 40-year-old single malts showcased fresh original artwork from Sir Peter Blake, Valerio Adami, and Michael Dillon, the same iconic artists behind the original 1926 labels, effectively bridging the distillery's storied past with contemporary collector appeal.
For more updates, join/follow our WhatsApp, Telegram and YouTube channels.
England’s new whisky GI aims to protect the category’s identity and strengthen global recognition, but disagreements over single malt production standards have triggered an industry dispute.
English whisky has entered a significant new phase after securing Geographical Indication (GI) status in September 2026, establishing a legally protected identity for the country’s growing whisky industry. The approval by the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) marks an important milestone for English distillers, offering greater recognition of the category’s provenance and production standards. However, the decision has received a mixed response, with concerns over the definition of English single malt prompting opposition from sections of the wider UK whisky industry.
The application was submitted in February 2022 by the English Whisky Guild (EWG), a trade body representing producers seeking a common framework for the category. The approval comes amid rapid growth in English whisky production. While the country had just over a dozen producers a decade ago, the number of active and emerging distilleries is now estimated to have exceeded 70. The sector includes established names such as Cotswolds Distillery, The Lakes Distillery, Spirit of Yorkshire and The English Distillery, alongside smaller craft producers.
Developing a common specification required balancing different production philosophies and distillation methods. One key point of debate concerned the requirement for English single malt whisky to undergo at least two distillations using copper pot stills. Following objections from craft distillers, the criteria were broadened to permit batch distillation using hybrid pot-column stills. Nevertheless, some producers continue to question how the wording should be interpreted, particularly regarding equipment configurations and the definition of separate distillation stages.
The most significant opposition has come from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), which argues that the English single malt definition could create confusion among consumers. The concern centres on the requirement for distillation at a single distillery, rather than requiring every stage of production to take place at the same site. Wendy Chamberlain, chair of the Scotch Whisky All-Party Parliamentary Group, also raised concerns about this distinction during a parliamentary debate in September 2026. Following the approval, the SWA lodged an appeal, supported by concerns expressed jointly with the Irish Whiskey Association and Welsh Whisky Association over the process and future application of the specification.
Despite the dispute, supporters believe the GI will strengthen English whisky’s credibility in domestic and international markets. Mark Riley, managing director of Witchmark Distillery, has highlighted the value of a protected definition for emerging producers, giving consumers, retailers and export partners greater clarity about the category. The specification also provides scope for differentiation through maturation choices, while requirements concerning locally sourced water and UK-grown grain reinforce provenance.
David Thompson of Spirit of Yorkshire has emphasised the importance of using UK-grown cereals, noting that consumers increasingly want transparency about the origin and production of the products they buy.
Although disagreements over production standards remain unresolved, the English whisky GI provides a formal foundation for the category’s future development. Its long-term impact will depend on how effectively it balances consumer clarity, production diversity and international recognition as English distillers compete in the global whisky market.
To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.
Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy.
For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.
Get the most important global markets news at your fingertips with a Bloomberg.com subscription.
SUBSCRIBE NOW
Google News（ウイスキー）｜原題：白州12年・響 JAPANESE HARMONYも！1,000円で必ず当たる「プレミアムウイスキーガチャ」が新登場！偶然の出会いも楽しめる「HIGHBALL SALON」10/25(日) 新宿で開催！ | 株式会社ロイヤルマイルのプレスリリース - PR TIMES
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.
One of the things that always intrigues me about the alcohol industry is the backgrounds of the people that drive it. They come from all walks of life. Fitness instructors turned distillers, investment bank traders turned owners, newspaper columnists turned salespeople, Mormon missionaries turned brand ambassadors, English teachers turned bartenders, movie industry executives turned importers, and so on. In the case of northern Sweden’s Norrbottens Destilleri, founder Dennis Bejedal is a former professional poker player.
He recently visited Japan again and, appropriately, stopped by Fuglen Sangubashi. I say “appropriately” here because Fuglen is also Nordic — founded in 1963 in Oslo. And even more appropriately, Fuglen in Tokyo emerged not just as a coffee cafe, but also as a bar. The first location in Japan, and the brand’s first cafe outside Norway, opened in 2012 and was one of many hot spots that made up “Oku-Shibu,” or Shibuya’s relaxed backstreets. Since then its popularity as a cafe has ballooned, but its popularity as a bar at night also remains something of legend in Tokyo’s cocktail scene.
In 2026, Fuglen has more cafes across Japan than in Norway. Additional locations are now opening in Jakarta and Seoul.
Let’s talk specifically about drinks that contain alcohol. Norrbottens Destilleri is Sweden’s northernmost distillery, located in Töre, Sweden. The town is just 48km south of the Arctic Circle. That’s about 570km south of the world’s most northern distillery, Aurora Spirit, in Norway. It’s basically where Santa lives, I think. My first question to Dennis was about their distillation season. Japan’s northernmost distillery, Rishiri, for example, completely shuts down during the winter. But in Norrbottens’ case, they are distilling year-round. The distillery is entirely powered by hydroelectric — approximately two-thirds of all Sweden’s power generation comes from renewables. Norrbottens has also famously collaborated with the Icehotel.
Why the focus on liqueur? Instead of, who knows, gin or whisky? Sweden has a law called Allemansrätten, or the “Right of Public Access.” This means foraging in nearby forests isn’t just a national pastime; it’s a codified law. Rhubarb pie or blueberry pie, anyone? Norrbottens Destilleri’s liqueurs highlight the flavors of the forest: the flavors of northern Sweden. Blueberries in northern Sweden ripen quickly because of the nightless summers. Norrbottens estimates it uses 2,500 blueberries per bottle of its liqueur.
Another thing you may not know about Sweden is that if you run a brewery or distillery in the country, you have only one customer: Systembolaget. Readers from the US might be familiar with the concept of a “Control State.” Sweden has the same system nationwide. Expansion means building up the export market. Neither rhubarb nor blueberries are very familiar in Japan, so this is an interesting opportunity.
Hi there! I created and run nomunication.jp. I’ve lived in Tokyo since 2008, and I am a certified Shochu Kikisake-shi/Shochu Sommelier (焼酎唎酒師), Cocktail Professor (カクテル検定１級), and I hold Whisky Kentei Levels 3 and JW (ウイスキー検定３級・JW級). I am a Trustee of the Japanese Whisky Promotion Committee. I also sit on the Executive Committees for the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition and Japanese Whisky Day. Click here for more details about me and this site. Kampai!
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Disclosure: Hunting the Whisky Bandits on BBC Three HD: full details and when it's on - TVGuide.co.uk
BBC三台將播映紀錄片《Disclosure: Hunting the Whisky Bandits》，追蹤威士忌市場中的詐騙集團與黑市販子。該節目深入調查威士忌產業內的非法活動，包括假酒販售、走私等問題，對威士忌收藏家與愛好者具有實用參考價值。
閱讀原文全文
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：New family-owned distillery, hangout spot to open in Texas Hill Country - MySA
（僅標題資訊）德州希爾鄉村地區（Texas Hill Country）將開設一間新的家族經營威士忌酒廠，同時提供休閒聚集場所。此舉擴展了美國本土威士忌釀造版圖，特別是在德州這個新興威士忌產區。對台灣威士忌愛好者而言，代表美國精釀威士忌市場的持續成長與區域多樣化發展。
閱讀原文全文
JavaScript is disabled in your browser.
Please enable JavaScript to proceed.
A required part of this site couldn’t load. This may be due to a browser extension, network issues, or browser settings. Please check your connection, disable any ad blockers, or try using a different browser.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Super Hotel Offers 30th Anniversary Limited-Edition Whisky - TRAICY Global
（僅標題資訊）日本 Super Hotel 連鎖飯店推出30週年紀念限定版威士忌。此款威士忌為飯店集團的周年紀念特別商品，屬於限量發售性質，對日本威士忌愛好者和飯店粉絲具有收藏價值。
閱讀原文全文
This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data.
You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Please include what you were doing when this page came up and the Cloudflare Ray ID found at the bottom of this page.
Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by The Whiskey Wash or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
Jeffrey Nitschke is Portland area attorney whose career has dovetailed with a love of fine spirits and cigars. His hometown is rich with microdistilleries, which has afforded him the opportunity to learn the nuances of whiskey tasting and whiskey making. His writing and enthusiasm for the hobby has led to lasting friendships with other whiskey aficionados and connisures across the United States.
Can a Colorado single malt taste more like bourbon than Scotch? We dive into Lost Lantern’s Boulder Spirits 7 Year to find out what makes this cask-strength dram stand out.
Why did Johnnie Walker turn its famous Striding Man around? Discover the story behind “Keep Walking” and the slogans that came before it.
Could a £2.2m Macallan 1926 steal the spotlight from original cases and rare Lalique sets? Discover what makes these auction lots valuable.
Bengaluru: Amrut Distilleries expects its sales to remain largely flat until 2030 as supply constraints limit its ability to capitalise on the growing demand for Indian single malt whisky. According to a report by The Economic Times, Managing Director Rakshit Jagdale said the company faces challenges in increasing production because Indian single malt whisky requires a minimum of three years of maturation, restricting the availability of additional volumes in the near term.
Amrut Distilleries currently holds inventory of approximately 75,000 nine-litre cases of single malt whisky. Although the company expanded its distillation capacity to 1.3–1.4 million litres last year, the additional capacity will take time to translate into finished products ready for sale. The extended maturation period means the distillery cannot immediately increase supplies to meet rising consumer demand, even as India’s premium whisky market continues to expand.
To address these limitations, Amrut is diversifying its portfolio and reducing its dependence on single malt whisky. The company has introduced blended malt whisky to strengthen its position in the premium spirits segment and plans to launch a more affordable single malt expression in North India before December 2026. The proposed product is expected to be priced approximately 15% below its Fusion brand, potentially helping the company reach a broader consumer base while navigating production constraints.
Meanwhile, increased competition from imported Scotch whisky is adding pressure to domestic manufacturers. The India-UK free trade agreement is expected to improve the competitiveness of British whisky in India as import duties are reduced under the agreement. According to The Economic Times, Jagdale indicated that prices of some imported Scotch brands have declined by more than 15%, affecting Amrut’s sales in North India. The company is refraining from major price reductions while evaluating the agreement’s impact on the domestic market.
Beyond whisky, Amrut Distilleries is exploring opportunities to diversify its revenue streams through other spirits categories. The company already produces rum and brandy and is considering a potential partnership with Mexican distilleries to develop a tequila brand. Initial production could involve bottling the product in Mexico, with the possibility of manufacturing it in India at a later stage.
Amrut and Paul John were among the early Indian single malt whisky producers to establish themselves in the 2000s. Since then, competition has intensified with the emergence of brands such as Indri and Kamet from Piccadilly Agro, Longitude 77 from Pernod Ricard and Godawan from Diageo.
With demand for Indian single malt whisky continuing to grow, Amrut Distilleries faces the challenge of balancing production limitations, premiumisation and international competition. Portfolio diversification, alternative spirits categories and more accessible price points are expected to play an important role in the company’s growth strategy through the end of the decade.
Google News（Scotch/Distillery）｜原題：Review: Filey Bay Is Making the World a Better Place, One Field at a Time - Whisky Monkeys
英格蘭約克郡的 Filey Bay 蒸餾廠推出首款「田間到杯中」系列威士忌 Filey Bay Nurture，採用再生農業理念。此款單一麥芽威士忌酒精度 46.5%，預期售價 €65-75（約台幣 2,100-2,400元），採用波本桶和紅酒桶熟成，風味圓潤易飲，帶有蘋果、梨、香草冰淇淋等香氣。Filey Bay 由農業家與大麥商人於 2016 年創立，致力於用永續農業打造具約克郡特色的威士忌，是英格蘭新興威士忌廠商的代表作。
閱讀原文全文
Great whisky comes from…
England? That’s the dream David Thompson and Tom Mellor have been bringing to life since 2016. Drawing on the knowledge and experience of Dr Jim Swan, and guided by a vision of sustainable farming,
Filey Bay was born. With Filey Bay Nurture, the Yorkshire distillery introduces a “field to bottle” whisky centred on regenerative agriculture.
Untapped ground
Compared with its big brother Scotland, England has a very modest whisky-making tradition. In recent years, though, that has slowly begun to change, with distilleries such as White Peak and Filey Bay leading the way. Filey Bay is based in Hunmanby, in the north-east of England, on the North Sea coast. The Meller family has been farming at their Yorkshire farm since 1945.
Through the world of agriculture, Meller met David Thompson, who sold barley and seeds. What began as a business relationship grew into a close friendship—and eventually became the beating heart of Filey Bay. Their plan was to create an authentic whisky with a distinctly Yorkshire character, rooted in good, sustainable farming. They brought in the knowledge and experience of Dr Jim Swan, and the first new make spirit flowed from the stills in 2016.
See, smell, taste
| Country | England |
| Distillery | Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery |
| Whisky type | Single malt |
| Colour | Golden yellow |
| Nose | Fresh and lively, with aromas of red apple, green pear and citrus, plus a hint of biscuit |
| Taste | Smooth and fruity, with notes of vanilla ice cream, ripe red fruit and a touch of spice |
| Finish | Creamy and pleasant, with subtle sweetness and a hint of almond |
| Age | NAS (No Age Statement) |
| Alcohol | 46.5% ABV |
| Bottle size | 70 centilitres |
| Price | Expected to be between €65 and €75 |
A regenerative revolution
Filey Bay Nurture comes in a white box with moss-green accents, giving it a clean, understated look. The distillation process is explained on the side of the box, while a quote from Tom Mellor introduces the story of regenerative farming. A nice touch is the QR code beneath Mellor’s quote, which links to a more detailed account of regenerative agriculture at Filey Bay.
Filey Bay’s emblem, the majestic gannet, appears alongside a wavy pattern on the bottle’s glass. The overall look is calm yet elegant. Nurture is the first release in a series of further regenerative editions to come. This inaugural release has been matured in both ex-bourbon and ex-red-wine casks.
Climate crisis in a glass
On the nose, the whisky opens with the freshness of Granny Smith apples and lemon zest. After the bright fruit comes a generous note of vanilla, followed by creamy sweetness reminiscent of strawberries and cream. As we write this review, the weather is cold and windy, with the occasional shower. Filey Bay Nurture feels a little out of place in autumn; its fresh character makes it more of a whisky for a sunny spring day.
Having weathered our own internal climate crisis and embraced the fresh fruit with an open mind, we move on to the tasting. With the first sip, we quickly leave those springtime vibes behind. This dram is wonderfully creamy, with the influence of the red wine casks coming through more strongly on the palate than on the nose. A blend of light custard, red fruit and a touch of clove warms the mouth.
Looks can be deceiving
The fresh aromas initially lead you one way, but the red wine casks bring something interesting to the palate. Filey Bay Nurture is pleasant and approachable. Its creaminess is a real strength, but don’t expect fireworks or angelic choirs when you take a sip. The finish is short but firm, with red apple and spicy oak bringing a touch of bitterness.
Filey Bay Nurture review: the verdict
Filey Bay Nurture is a whisky with a great story. A strong vision and real craftsmanship underpin it, and the result is a very enjoyable whisky. This dram takes you from a fresh spring day to creamy fruit, finishing on spicy oak. It makes for an intriguing whole.
It’s not an evening’s entertainment packed with fireworks and a full orchestra, but a solid, easy-sipping whisky to enjoy without any fuss. And when you remember that a patch of land on the other side of the North Sea is benefiting from healthy farming practices, it brings a smile to our faces—and we’re happy to pour a glass for the neighbour, too.
+ A sustainable dram
+ Interesting interplay of aromas and flavours
- No bold bursts of flavour
Want to read more reviews?
You can find them here
Johnnie Walker is instantly recognizable by the square bottle on a back bar, the slanted label, or the little man in the top hat striding across it. The “Keep Walking” slogan is almost as familiar, and it has been part of the brand’s advertising for more than 25 years.
When Johnnie Walker introduced “Keep Walking” around the turn of the millennium, it also made a change to the Striding Man himself. For most of the 20th century, he had walked from right to left across the label, so the brand turned him around to walk left to right, in keeping with the new message about moving forward. According to The Drinks Business, that meant changing the image on around 14,000 products in 184 countries.
“Keep Walking” wasn’t Johnnie Walker’s first big slogan, though. For decades before it, the brand ran with “Born 1820 – Still Going Strong,” and plenty of other memorable lines came and went along the way.
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.
So, let’s take a look at where Johnnie Walker’s most famous slogans came from, and how the brand got from one to the other.
A Whisky Company That Didn’t Believe in Advertising
For a brand now known around the world for its adverts, Johnnie Walker got off to a quiet start. According to Nicholas Morgan in Johnnie Walker: A Long Stride, Alexander Walker, the son of founder John Walker, was wary of advertising and worked on the principle that “Quality will stand on its merit.” For much of the 19th century, the bottle did most of the selling instead.
The square bottle fit more neatly into shipping crates and was easy to spot on a shelf. The slanted label, designed by Smith Brothers of Kilmarnock, was registered at Stationers’ Hall in 1874 and trademarked in 1877.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORYThe whisky also won awards at exhibitions in Sydney and Melbourne in 1880, Paris in 1885, and Adelaide in 1887, and the company added medal labels to its bottles as a sign of quality.
By the early 1900s, customers were asking for the whisky by the nickname “Johnnie Walker” rather than its formal name, John Walker & Sons’ Old Highland Whisky.
In 1905 and 1906, director James Stevenson ran the company’s first press adverts using the nickname, explaining that “to-day the name stands not only for Scotch Whisky, but is associated with QUALITY consistent and uniform.”
A Lunch Menu Sketch and “Born 1820 – Still Going Strong”
The Striding Man came along in the years before World War I, when Stevenson brought in some outside help.
According to Morgan, he worked with American advertising man Paul E. Derrick, copywriter Horace Barnes, and the cartoonist Tom Browne, who sketched the figure on a lunch menu at the Savoy Hotel in London.
The team wanted something different from the whisky adverts of the day, which Morgan describes as relying on images of “bibulous gentry and kilted Highland chieftains.”
Browne drew a Regency gentleman in a top hat, red coat, and white breeches, complete with a monocle and a cane. Alongside him came the slogan “Born 1820 – Still Going Strong,” with 1820 referring to the year the business was founded.
The line stuck around for a long time, and it still appears in a Johnnie Walker advert from as late as 1960.
If you’d like the full story of the Striding Man himself, I’ve covered it in The Man Who Never Stops: How the Striding Man Defined Johnnie Walker.
One Idea, Lots of Slogans
“Born 1820 – Still Going Strong” was the slogan that stuck, but Johnnie Walker ran plenty of other lines over the next few decades, and you can find many of them in our Johnnie Walker Advert Archive.
In 1909, around the time of the Royal Commission on Whisky, one advert showed the Striding Man leading the way out of a thick fog with the line “Out of the fog of uncertainty in whisky Johnnie Walker leads the way.”
The same year, Tom Browne drew a cricket-themed poster called “1820 Not Out,” and between 1910 and 1912, Sir Bernard Partridge illustrated a print series built around the rhyme “Fashions come, fashions go; with ‘Johnnie Walker’ ’tis not so.”
For the company’s centenary in 1920, artist Leo Cheney drew a series of more than 30 cartoons showing the Striding Man traveling the world, with the promise of “Guaranteed same quality all over the world.”
During World War II, the “Good Work, Good Whisky” campaign, illustrated by Clive Uptton and Rowland Hilder, featured people working on the home front, such as shipbuilders and farmers.
After the war came “Time Marches On” and, in the 1950s, “the smooth round whisky in the square bottle.” In the 1960s, under US distributor Paul Burnside, Red Label was advertised as “so smooth it’s the world’s best selling Scotch.”
Why “Still Going Strong” Stopped Working
By the late 1990s, Johnnie Walker’s advertising had become scattered. The Drinks Business reported that seven different campaigns were running across different markets, and Red Label and Black Label were being treated almost as separate brands.
Sales were slipping, too. Creative Salon reports that they fell by 14% in the three years before the new campaign launched.
Diageo decided to bring everything together under one global idea. Alice Avis, the company’s global brand director for Johnnie Walker, worked with the advertising agency Bartle Bogle Hegarty (BBH) on a new direction.
Rather than leaning on the brand’s long history, the campaign focused on personal progress. As Morgan explains in A Long Stride, the thinking was that “A man was judged a success not by where he was, but where he was going.”
Turning the Striding Man Around
With the new idea in place, the Striding Man needed to look like he was heading forward, which is why he was flipped to walk from left to right. The Drinks Business reported that Diageo put £100 million behind the global relaunch, and the first TV adverts arrived in 2000 as part of a series called “Icons,” featuring people such as actor Harvey Keitel and Italian footballer Roberto Baggio.
According to Morgan, “Keep Walking” launched in more than 120 markets and went on to double the brand’s global sales.
The campaign kept producing memorable work over the following years. One of the best-known is The Man Who Walked Around the World from 2009, a short film in which actor Robert Carlyle walks along a Scottish road while telling the history of Johnnie Walker. Film Detail reported that it was filmed in one continuous take.
In 2015, the design agency Bloom and illustrator Gary Redford gave the Striding Man a fresh redraw, as Design Week reported.
“Keep Walking” Today
More than 25 years later, “Keep Walking” is still Johnnie Walker’s global slogan. In November 2025, Diageo announced the next chapter of the campaign, which is rolling out around the world in 2026.
This time, the focus is on the word “keep,” and Diageo says the new work came out of studying “over 97 million ‘keep’ conversations” online. You can read more about it in our coverage of the 2026 campaign.
The brand has also been working with Sabrina Carpenter, and in September 2026 the two released a limited-edition Black Label bottle.
Still Walking
Johnnie Walker’s slogans have changed plenty of times since the first press adverts in the early 1900s, from “Still Going Strong” to “Keep Walking.” The Striding Man has been part of the advertising for almost all of that time, and these days he’s walking left to right.
If you’d like to dig further into the history, Morgan’s Johnnie Walker: A Long Stride is well worth picking up, and our Advert Archive has more than 100 of the brand’s older adverts to browse.
nomunication（日威英文情報）｜原題：Silent Pool Gin Cocktails with Brand Ambassador Kyoka Ogawa
英國 Silent Pool Gin（2015年創立）與樂天時尚周合作，在澀谷音樂吧 Cave 舉辦「A Night of Style & Gin」活動。Silent Pool Gin 採用四種不同製程萃取 25 種植物香氣，包括杜松子、小豆蔻（浸漬）、薰衣草、玫瑰（茶包法）、柳橙、檸檬皮（蒸氣籃），以及蜂蜜等，風格迥異於倫敦琴酒。活動由花藝師藤田步美與品牌大使小川京香合作展現，雞尾酒菜單融入香水與時尚主題，突顯琴酒的植物多樣性。
閱讀原文全文
Surrey sits about 40km away from London. It might be on the way if you’re headed south for a beach day or stag/hen night in Brighton or Portsmouth. The brand, which launched in 2015, recently held an event at Shibuya’s famed Music Bar Cave, in collaboration with Rakuten Fashion Week Tokyo, titled “A Night of Style & Gin.” I showed up acting like I knew something about style.
Joke’s on them. Anyone who knows me can see I know nothing about style, but I might know something about gin. One of the cool things about Silent Pool gin is that they use not one, not two, but four different methods to get the gin’s myriad botanicals into the distillate. High-aromatic herbs like juniper and cardamom are macerated with the base spirit, florals like lavender and rose go in as a large teabag, and peels like orange and lime go into the vapor basket. In the pot, they also add honey and two more botanicals, bringing the total to a whopping 25 botanicals. Overall, it’s certainly not a London dry gin; if that’s not your thing, definitely give it a try.
The event highlighted those botanicals, and it had style. Flower artist Ayumi Fujita flanked brand ambassador Kyoka Ogawa to handle that part. Given the event was held in collaboration with Rakuten Fashion Week, the cocktail menu leaned heavily into perfume and fashion themes.
Hi there! I created and run nomunication.jp. I’ve lived in Tokyo since 2008, and I am a certified Shochu Kikisake-shi/Shochu Sommelier (焼酎唎酒師), Cocktail Professor (カクテル検定１級), and I hold Whisky Kentei Levels 3 and JW (ウイスキー検定３級・JW級). I am a Trustee of the Japanese Whisky Promotion Committee. I also sit on the Executive Committees for the Tokyo Whisky & Spirits Competition and Japanese Whisky Day. Click here for more details about me and this site. Kampai!
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Zach Bryan Reveals The Tragic Meaning Behind The Title Of His New EP, ‘Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs’ - Whiskey Riff｜僅標題
（僅標題資訊）鄉村音樂人Zach Bryan推出新EP《Young Manhood & Other Donatable Organs》，標題蘊含深層悲劇意義。此為音樂人跨界與威士忌文化相關的娛樂新聞，反映當代流行文化與烈酒品牌/贊助的交集。
Last: Bridgeland Distillery rises to the task
We independently select everything we recommend. Buying through us may earn us a commission, which supports our work.
As Canadians look to buy local with increasing frequency, many of us have noticed we can make some pretty great things here at home. Canadian wine, while a little on the pricey side, can compete globally with some of the best, and I think that’s true of Canadian whisky as well.
This month, I step out of my wine comfort zone to explore the wide world of whisky, distilled here in Calgary. The plan is to focus on a local distillery between wine columns, to give them the coverage they deserve. I thought I’d start with Bridgeland Distillery, since their efforts continually impress me.
It was founded over eight years ago by Daniel Plezik and Jacques Tremblay after the two met in a distilling course in the Okanagan. They set up in the former Eisenberg Furniture building on Edmonton Trail in the heart of Bridgeland, and I think it’s safe to say their efforts have gone from strength to strength.
The art of distilling goes back to 3500 BCE in what would now be modern Iraq and in China. With the invention of alembic, continuous and pot stills, the process was elevated to an art which carries on to this day. Basic distillation is relatively simple, but turning that harsh, volatile liquid into something smooth and complex is a skill, which accounts for it being a $90-billion industry, with that number expected to double by 2034.
One thing that sets it apart from the production of wine is that the base materials — cereal grains, water and yeast —can be found almost everywhere. Canada is no stranger to distilling, exploiting a loophole during prohibition — which was imposed on both Canada and the U.S. — which allowed the sale of alcohol for export abroad, most of which was diverted to the U.S. Interestingly, B.C. abandoned prohibition in 1921, turning the Strait of Georgia and Vancouver Island into a floating booze market where local boats delivered whisky to American speedboats. Hiram Walker got its start in bootlegging, and gangsters like Al Capone became prominent clients.
Now that prohibition is long behind us, Canadian distillers have honed their craft and are making world-class products. Bridgeland has evolved from producing whiskies (still its focus) to include grappa, amaro, ports, bourbon, limoncello and premade cocktails. Because of international trademarks, it has had to use workaround names (its new port, about to be released, is Portofino, for example. The grappa is Eau de Vigne Barrique Marc, while the bourbons are called Taber Corn Whisky.
There was a lot going on during my visit; grape must bubbling away for grappa, port being bottled and labelled (all by hand), and various spirits fermenting and ageing. For the grappa and brandy, fresh grapes/juice is brought in from neighbouring sources and crushed in the distillery using an old basket press (which many wineries still prefer).
Over the years, I’ve watched this distillery grow and improve, and there are things maturing in barrels that I think are going to bring them even more accolades and awards. If you refuse, as I do, to buy American bourbon, I can highly recommend Bridgeland’s Taber Corn Whisky 101. It’s great neat or in cocktails, and if you find it a little hot, as it is overproof whisky, a few drops of water will resolve that. Whisky connoisseurs tend to prefer higher proof as alcohol also functions as a vector for flavour.
The distillery is open for tours and tastings; see their website for details. You can find Bridgeland Distillery’s products in shops around Alberta, and they are well worth discovering if you haven’t already. Cheers!
Geoff Last is a long-time Calgary wine merchant writer, instructor, and broadcaster. He can be heard on occasion on CJSW’s Road Pops program on Fridays at 4 p.m. lastcallforwine@gmail.com
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.
Spaceside, the home of Whiskey
"Good alcohol doesn't travel."
Haruki Murakami is a whisky lover. The characters in the novel, including "The Age of Loss," enjoy whiskey. It is not enough to recommend whisky to the characters, and eventually even published a travel book called "If Our Language Is Whisky." There is a phrase like this in the book. "From what I've experienced, alcohol seems to taste the best when you drink it in the mountains. The closer you are to the place where the alcohol was made, the better. A good drink is no way to travel.'
The scientific basis is too clear to be called literary appreciation. Sterilization treatment to prevent spoilage during long-term distribution stops yeast activity. As the fresh and complex flavor of raw 酒 from the mountain disappears, the taste may naturally decrease.
Good alcohol is not a way to travel, but on the contrary, if you are looking for good alcohol, you should travel.
If you are a "whiskey hunter" who looks for the unique taste of the mountain like Haruki, why don't you go directly to the home of whiskey. Just in time, Hana Tour is presenting the "Scotland 7 Days" course.
The first meeting is Johnny Walker. Starting with the Johnny Walker Signature Tour for five nights and seven days, he will visit distilleries of global whiskey brands such as McKellan with a 200-year history, Walveni, which adheres to manual work from barley cultivation to bottling, Glengrant with the philosophy of Scotchwisky legend Dennis Malcolm, and Glenfiddick, the world's best-selling single malt. It explores the unique heritage of whiskey and savors the natural flavor of the mountain.
In particular, the "Speyside" area in northern Scotland is the dominant area. This is because it is a destination that awakens whisky lovers' taste buds more delicately. Located in the River Spey basin, the area is home to 60% of all whiskey distilleries in Scotland. Fertile soil, abundant water resources, and a cool climate create natural conditions optimized for brewing.
Dip in the mckelan and balveni distilleries, which show the essence of spade whiskey. The essence of creating the best single malt is the same, but the two sharply contrasting space themes are the "view point" of the tour. If the McKellan Distillery Tour feels like a docent at a contemporary art exhibition hall, Balveni reminds me of a tour of traditional workshops with analog sensibilities.
The McKellan Distillery Tour begins with a breathtaking wall of whiskey. It is a full-fledged tasting session after exploring the differences in flavor according to the structure of the distillers in the oak barrel production process in three dimensions. It is attractive to taste the colorful lineup aged in different calculations and casks. The broad spectrum of McKellan can be experienced in depth.
Balveni begins his tour at a small visiting center with warm wooden interiors. After that, they will tour the site of the facility, such as the floor malting workshop and the refinery that makes oak barrels. The highlight of the tour is aging. The way it tastes is also unique. It's a special tasting of the Cask Strength undiluted solution that the guide takes out directly from the oak barrel with "Whiskey Ship." You can also buy your favorite whiskey in a bottle yourself. Beyond a simple field trip, it is a gourmet privilege that can only be enjoyed in the hometown where whiskey was born.
From the fifth day, it is a schedule to explore Scotland's majestic nature and historic cities. In Inverness, a beautiful medieval city selected by the British royal family, you can visit the antique Inverness Castle and Loch Ness to see the beautiful scenery. On the 6th day, they will move to Glasgow, an economic and cultural center. Through the city center, where colorful Victorian and Art Nouveau architecture coexist, one pilgrimage after the 12th century Glasgow Cathedral, which endured the Reformation, and George Square, the heart of the city. It ends with a deep experience of Scotland's deep history beyond whiskey.
If Haruki had been on this tour in his life that "good alcohol doesn't travel," he would have added this sentence. "If you're looking for a good drink, you should be willing to travel."
Shin Ik-soo, travel journalist
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：K. Michelle Releases First Country Album “Jesus & Whiskey” - Full Access Magazine
美國R&B歌手K. Michelle於10月16日發行首張鄉村音樂專輯《Jesus & Whiskey》，共9首歌曲。專輯由Kristian Bush主要製作，融合信仰、毅力與自我發現等主題，展現她的R&B嗓音與鄉村音樂風格的結合。專輯包含先前發行的《Jack Daniel's》、《Yodel》等單曲，以及《Blame Tennessee》、《Damn Good Friend》等新曲。發行週末在紐奧良、達拉斯、休士頓舉辦巡迴表演。
閱讀原文全文
K. Michelle has released Jesus & Whiskey, her first full-length country album. The nine-track project arrived October 16 through Real Outlawz Records under license to BBR Music Group.
The Memphis-born singer approaches the album as a return to music that helped shape her early life. Its themes include faith, perseverance and self-discovery, bringing her established vocal identity into country songwriting and instrumentation.
Kristian Bush leads the album’s production
Kristian Bush handles most of the production, with additional production contributions from Jeff Balding, Jamie Moore, Aaron “Dubba-AA” Lockhart and William “The Lottery” Mosley across the tracklist. The musicians include guitarist Tom Bukovac and drummer Shannon Forrest.
The album’s writers include K. Michelle, ERNEST, Ant Clemons and Moore. “Anything” features Blush, while previously released tracks such as “Jack Daniel’s,” “Yodel” and the title song help connect the full project to the singles that preceded it.
Other selections include “Blame Tennessee,” “Damn Good Friend,” “Handle On It” and “If It Ain’t Broke.” The release’s mix of personal storytelling, steel guitar and expansive vocal performances reflects the country influences K. Michelle has discussed alongside her R&B background.
Release-weekend performances
The album rollout includes a three-city Jesus & Whiskey Weekend: October 16 at The Fillmore New Orleans, October 17 at House of Blues Dallas and October 18 at House of Blues Houston.
Jesus & Whiskey follows 2023’s I’m the Problem. While it marks her first complete country project, it extends an existing connection to the genre, including her CMA appearances and the country influences she has identified from childhood.
Visit K. Michelle’s official BBR Music Group page for music and artist information.
Related music news: Wyatt McCubbin Releases Dave Cobb-Produced Debut Album “650”; Stephen Wilson Jr. Releases “Yellow Brick Home” and “Exorcisms on the Weekend”.
Photo: Erick Robinson. Supplied by BBR Music Group.
Google News（Whisky 綜合）｜原題：Whiskey Myers play one-day Acadia Music Fest in Thibodaux 17 October - ad-hoc-news.de
（僅標題資訊）美國德州鄉村搖滾樂隊 Whiskey Myers 將於 2026 年 10 月 17 日在路易斯安那州 Thibodaux 的 Acadia Plantation Town Center 參演一日音樂節 Acadia Music Fest。該樂隊成立於 2007 年，以吉他驅動的鄉村根源音樂聞名，此次演出將與 Better Than Ezra、Flow Tribe 等多支樂隊共同出演。
閱讀原文全文
Whiskey Myers play one-day Acadia Music Fest in Thibodaux 17 October
Published on 10/17/2026 at 22:55 | Editorial responsibility: Rafael Müller, Editor-in-Chief AD HOC NEWSWhiskey Myers play the one-day Acadia Music Fest at Acadia Plantation in Thibodaux, Louisiana, on 17 October 2026. The festival brings the Texas band together with several Louisiana and national acts for a full day of music.
Whiskey Myers join Acadia Music Fest in Thibodaux
Acadia Music Fest is a one-day outdoor festival at Acadia Plantation Town Center in Thibodaux. The event listing covers Saturday, 17 October 2026, and names Whiskey Myers among the performers. The WWOZ calendar listing places the festival at the Thibodaux venue.
The programme also includes Flow Tribe, Better Than Ezra, Kashus Culpepper and The Bends. Icarus Jones and Little John & the Dirty Clarks are listed among the other acts in the published festival programme.
Whiskey Myers bring East Texas roots to Louisiana
Whiskey Myers formed in Palestine, Texas, in 2007. The band is associated with Southern rock and has built its catalogue around guitar-led country and roots music. A Pollstar profile traces the group back to its East Texas beginnings.
The official band biography identifies Road of Life from 2008, Firewater from 2011, Early Morning Shakes from 2014 and Mud from 2016. Their self-titled fifth album followed in 2019, giving the Acadia appearance a place within a catalogue that spans more than a decade.
Whiskey Myers: what fans in Germany need to know
- 17 October 2026: Whiskey Myers play Acadia Music Fest at Acadia Plantation Town Center in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
- Acadia Music Fest is a one-day outdoor programme with Flow Tribe, Better Than Ezra, Kashus Culpepper and The Bends alongside Whiskey Myers.
- The listed venue is Acadia Plantation Town Center in Thibodaux, Louisiana.
Whiskey Myers on social media and streaming platforms
These links open a search for Whiskey Myers on each platform.
Whiskey Myers: frequently asked questions
When do Whiskey Myers play in Thibodaux?
Whiskey Myers play Acadia Music Fest at Acadia Plantation Town Center on 17 October 2026.
Where do Whiskey Myers play on 17 October 2026?
They play at Acadia Plantation Town Center in Thibodaux, Louisiana, during Acadia Music Fest.
Who else is on the Acadia Music Fest programme?
The programme includes Better Than Ezra, Flow Tribe, Kashus Culpepper, The Bends, Icarus Jones and Little John & the Dirty Clarks on 17 October 2026.
Mix These Sodas With Bourbon For Easy And Crisp 2-Ingredient Cocktails
Craving a bright and crisp cocktail but don't want to go into full bartender mode at home? Well, we've got the perfect tip for making an easy, refreshing drink with just two ingredients: bourbon and soda. But what kind of soda works best? According to Molly Horn, chief mixologist and spirits educator at Total Wine & More, you have plenty of options, from a cola-style soda to ginger beer, ginger ale, and even cream soda. "When it comes to a bourbon highball, I tend to lean toward a mixer that will complement and elevate the whiskey's character rather than mask it," she says.
For example, Horn would mix spicy ginger beer with a bourbon that is predominantly corn-flavored and sweet. The drink is a balance of flavors, with the bourbon's mellow sweetness tempering the spicy soda. "A drier, high-rye bourbon balances best with ginger ale," Horn says, "ginger beer's slightly sweeter and less spicy sibling." A good tip to remember is that it comes down to the difference between high-rye and high-corn bourbon: High-rye bottles lean peppery, while high-corn ones taste sweeter. Let those flavor notes guide which soda you reach for.
And if you have cream soda in the fridge, Horn recommends mixing it with "a rich butterscotch-forward bourbon." She explains: "That creamy mouthfeel and vanilla sweetness when mixed with this style of bourbon is like the perfect after-dinner drink with minimal effort!"
There's a different type of soda to mix with bourbon for every palate
But what if you're a fan of fruit-flavored sodas? Is there a perfect pairing for lovers of fruitier cocktails? Lynn House, portfolio mixologist at Heaven Hill Distillery, has the answers. "Flavors I find work best are ginger, grapefruit, or citrus," she says. According to House, these flavors complement the common tasting notes of bourbon, rye, and wheat whiskey without adding too much sweetness. "My personal favorite combination is Elijah Craig Bourbon and Fever-Tree Sparkling Sicilian Lemonade," she adds. The result is a bright and tart cocktail that's also an easy riff on a classic frothy whiskey sour recipe, minus the simple syrup, lemon juice, and egg white.
"If you are craving something a bit sweeter," House suggests, "my go-to is black cherry soda." Per Horn's logic, you should mix this sweeter fruity soda with a peppery high-rye bourbon.
Both experts we spoke with agree that the key is to make bourbon drinks that highlight the flavor of the spirit rather than those that mask or transform it too much. And since these cocktails come together in seconds, you'll have time to dress them up with a fancy garnish to impress your guests, or simply kick back and enjoy one on a quiet night in.
位於田納西州富蘭克林的 Leiper's Fork Distillery 將於 10 月 17 日舉辦十週年慶祝活動，現場提供現場音樂、在地美食車與獨家推出十週年紀念調和威士忌「A Decade of Distilling: Grain to Glass」。該酒款以波本威士忌、田納西威士忌與黑麥威士忌調配而成，象徵酒廠十年來在中田納西地區堅持傳統穀物到玻璃杯全程製造的承諾。
閱讀原文全文
Leiper’s Fork Distillery 10-Year Anniversary Celebration
Leiper's Fork Distillery 3381 Southall Rd, Franklin, Tennessee 37064
LFD
LFD
Join Leiper’s Fork Distillery on Saturday, October 17, from 6–10 p.m. for a special celebration marking 10 years since the distillery filled its first barrel. Guests can enjoy an evening at the distillery featuring live music, local food trucks and the exclusive release of Leiper’s Fork Distillery’s 10-year anniversary blended whiskey, “A Decade of Distilling: Grain to Glass.”
The 10-Year Blended Whiskey is crafted from a blend of straight bourbon, Tennessee whiskey and rye whiskey, commemorating a decade of Leiper’s Fork Distillery’s commitment to traditional, grain-to-glass whiskey-making in Middle Tennessee.
The Leiper’s Fork Distillery 10-Year Anniversary Celebration will take place at the distillery’s Southall Road location in Franklin from 6–10 p.m. on Saturday, October 17.