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The Woman Who Moved Her Kentucky Bourbon Distillery to Mexico ...

2026-11-06T00:37:39Z

The Woman Who Moved Her Kentucky Bourbon Distillery to Mexico

Image credit: Mary Dowling Whiskey Co.
When people talk about Kentucky bourbon during Prohibition, the conversation usually turns to the handful of distilleries licensed to sell “medicinal” whiskey, or to the many more that locked their doors and waited for Repeal. Mary Dowling, a widow from Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, took a very different route when, in 1926, she had her Waterfill & Frazier distillery taken apart and shipped to Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, where she could carry on making whiskey legally.
A female figurehead in whiskey, Dowling ran a major distillery in an industry made up almost entirely of men, and for most of her years in charge, women in the majority of US states could not even vote. Even so, her name rarely comes up alongside the likes of Jim Beam, E.H. Taylor, Jr., or Pappy Van Winkle.
So, let’s take a look at who Mary Dowling was, how she managed to keep her whiskey business alive through Prohibition, and why her story deserves to be far better known.
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Mary and John Dowling
Mary Dowling didn’t start out on her own. She was born Mary Ann Murphy in Kentucky in the late 1850s to Irish Catholic immigrant parents. In the mid-1870s, she married John Dowling, an Irish immigrant working as a cooper and distiller in Lawrenceburg.
The couple built up a sizable whiskey business together, and by the mid-1880s they owned three distilleries in Anderson County, including Waterfill & Frazier. Their home, Dowling Hall, still stands on South Main Street in Lawrenceburg today.
John first bought into Waterfill & Frazier in 1885, when he partnered with William Waterfill to purchase the distillery along with the rights to its brand name. According to Brian F. Haara in Bourbon Justice: How Whiskey Law Shaped America, John then bought Waterfill out in 1890 for $17,000, which left him as the sole owner of both the distillery and the Waterfill & Frazier name.
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Around the same time, a younger Waterfill and Frazier built a rival distillery a few miles away, and they began selling their own whiskey as Waterfill & Frazier. John took them to court, and in 1897 the Court of Appeals of Kentucky barred them from using their own surnames on their whiskey, which Haara notes was one of the earliest rulings of its kind.
Mary Dowling Running the Business on Her Own
Mary Dowling. Credit: Mary Dowling Whiskey Co.
John died unexpectedly in 1903, and Mary, by then the mother of eight children (another died in childhood), took over the running of the family’s whiskey business. When fire destroyed the Waterfill & Frazier distillery the following year, she had it rebuilt quickly, and as her sons grew up, they joined her in the company.
Her interests went beyond whiskey, too. According to Jack Sullivan in Bottles and Extras, she was a founding stockholder of the Anderson National Bank in 1907, although she was not given a seat on its board. The Mary Dowling Whiskey Co. also says that at one point her line of credit was cut off because a business run by a woman was seen as a “credit risk.”
Mary was one of very few women running a major distillery in that era, and the business did well under her leadership. She was also a prominent activist as president of the local women’s club and a proponent of healthcare access in Lawrenceburg. To boot, she was also the wealthiest woman in town. She achieved so much in an industry that offered women so little room.
Prohibition and the Courtroom
Mary saw Prohibition coming and withdrew large stocks of whiskey from her bonded warehouses before it took effect in 1920. Waterfill & Frazier was not one of the few distilleries licensed to sell “medicinal” whiskey, so she sold some of her stock to companies that were. According to Mark Jennings in Whisky Magazine, one of those buyers was Julian Van Winkle’s A. Ph. Stitzel company.
The rest of the whiskey stayed with the family. A few years into Prohibition, federal agents set up a sting at the Dowling home with the help of bootleggers who had bought from Mary in the past, and a search of the house turned up a hefty amount of whiskey in the basement. Mary maintained the whiskey had been there since before Prohibition and was meant to “be for the use of family and guests,” but she and several of her children were charged with violating the National Prohibition Act.
The Dowlings were convicted, but when they appealed, it emerged that the stenographer who had recorded the original trial had died and nobody could read his notes, so the convictions were thrown out.
Mary’s Move to Juárez
The overturned convictions against Mary and her children did nothing to help her Prohibition circumstances. It was still illegal for her to make whiskey in the States. So, in 1926, Mary hired Joseph L. Beam, a cousin of Jim Beam and an experienced Kentucky distiller, to take the Waterfill & Frazier distillery apart and rebuild it in Ciudad Juárez, just across the border from El Paso, Texas. Mexico had no Prohibition, so making whiskey there was entirely legal.
The distillery in Mexico. Credit: Mary Dowling Whiskey Co.
According to the brand, Mary’s partner in Mexico was her friend Antonio Bermúdez, who later became managing director of PEMEX, Mexico’s national oil company.
Most of the whiskey was sold in Mexico and Central and South America, although some of it reportedly found its way north of the border. Sullivan mentions a surviving letter in which Pappy Van Winkle, who held a license to sell “medicinal” whiskey, complained to Mary that his salesmen were struggling to sell Kentucky-made Waterfill & Frazier because of competition from her Mexican product.
At a time when almost every other Kentucky distillery had gone quiet, Mary found a legal way to keep making whiskey, demonstrating her unwavering tenacity and resourcefulness.
Mary Dowling’s Legacy
Mary died in February 1930, three years before Prohibition came to an end, and she is buried beside John in Lawrenceburg. After Repeal, Joseph L. Beam returned to Kentucky and helped the Shapira family found Heaven Hill in 1935, while Mary’s son John built a new distillery at Fisherville, just outside Louisville.
The Juárez distillery carried on long after her death. According to the Mary Dowling Whiskey Co., it continued producing whiskey until 1964, when Congress declared bourbon a distinctive product of the United States. The brand goes as far as calling her the “Mother of Bourbon.”
Whether or not you go along with that title, I think Mary deserves a place in bourbon history alongside the major (male) names that we hear so often. She ran a major distillery for 17 years after her husband’s death, defended her family in court, and found a legal way to keep making whiskey once Prohibition had closed her distillery in Kentucky. Doing all of that as a widowed mother of eight, in an industry run almost entirely by men, is impressive no matter how you look at it.
Her name is back on shelves today through the Mary Dowling Whiskey Co., which Rabbit Hole founder Kaveh Zamanian launched with Pernod Ricard in 2023. The brand currently sells three bourbons:
a high-rye bourbon finished in tequila barrels, as a nod to Juárez
a wheated, cask-strength Double Oak
a wheated Winter Wheat bourbon finished in toasted barrels
Read the full article at The Woman Who Moved Her Kentucky Bourbon Distillery to Mexico

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/the-woman-who-moved-her-kentucky-bourbon-distillery-to-mexico/

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Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Review Read ...

2026-11-06T00:00:53Z

Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Review

Read the full article at Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish Review

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-reviews/review-bardstown-bourbon-company-lochs-of-jura-barrel-finish-review-2026/

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15 STARS Launches First West Single Barrel Bourbon Program ...

2026-11-05T22:05:02Z

15 STARS Launches First West Single Barrel Bourbon Program

Credit: 15 STARS
15 STARS has unveiled a new single barrel program under its First West line, offering retailers, restaurants and private groups exclusive barrel selections. The debut releases feature Kentucky bourbons aged between six and 10 years, available from the Bardstown, Kentucky-based brand from November 2026.
The program gives participants access to the range of aged Kentucky-distilled whiskey that 15 STARS uses to create its portfolio.
The collection spans various mash bills, ages, cooperages, and maturation styles. It includes bourbons with rye and wheat flavoring grains, alongside a growing stock of proprietary heirloom-corn bourbons distilled by 15 STARS.
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Participants will take part in a guided tasting of preselected barrels before choosing the expression that best fits their palate and customers.
Each pick offers partners a limited-quantity bourbon that will not be repeated.
“We believe every barrel plays an important role in creating our award-winning blends, but a rare few possess the character to stand on their own,” said Rick Johnson, co-founder of 15 STARS. “Through our single barrel program, we’re able to showcase these exceptional barrels and give whiskey enthusiasts the opportunity to experience what makes each one truly unique.”
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The first releases will appear in First West’s antique blue bottle design, inspired by the earliest Kentucky-made glass bottles used for bourbon.
Each selection will be bottled at cask proof. The brand will apply minimal filtration to remove only barrel char, preserving the whiskey’s individual character.
The program is rolling out through select private barrel partners, with further opportunities planned as it expands.
15 STARS was founded by father-and-son team Rick and Ricky Johnson, who built the brand around sourcing and blending aged Kentucky whiskey. Single barrel programs have become an increasingly popular route for US craft and sourced-whiskey brands, allowing retailers and bars to secure bespoke, one-off expressions for their customers.
Read the full article at 15 STARS Launches First West Single Barrel Bourbon Program

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/15-stars-launches-first-west-single-barrel-bourbon-program/

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Why Tomatin’s Cù Bòcan Creation #9 Is An Absolute Bargain ...

2026-11-05T21:23:42Z

Why Tomatin’s Cù Bòcan Creation #9 Is An Absolute Bargain Whisky

Credit: Tomatin
On a grey, rainy day in Manchester, Cù Bòcan Creation #9 feels like exactly the whisky I want in my glass. Named “Sweet and Salty Popcorn,” this lightly peated single malt from Tomatin promises an unusual mix of comfort and coastal character. After spending time with it, I think the name only begins to explain why this bottle works so well.
The first surprise is its value. Every drop is 17 years old, yet the bottle costs less than £50. It is bottled at 46%, with natural colour and no chill filtration.
Part of the whisky spent its full 17 years in American virgin oak; the rest spent 13 years in bourbon casks followed by four years in Manzanilla sherry casks. That is a bold combination, especially with virgin oak in the mix, but Tomatin has made the two sides feel like partners rather than rivals.
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On the nose, the virgin oak brings buttery popcorn, caramel, coconut, and a striking cherry-sweet note that reminds me of some excellent bourbons. Fresh pastry and milk chocolate soften the edges. Then the Manzanilla begins to show itself through dry herbs and a savoury, sea-air quality. The peat runs quietly through it all. This is not a whisky that asks you to brace for smoke; it uses smoke to give those sweeter aromas a little more depth.
The palate follows that same pleasing arc. Caramel popcorn and cherry sweets arrive first, followed by toasted coconut, cinnamon and the faintest wisp of smoke. Rosemary-like herbs and a coastal saltiness keep the sweetness in check, while the finish turns warmer and drier, almost like a cinnamon roll left in the oven a touch too long.
A little water draws out more honey and vanilla, but I prefer it neat. At 46%, it already has the balance it needs.
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I would give Creation #9 an 8.5 out of 10. Its cask recipe might look risky on paper, but the result is wonderfully well put together: rich, gently smoky, subtly savoury and remarkably good value.
Tomatin’s peated whisky was not firmly on my radar before this. It certainly is now. Have you tried a Cù Bòcan release that deserves the same attention?
For a more detailed tasting and a closer look at the bottle, you can watch my full video review.
Read the full article at Why Tomatin’s Cù Bòcan Creation #9 Is An Absolute Bargain Whisky

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/why-tomatins-cu-bocan-creation-9-is-an-absolute-bargain-whisky/

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7 Bourbons Every Scotch Whisky Drinker Should Try If you drink ...

2026-11-05T19:24:48Z

7 Bourbons Every Scotch Whisky Drinker Should Try

If you drink Scotch, you probably have a good idea of what to expect from a bottle before you open it. A Speyside whisky will often have orchard fruit and honey, an Islay malt will usually bring some smoke, and a sherry cask Scotch has dried fruit and spice. The bourbon shelf doesn’t offer the same clues. On paper, the two categories are worlds apart.
However, many of the flavors Scotch drinkers enjoy can turn up in bourbon. Sometimes they come from a cask finish, and sometimes from age, strength, or extra time in the cask. So, if you’re looking to take the leap and explore bourbon, we’ve rounded up seven bottles that offer similar notes to varying styles of Scotch whisky. Let’s get into it.
Why Bourbon Can Work for Scotch Drinkers
The two categories are already closely linked, because most of the whisky aging in Scotland sits in ex-bourbon barrels, which is where much of the vanilla and creamy texture in single malt comes from. Bourbon goes into new charred oak, so you get a fuller dose of that American oak character.
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Climate plays a part, too. Many producers cite annual evaporation of around 2% in Scotland and closer to 4% in Kentucky, where hotter summers speed up maturation. As a result, a bourbon can pick up plenty of oak character in fewer years than a typical Scottish single malt.
If You Like Sherried Scotch: Angel’s Envy Port Finish, 43.3%
Angel’s Envy is best known for finishing its bourbon in a second type of cask: it is known as the first bourbon brand to be founded entirely on finishing. Its flagship bourbon is finished in ruby port wine casks for three to six months in 60-gallon barrels.
Vanilla comes through on the nose, along with hazelnuts, almonds, plums, apricots, and a little raisin. On the palate, it’s syrupy and smooth, with stewed and dried fruit, a touch of clove, toasted oak, and some orange zest.
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Port and sherry are different wines, so this won’t taste like a sherry cask single malt. But, if you enjoy whiskies such as GlenDronach or Aberlour, you may find the dried fruit and nutty notes familiar.
If You Like Smoky Scotch: High West Campfire, 46%
So, Campfire isn’t actually a bourbon. It’s a blend of straight rye, straight bourbon, and blended malt Scotch. The bourbon and most of the rye come from MGP in Indiana, some rye is made at High West’s own distillery, and the peated Scotch comes from an undisclosed source, with the proportions kept secret.
According to the back label, the idea came from a stay at the Bruichladdich distillery, where a peated whisky and sugar syrup were poured over melon for dessert.
Tasting notes include butterscotch, shortbread, and gentle smoke on the nose, followed by vanilla, salted caramel, red berries, chai spice, orange zest, and pipe tobacco on the palate. In her review, Courtney Kristjana found the smoke subtle throughout, with a hint of iodine and a velvety mouthfeel.
If you usually reach for heavily peated whiskies, Campfire will feel restrained. Nothing really compares to the boldness of a heavily peated Scotch. But if you enjoy smoke alongside plenty of sweetness, it’s well worth trying.
If You Like Light, Fruity, and Floral Scotch: Four Roses Bourbon, 40%
Four Roses Bourbon was the first bourbon I ever tried, and it’s still a good fit if your usual Scotch is on the lighter, fruitier side. On the nose, you’ll find honey and floral sweetness. The palate brings vanilla and caramel, with orchard fruit cutting through the sweetness, and a light, buttery mouthfeel.
Four Roses makes its bourbon from two mash bills and five yeast strains, giving it ten distinct recipes, and this bottle is a blend of all ten, aged for a minimum of five years. At 40% ABV (80 proof), it’s also bottled at the same strength as many entry-level single malts.
If You Like Rich Highland Scotch: Woodford Reserve Double Oaked, 45.2%
If you enjoy rich, full-bodied Highland whiskies but assume that kind of depth needs a sherry cask, Double Oaked is worth a look. After its first maturation, the bourbon goes into a second new barrel that is deeply toasted before a light charring, where it is thought to spend around six to 12 months. The toasting caramelizes sugars in the wood, which deepens the caramel, vanilla, and oak flavors.
I find caramel, vanilla, and dark fruit on the nose, followed by toasted oak, cocoa, almond, and hazelnut. The palate is full-bodied, with creamy vanilla, toffee, charred oak, dried cherry, dark chocolate, and a little apple peel and citrus. The finish brings charred oak, soft spice, and a final touch of toffee apple.
Both barrels are new charred oak, so there’s no wine or sherry influence here at all. Still, if you like Dalmore, you may find the chocolate and dark fruit familiar.
If You Like Blended Scotch: Buffalo Trace, 45% (40% in the UK)
Many blended Scotch drinkers reach for the same bottle whether they’re drinking it neat, over ice, or in a highball. Johnnie Walker, Dewar’s, Chivas. Buffalo Trace works in much the same way, both neat and in mixed drinks.
I usually pick up caramel and vanilla, along with brown sugar, custard, chocolate, mint, spice, dark fruit, a little oak spice, and cinnamon. It will not necessarily taste like a blended Scotch, but it has a similar use case.
In the UK, it’s easy to find in supermarkets as a 70cl bottle at 40% ABV. In the US, it’s bottled at 45% and can be hard to track down, although the markup on the flagship is usually fairly small.
If You Like Cask-Strength Scotch: Wild Turkey Rare Breed, 58.4%
Rare Breed is a great choice if you like Scotch with a punchier strength. It’s a barrel-proof blend of six, eight, and 12-year-old bourbons, bottled at barrel proof. The current US release is 116.8 proof.
Tasting notes include spring flowers, black pepper, almonds, honey, and dates on the nose. The palate is described as “warm, smoky flavors of grain and spice,” followed by a long, spicy finish, and the distillery also points to its intense vanilla and mouthfeel. Adding a few drops of water opens it up a little, uncovering waves of fruit and space.
If you enjoy cask-strength releases from distilleries such as Glenfarclas or Aberlour, the weight and the way Wild Turkey Rare Breed opens up with water should feel familiar.
If You Like Oak-Forward Scotch: Knob Creek 9 Year Old, 50%
New charred oak and Kentucky’s hotter summers mean a bourbon can pick up plenty of oak character in that time. Knob Creek 9 is aged in heavily charred new oak barrels and bottled at 100 proof, and some of the whiskey in each batch can be older than nine years.
The age statement hasn’t always been on the label. Beam removed it in late 2016, when it couldn’t guarantee that all of its stock had reached nine years, and brought it back in 2020 once supplies had caught up.
When I looked at why it’s still priced around $35, I found vanilla, oak, caramel, and spice on the nose, followed by a peppery palate with more vanilla and caramel, ripe fruit, and hazelnuts. Oak spice and leather linger on the finish.
If you enjoy single malts with plenty of oak and a little extra strength, such as Glen Garioch or Deanston, this may be worth a try.
Which One Should You Try?
None of these bourbons will taste exactly like your favorite Scotch, but each one shares some of the flavors or qualities you already enjoy. If you’re new to bourbon, Four Roses or Buffalo Trace are easy places to start. Sherried Scotch drinkers should reach for Angel’s Envy, and if you usually drink at cask strength, Rare Breed is the one to try.
Have you found a bourbon that reminds you of your favorite Scotch? Let us know in the comments.
Read the full article at 7 Bourbons Every Scotch Whisky Drinker Should Try

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/7-bourbons-every-scotch-whisky-drinker-should-try/

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Crown Royal Launches Second Annual Purple Bag Food Drive Credit: ...

2026-11-05T17:47:06Z

Crown Royal Launches Second Annual Purple Bag Food Drive

Credit: Diageo North America
Diageo-owned Canadian whisky brand Crown Royal has launched its second annual Purple Bag Food Drive with hunger-relief charity Feeding America. Volunteer events will take place in New Orleans, Phoenix and Dallas this November, alongside the Crown Royal Rig’s visits to football communities.
Crown Royal will also donate $15,000 (£11,160 / ₹1.42 million) to Feeding America. The money supports the charity’s network of more than 250 food banks.
The brand will also match eligible public donations dollar-for-dollar up to $10,000 (£7,440 / ₹945,000). The donation page is open until November 30.
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Feeding America says each dollar helps provide at least 10 meals. A fully matched $25,000 (£18,600 / ₹2.36 million) could help provide at least 250,000 meals.
At each event, volunteers will pack food for local distribution. Crown Royal will also give $5,000 (£3,720 / ₹472,500) to each partner food bank.
The drive begins on November 6 in New Orleans with Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana.
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Phoenix follows on November 20 with St. Mary’s Food Bank Alliance, the world’s first food bank. The final event takes place in Dallas on November 24 with North Texas Food Bank.
James Valdes, Crown Royal director, said: “Generosity is part of who we are at Crown Royal. Over the years, we’ve supported military members, hospitality workers and small businesses through initiatives including the Purple Bag Project and Crown Royal Generosity Fund.”
He added: “Football and the season of giving share rituals that bring people together, and generosity is an important part of that.”
“Through our partnership with Feeding America and several of its member food banks, we’re inviting communities to help neighbors facing hunger, whether they’re volunteering alongside us or contributing from home.”
Milt Liu, president and CEO at St. Mary’s Food Bank, said: “The season of giving is a reminder of the connection that food can create, but neighbors facing hunger need support throughout the year.”
Liu added: “This partnership will help support our work while inviting people to contribute their time and resources to their communities.”
Read the full article at Crown Royal Launches Second Annual Purple Bag Food Drive

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/crown-royal-launches-second-annual-purple-bag-food-drive/

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India’s Own Whisky Makers Join the Fight Over the Bulk Scotch ...

2026-11-04T04:56:23Z

India’s Own Whisky Makers Join the Fight Over the Bulk Scotch Tariff

Illustration Credit: Norman Wright
India has told drinks companies it will settle a dispute over bulk Scotch in line with its trade deal with Britain, after the country’s own whisky makers joined foreign rivals in protesting a customs ruling that charged bulk Scotch twice the duty paid on bottled Scotch. The India-UK agreement cut India’s duty on Scotch from 150% to 75%, but authorities had told companies that Scotch shipped in bulk for blending did not qualify and must pay the full rate.
At a closed-door meeting with executives of foreign and domestic liquor companies on 2 November, commerce ministry officials said New Delhi would honor the pact in letter and spirit. Commerce Secretary Rajesh Agrawal told attendees that steps were being taken “so that the duty concession on bulk Scotch whisky is not impaired.” No formal change to the customs position has yet been announced.
The Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverage Companies (CIABC), whose members include Radico Khaitan, maker of 8PM, and Allied Blenders and Distillers, maker of Officer’s Choice, joined the protest in a confidential letter dated 27 October. It is a reversal for a lobby that in September 2020, when New Delhi said it was open to lowering the 150% duty, insisted any cut “must be gradual, in a controlled manner, in order to provide reasonable protection to Indian companies.”
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The lobby has changed sides because around 80% of the Scotch India buys from Britain by volume arrives in bulk to be blended into Indian brands, which makes it an ingredient of domestic manufacturing rather than a rival to it.
How the Bulk Scotch Tariff in India Split From the Trade Deal
The India-UK agreement took effect on 15 July 2026. It cut India’s duty on Scotch from 150% to 75% at once, with a phased reduction to 40% over ten years. Indian authorities have since told companies that bulk Scotch “concentrates” do not qualify for the 75% rate and must be declared under a customs classification carrying the full 150% duty.
India has not commented publicly on the classification. Revenue intelligence officers searched company premises over the classification in October, as we reported on 23 October. Maharashtra tax authorities also searched United Spirits premises from 19 to 29 October, although no formal finding of liability has been announced.
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The uncertainty already reaches the supply chain. Companies have asked licensees and distributors for bank guarantees equal to 75% towards customs duty in case imports are assessed at 150%.
Why Bulk Scotch Is a Raw Material for Indian Whisky
Scotch exports to India reached 53.7 million liters of pure alcohol in 2024, when India regained its place as the largest Scotch export market by volume. Bulk malt, bulk blend and bulk grain together made up 43.2 million of those liters, while bottled blends came to 9.3 million and single malts to just 1.2 million. India alone took 70% of all bulk malt Scotch exported that year.
Most Indian whisky is built on neutral spirit distilled from molasses. This is a legacy of the license-permit era, when grain was barred from spirits production until 1995. Blending in a share of Scotch, which has already had its statutory three years of maturation in Scotland, gives these whiskies character without the cost of aging stock in a hot climate. Diageo and Pernod Ricard blend imported Scotch into McDowell’s No.1, Royal Stag and Blenders Pride. Bulk Scotch has long been part of the Indian trade: Teacher’s and Vat 69 were already being shipped in bulk to be diluted and bottled in India in 2003.
India’s Domestic Blenders Turn Against the 150% Duty
CIABC’s letter argues that excluding bulk “could create an unintended incentive in favour of importing finished products,” an outcome it says “would run counter to the objective of strengthening domestic manufacturing under Make in India.” The commercial logic is plain, since a blender paying 150% on its Scotch now competes against bottled imports paying 75%.
Allied Blenders, which describes itself in investor material as “one of the largest bulk Scotch importers,” had expected the pact to improve its “luxury portfolio accessibility.” The International Spirits & Wines Association of India counts Diageo and Pernod Ricard among its members. It has told the commerce minister that the classification “risks undermining, in practice, an important market-access benefit negotiated and agreed between India and the UK.”
London is pressing too. The UK Department for Business and Trade says, “We are working with the government of India to resolve this issue to ensure UK businesses can export under the tariffs agreed in the trade deal.” The Scottish government has separately raised the treatment of bulk Scotch with New Delhi.
What Happens Next With the Bulk Scotch Tariff
The 75% rate on bottled Scotch was never in dispute, and neither was the ten-year path to 40%. The argument was over the much larger bulk trade, in an alcohol industry worth $65 billion and a market where the UK supplies nearly 75% of imported spirits.
The assurance stops short of a formal ruling. Until the customs authorities change their position in writing, bulk imports remain open to assessment at 150%, which is the risk the bank guarantees sought from licensees and distributors were put up to cover.
For years the case for high duties on Scotch was made in the name of India’s own whisky makers. This time it was those makers who pushed for Scotch arriving in tankers to be treated as part of India’s own whisky industry, and New Delhi has signalled it agrees.
Read the full article at India’s Own Whisky Makers Join the Fight Over the Bulk Scotch Tariff

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Extinct Spirits Debuts Dodo-Themed Single-Cask Whiskey Extinct ...

2026-11-04T03:27:36Z

Extinct Spirits Debuts Dodo-Themed Single-Cask Whiskey

Extinct Spirits, a new independent brand pairing single-cask whiskeys with original artwork of lost species, will launch this November with Extinction Event I honoring the dodo. The Tennessee-based venture will open presales on Friday 13 November at 9pm ET via its website.
The brand is built around three pillars: unique whiskey, original art, and the stories of species lost to time.
“I didn’t set out simply to create another limited-release whiskey brand,” Hanna said. “Over the years, I’ve come across unique stocks that you simply don’t see in today’s market. When you find something like that, there is only so much of it, and there may never be anything quite like it again.”
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Each release is called an Extinction Event. The company sources distinctive single-cask spirits in finite quantities and pairs each one with an extinct species and commissioned artwork.
Once the final bottle sells, the release enters The Archive, a permanent record of the spirit, species, and artwork behind each Extinction Event.
The inaugural release honors the Dodo Bird (Raphus cucullatus), the flightless bird native to Mauritius that disappeared in the 17th century. The dodo has become one of the most widely recognized symbols of human-driven extinction.
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Co-founder Cole Hanna leads the search for the spirits. He is a bourbon industry veteran with experience in sourcing, selecting, and blending whiskey, and is also co-founder of Kentucky’s H.K. Young Bourbon Co., a brand focused on toasted barrel finishing.
Hanna said the concept grew from casks he encountered that stood apart but had no home within existing product lines.
Original artwork commissioned for each Extinction Event extends across the bottle and packaging.
Co-founder Darrick Jackson said the small scale is deliberate. “There’s something exciting about intentionally keeping our releases to just a handful of barrels each year,” he said. “That’s how we intend to operate one of the most highly curated single-barrel programs in the industry.”
Conservation also sits at the brand’s core. The company has committed to raising awareness and supporting efforts to protect vulnerable species and their ecosystems.
“Extinct Spirits gives us an opportunity to pay tribute to the stories of what the world has already lost, while also raising awareness and supporting efforts to protect what is still here,” said co-founder Joslyn Hanna.
A limited number of bottles will be available online at extinctspirits.com. Interested buyers can join The Archive on the brand’s site and follow Extinct Spirits on social media.
Read the full article at Extinct Spirits Debuts Dodo-Themed Single-Cask Whiskey

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Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Launches in US at $240 Midleton ...

2026-11-04T01:36:43Z

Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Launches in US at $240

Midleton Very Rare has released its 2026 Vintage in the United States, a blend of single pot still and single grain Irish whiskeys crafted at Midleton Distillery. The annual release marks the sixth Vintage overseen by master distiller Kevin O’Gorman and carries a suggested retail price of $240 (£180).
“Each year, we hope to create a Midleton Very Rare Vintage that heroes the years of craftsmanship gone before while developing something rare, new and enticing for people to discover,” said O’Gorman.
The blend combines five distinct whiskey styles: three single pot still and two single grain.
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Among them is a batch of grain whiskey made from a mash bill of barley and malted barley, a style also used in the 2025 Vintage. The brand says its inclusion adds depth to the aroma, with notes of butterscotch and toffee.
This year’s blend features a subtle increase in Midleton’s signature grain whiskey, bringing floral notes of rose petal and geranium. Older grain whiskeys matured in ex-Bourbon barrels contribute notes of crème brûlée and milk chocolate. O’Gorman also adjusted the three single pot still components, increasing the proportion of lighter pot still whiskeys to highlight citrus notes of lemon zest and orange peel.
O’Gorman added: “As the sixth Vintage Release under my guardianship, I wanted to explore the bounds of what is possible from our array of exceptional liquids, while remaining true to the unique style for which Midleton Very Rare has become known.”
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According to the official notes from the brand, the nose offers citrus aromas of orange peel and lemon zest, with soft apricot and orchard fruits. The palate delivers luscious fruit notes accentuated by soft tannins, vanilla and cinnamon. The finish sees the pot still spices fade first, leaving fruit and oak to linger.
Bottled at 40% ABV, the 2026 Vintage is presented in a box with foil detailing and a new friction-closure design.
The whiskeys were matured in historic warehouses at Midleton, some dating back to the 1860s.
The 2024 and 2025 Vintages remain available nationwide, though availability may vary by market and retailer.
Midleton Very Rare debuted in 1984 and is produced by Irish Distillers, a subsidiary of French drinks group Pernod Ricard. The Midleton Distillery in County Cork is also home to Jameson, the world’s best-selling Irish whiskey.
Read the full article at Midleton Very Rare 2026 Vintage Launches in US at $240

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These 10 American Whiskeys Won Double Gold in 2026, But One Went ...

2026-11-04T00:55:44Z

These 10 American Whiskeys Won Double Gold in 2026, But One Went Even Further

The top prize at the 2026 American Craft Spirits Competition went to a whiskey that started life as a classroom exercise. Moonshine University, a distilling school in Louisville, Kentucky, made its PX-finished Completely Custom Whiskey as an experiment during a two-day Barrel Aging Workshop, and it went on to win Best in Show over every other spirit in the competition.
It was one of ten whiskeys to take Double Gold in the whiskey category this year. The others include a bourbon finished on boats on Lake Michigan, a single malt made from barley grown and malted on a Colorado farm that turned 100 this year, and a rye named after the Michigan creek where its maker’s great-grandmother is said to have buried her moonshine still.
So, let’s take a closer look at the ten Double Gold whiskeys from the 2026 American Craft Spirits Competition. Let us know in the comments whether you agree with the judges.
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Moonshine University Completely Custom Whiskey – PX Finished
Award: Double Gold, Best of Whiskey, Best in Show
Tasting Notes: Raisins, figs, rich caramel, dark fruits, baking spice, oak
Find Your Next Bottle: Available exclusively on-site for attendees at the facility.
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Moonshine University is a distilling school in Louisville, Kentucky, run by the beverage development company Flavorman. Its winning whiskey came out of a two-day Barrel Aging Workshop, where faculty blended several barrels into one whiskey and split it between Pedro Ximénez sherry, oloroso sherry, and amburana casks.
The PX portion won, and a control version from the same experiment took Silver. “We wanted to show our attendees how the same liquid could perform in different environments,” said Distilling Operations Manager Clay Smith.
Despite the win, sadly, Flavorman recently announced plans to close Moonshine University on December 31, 2026.
Belle Meade Reserve Bourbon
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, caramel, cinnamon, toffee, nougat, black cherry, nutmeg, cocoa
Find Your Next Bottle: $91.99
Brothers Andy and Charlie Nelson launched Belle Meade in 2012 to revive their family’s distilling history, and two years later they opened Nelson’s Green Brier Distillery in Nashville.
Constellation Brands took majority control in 2019 and the brothers later left the business, but at the end of 2024 they regained the rights to Belle Meade.
The Reserve is a blend of high-rye bourbons from MGP (now Sempreon) and Bardstown Bourbon Company, aged between seven and 11 years and bottled at 108.3 proof. It sits above the 90.4-proof Classic in the range.
Chapline Distillery Cannonade Texas Bourbon
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Salted caramel, clove, flowers, earthiness
Find Your Next Bottle: Buy at the distillery in Bulverde, TX
Former Navy submariner Mike Chapline makes all of his bourbon on site at his distillery in Bulverde, Texas, using Texas-grown grain and copper equipment. Cannonade starts with the recipe for Chapline Distillery’s Meticulum bourbon, which combines South Texas white corn with malted barley and malted, caramelized triticale, a wheat and rye hybrid, from the Texas Panhandle. Cannonade then adds blue corn to that recipe.
According to Texas Whiskey Geek, Chapline ages his bourbons in small 15-gallon barrels and bottles every release as a single barrel, with Cannonade going out at cask strength.
Hoot + Howl Amaro Cask Bourbon
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Marshmallow, red fruits, cocoa, herbs, charred spices, ripe cherries, milk chocolate
Find Your Next Bottle: $79
Founder Callan Deline and head distiller Chris Ritenour started Hoot + Howl in Englewood, Colorado, before moving into part of the former Golden Moon Distillery space in Golden.
Their long-term focus is American single malt, which is still aging, so in the meantime they have released other spirits, including two cask-finished bourbons, Westword reports.
The Amaro Cask is a blend of seven-year-old bourbon finished for a year in a Sicilian amaro cask. “I’m not blending [the whiskey] to taste great on its own; the idea is for it to pair well with the barrel that it’s going into,” Ritenour told Westword.
KO Distiller’s Reserve Bottled-in-Bond Straight Bourbon
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Vanilla, caramel, baking spice, apricot, toffee, almonds, cocoa
Find Your Next Bottle: $69.99
KO Distilling takes its name from founders Bill Karlson and John O’Mara, longtime friends and classmates at the U.S. Merchant Marine Academy, as we reported when this bourbon launched in November 2020. KO released the Distiller’s Reserve to mark 400 years since, by its account, the first American whiskey was distilled in Virginia.
Distiller Ryan Hendricks oversees production of this whiskey at Manassas distillery from Virginia-grown corn, wheat, and malted barley in a 70/20/10 split.
As a Bottled-in-Bond whiskey, it comes from a single distilling season and spends at least four years in new charred American oak before bottling at 100 proof.
Unbound Spirits The Maelstrom Saga Series 1: The Reckoning
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Creamy cocoa, dark chocolate, raisins, leather, roasted walnuts, buttery toffee
Find Your Next Bottle: Sold Out
Kerry Shaw Brown spent years blending and extra-aging bourbon in his Wisconsin boathouse before co-founding Unbound Spirits in Algoma with Martin Pazzani. The company has stored its casks on boats and, more recently, on cask rockers that Clemson University engineering students built to mimic Great Lakes waves, The Business News reports.
The Reckoning is a nine-year-old straight bourbon from an undisclosed distiller, re-casked into new toasted barrels and bottled at 122 proof. The first Saga Series release yielded only 332 bottles, according to Whiskeyfellow.
Bird Creek Francin
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Floral notes, freshly baked bread, honey, raspberry cream, dried hay, lavender, oak, almond, sweetness
Find Your Next Bottle: $94
Founder Mark Stell spent three decades in specialty coffee with Portland Coffee Roasters before starting Bird Creek in 2017, and he buys barley directly from Pacific Northwest farmers.
Francin is a Czech two-row malting barley, grown for Bird Creek near La Grande, Oregon, by Austin Arnoldus and his father at Trico Farms, according to the brand. Bird Creek uses partner distilleries and currently works with Talking Cedar in Rochester, Washington, the first tribally owned distillery in the U.S.
The whiskey is then aged in new American oak barrels and bottled in Portland. The medal went to the 92-proof Single Cask version.
Root Shoot American Single Malt, Bottled-in-Bond
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Pastry, baking spice, cocoa dust, mint, spicy botanicals, leather, forest floor
Find Your Next Bottle: $59.99
The Olander family has farmed the same land in Loveland, Colorado, for 100 years, and has run Root Shoot Malting there for the past 10, according to the company. The barley for Root Shoot’s whiskey is sown, grown, and malted on the farm, and it travels around 30 miles from field to bottle.
The flagship American single malt is Bottled-in-Bond, aged four years in American white oak barrels, and bottled at 100 proof. This year, it was also named Whisky of the Year at the London Spirits Competition.
Wigle Reserve Single Barrel Straight Rye
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Pumpernickel, apple pie, amarena cherries
Find Your Next Bottle: $72
Wigle Whiskey takes its name from Phillip Wigle, a Western Pennsylvania distiller who clashed with a tax collector in the 1790s and helped spark the Whiskey Rebellion. He was sentenced to hang for treason and later pardoned by George Washington. Wigle mills, ferments, and pot-distills all of its whiskey from regional grain in Pittsburgh’s Strip District.
This single barrel is its take on Monongahela rye, the style Western Pennsylvania was known for before Prohibition. The winning barrel, batch 4, spent six years in new charred 53-gallon oak, and the Single Barrel Rye also took Bronze at ACSA in 2025.
Off The Chain Bitely Creek Straight Rye
Award: Double Gold
Tasting Notes: Cinnamon, nutmeg, white pepper, charred oak
Find Your Next Bottle: Buy at the distillery taproom in Grand Haven, MI
The name comes from Kurt Knoth’s great-grandmother, Grace Martin, who made moonshine during the Great Depression. When she saw authorities approaching near Bitely Creek, she had her daughter bury the still in the mud, according to the Grand Haven Tribune.
Kurt and his wife Wendy opened Off The Chain Brewstillery in Grand Haven, Michigan, in August 2024, in the same renovated building as Loose Spokes, the bike shop run by their daughter and son-in-law, WOOD TV reported.
Bitely Creek is a 10-year-old straight rye made from 95% rye and 5% malted barley. It is a single barrel release bottled at 55.5% ABV, though strength may vary from barrel to barrel.
What Do You Make of the Results?
The ten Double Gold whiskeys were made in very different ways, with bourbons, ryes, and American single malts. Most notably, the highest score of the whole competition went to a classroom experiment from a school that is due to close at the end of the year.
Have you tried any of these ten? Are there any you would like to get your hands on, and what do you make of the awards? Let us know in the comments.
Read the full article at These 10 American Whiskeys Won Double Gold in 2026, But One Went Even Further

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Highland Park’s Liquid History: 10 Ultra-Rare Vintages Every ...

2026-11-04T00:17:09Z

Highland Park’s Liquid History: 10 Ultra-Rare Vintages Every Collector Should Know

Few Scotch whisky distilleries possess quite the same combination of history, character and sense of place as Highland Park. Situated in Kirkwall, on the windswept Orkney Islands, this celebrated distillery has been associated with whisky-making since 1798, earning a reputation for producing a distinctive single malt shaped by its remote island home.
Highland Park’s journey has taken it from the shadowy world of illicit distilling to international recognition, with centuries of tradition, Norse heritage and time-honoured production techniques contributing to its enduring appeal.
Beyond its familiar core range lies another fascinating world: vintage releases, independent bottlings and exceptionally rare single casks that capture Highland Park spirit from some of the most celebrated decades in whisky history.
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At The Whisky Vault, we’re taking a closer look at the distillery’s remarkable past before exploring a selection of extraordinary bottles that showcase its legacy.
The Legend of Magnus Eunson: Highland Park’s Infamous Beginnings
To uncover the origins of Highland Park, we must travel back to the late eighteenth century, when producing whisky without official permission was far from unusual.
Heavy taxation and strict regulations encouraged enterprising Scots to distil spirits away from the watchful eyes of the excise authorities. The remote Orkney Islands provided an ideal setting for such activities, and one local character would become permanently associated with Highland Park’s early history.
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His name was Magnus “Mansie” Eunson.
A church beadle by profession, Eunson is widely remembered in Highland Park folklore as a man with a rather unconventional second occupation: illicit whisky production and smuggling.
According to the stories, his respectable position within the community provided the perfect cover for his less legitimate activities. One particularly memorable tale claims that he concealed contraband whisky beneath a church pulpit, keeping his illicit operation hidden in a place where the authorities would be unlikely to search.
Whether every detail of these colourful accounts can be verified remains uncertain, but Eunson’s reputation has become an enduring part of the distillery’s identity.
Highland Park traditionally traces its beginnings to 1798, linking its foundation to Eunson and the early whisky-making activities associated with the site.
From Smuggling to Legitimacy: The Birth of a Licensed Distillery
Although its origins are steeped in local legend, Highland Park’s subsequent development marked a transition towards legitimate commercial whisky production.
As the nineteenth century progressed, the distillery became established as a recognised operation, with historical accounts connecting members of the Robertson family and other local figures to its early ownership.
A major milestone arrived in 1826, when Highland Park received its official distilling licence.
This date is particularly significant because, although 1798 remains the traditional founding year, the granting of a licence represented a separate step in the distillery’s evolution from its legendary beginnings into the regulated Scotch whisky industry.
From there, Highland Park continued to develop, gradually building its reputation beyond Orkney and establishing the foundations for the internationally respected name we recognise today.
The Nineteenth Century: Highland Park Finds Its Feet
The nineteenth century brought considerable change to Scotland’s whisky industry, and Highland Park was well placed to benefit as demand for Scotch continued to develop.
Under successive owners, the distillery evolved from a relatively isolated island operation into a business with increasingly wider commercial ambitions.
One of the most important developments came in 1895, when James Grant, known for his association with The Glenlivet, acquired Highland Park.
The period surrounding the turn of the twentieth century saw further investment and expansion, including an increase in the distillery’s still capacity.
These developments helped strengthen Highland Park’s position within the industry. Its location may have been remote, but the whisky it produced was becoming increasingly important to the wider Scotch trade.
At the time, much malt whisky was destined for blending rather than being sold under individual distillery labels. Highland Park’s spirit therefore played a role in the broader world of Scotch blends, contributing its own character to carefully constructed recipes.
Its distinctive identity, however, would eventually help it step out from behind the blend and gain recognition as a single malt in its own right.
The Twentieth Century: From Blending Malt to Single Malt Favourite
For generations, Highland Park whisky was valued in the blending trade, as was the case with many malt distilleries before single malt Scotch became a major category in its own right.
The twentieth century brought its fair share of challenges, from economic uncertainty to changing ownership and shifting consumer preferences.
In 1937, Highland Park became part of Highland Distillers, placing the distillery within a larger whisky business with interests across Scotland.
Despite these changes, Highland Park retained the qualities that made its spirit distinctive. Its Orcadian setting and traditional production practices continued to contribute to a character that stood apart from many mainland malts.
By the late 1970s, single malt whisky was attracting greater attention from drinkers who wanted to explore individual distilleries rather than simply enjoy blended Scotch.
Highland Park was well positioned to take advantage of this growing interest. Its combination of gentle smoke, sweetness, spice and oak offered a balanced alternative to more intensely peated styles.
1999: Highland Park Enters a New Era with Edrington
Another defining moment arrived in 1999, when Highland Distillers became part of the Edrington Group.
The acquisition brought Highland Park into a business with extensive experience in the Scotch whisky industry and a portfolio of established brands.
In the years that followed, Highland Park placed increasing emphasis on its own identity, drawing inspiration from Orkney’s remarkable cultural heritage.
The islands’ Norse connections provided a particularly rich source of inspiration. Viking history, mythology and ancient legends became prominent features of the brand’s visual identity and limited-edition releases.
This approach gave Highland Park a distinctive personality in an increasingly competitive single malt market.
Yet beneath the striking packaging and stories of Norse gods and warriors remained the same essential attraction: a whisky whose character was shaped by its island home and the traditions of its distillery.
Legends from The Whisky Vault: Exceptional Highland Park Bottlings
With more than two centuries of history behind it, Highland Park has produced some remarkable whisky. For collectors, however, the real fascination often lies in vintage releases and independent bottlings that preserve the character of spirit distilled decades ago.
From classic dumpy bottles to rare sherry casks and highly limited commemorative releases, the following selection offers a glimpse into the extraordinary world of Highland Park collectables:
Highland Park 1959 21 Year Old — James Grant 1980 Dumpy Bottling
The first entry is a true vintage treasure: an exceptionally rare Highland Park distilled in 1959 and bottled in 1980 by James Grant & Co.
Matured for 21 years, this classic old-style dumpy bottling was imported into Italy by Ferraretto of Milan. Its impressive reputation among enthusiasts is reflected in its 95-point score from WhiskyFun, making it a particularly noteworthy release for collectors of historic Highland Park.
The Whisky Vault price: net £3,333.33 ($4,437.98, ₹4,21,277)
Highland Park 1961 16 Year Old — Cadenhead’s 1977 Dumpy Bottling
Distilled in April 1961 and bottled in December 1977, this Highland Park 16 Year Old represents another fascinating piece of the distillery’s vintage history.
Released by the respected independent bottler Wm Cadenhead at 80 proof, it comes in the distinctive dumpy bottle format that has become so recognisable among collectors of older Scotch whisky.
Its appeal lies not only in the age of the spirit but also in its connection to an earlier era of independent bottling, when individual releases offered enthusiasts a different perspective on established distilleries.
The Whisky Vault price: net £3,333.33 ($4,437.98, ₹4,21,277)
Highland Park 1961 36 Year Old — The Dragon, 1997 Bottling
Few Highland Park releases capture the distillery’s character and heritage quite like The Dragon.
Distilled in 1961, this single malt matured for 36 years in sherry cask number 4493 before being bottled in 1997 by S & JD Robertson Group Ltd of Orkney.
With just 216 bottles produced, it is an exceptionally limited release, and its reported 91-point WhiskyFun score adds to its appeal among vintage whisky enthusiasts.
The name itself draws inspiration from Orkney’s Norse heritage. The Dragon references a twelfth-century carving associated with Norse Crusaders at Maeshowe, the remarkable prehistoric chambered tomb dating to approximately 3000 BC.
This bottling brings together three elements that make Highland Park so compelling: mature island spirit, sherry-cask influence and the history of Orkney itself.
The Whisky Vault price: net £2,500 ($3,328.49, ₹3,15,958)
Highland Park 1962 35 Year Old — John Goodwin Retirement Bottling, 1997
Created to mark the retirement of company chairman John Goodwin, this rare Highland Park release carries a personal story alongside its impressive age.
Distilled in 1962, the whisky spent 35 years maturing before being bottled in October 1997, shortly before Goodwin’s retirement. The 35-year maturation period also reflected the length of his service with the company.
Bottled at a natural cask strength of 50% ABV, this commemorative release was limited to just 300 bottles.
Its combination of mature Highland Park spirit, a meaningful occasion and a restricted production run makes it a particularly interesting piece of distillery history.
The 94-point WhiskyFun score further underlines its standing among enthusiasts of old and collectible single malts.
The Whisky Vault price: net £4,583.33 ($6,102.22, ₹5,79,256)
Highland Park 1965 37 Year Old — John Scott’s 2003 Bottling
This extraordinary 37-year-old Highland Park was distilled in 1965 and bottled in 2003 for John Scott & Miller Ltd under its John Scott’s label.
Its background is particularly interesting for collectors. The release belongs to a group of just 12 single casks laid down during the 1960s by Robert Firth Miller, the former proprietor of John Scott & Miller Ltd.
The John Scott name also has historical significance: it was the original name of the business and appeared on shop bottlings of Highland Park until 1955.
Drawn from sherry cask number 8409, the whisky was bottled at a natural strength of 42.2% ABV. Just 75 bottles were produced in conjunction with Duncan Taylor & Co. Ltd.
A combination of extended maturation, sherry-cask character and a fascinating independent-bottling history makes this a particularly compelling addition to the Highland Park archive.
The Whisky Vault price: net £4,166.67 ($5,547.48, ₹5,26,598)
Highland Park 1966 — Berry Bros. & Rudd, 1979 Bottling
Bottled by the historic wine and spirits merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd in 1979, this vintage Highland Park offers another glimpse into an earlier chapter of Scotch whisky.
The spirit was distilled in 1966 and released in a traditional format containing 26⅔ fluid ounces at 75 proof.
Its 93-point WhiskyFun score makes it a noteworthy bottling for those interested in the older independent releases that helped build Highland Park’s reputation among collectors.
Bottlings of this era are particularly appealing because they preserve not only the whisky itself but also the presentation and conventions of an earlier period in Scotch whisky history.
The Whisky Vault price: net £4,166.67 ($5,547.48, ₹5,26,598)
Highland Park 1968 27 Year Old — Hart Brothers Finest Collection
Distilled in 1968 and bottled in the mid-1990s, this 27-year-old Highland Park formed part of the Hart Brothers Finest Collection.
Originally imported for the Portuguese market, the release has attracted attention from collectors for its age, provenance and reported 93-point score from WhiskyFun.
Independent bottlings such as this offer an alternative way to explore the character of Highland Park, with individual casks and maturation histories providing a perspective beyond the distillery’s standard releases.
For enthusiasts of vintage Orkney whisky, it represents an intriguing example of the distillery’s spirit after more than a quarter-century in oak.
The Whisky Vault price: net £1,208.33 ($1,608.76, ₹1,52,713)
Highland Park 1970 30 Year Old — SMWS 4.73
Bottled for The Scotch Malt Whisky Society in June 2000, this 30-year-old Highland Park was distilled in March 1970 and matured in a single Society cask.
Released at a natural strength of 52.5% ABV, it is described on its label as “As good as it gets” — a bold endorsement for a whisky that had spent three decades developing its character.
The dark sherry influence associated with this bottling makes it particularly appealing to enthusiasts who appreciate richer, more concentrated styles of mature single malt.
Its single-cask origin also adds to its individuality, offering a snapshot of Highland Park that cannot necessarily be replicated in another release.
The Whisky Vault price: net £2,916.67 ($3,883.24, ₹3,68,618)
Highland Park 1976 18 Year Old — Cadenhead’s 1994 Oddbins Cask 4646
Distilled in September 1976, this Highland Park matured for 18 years before being bottled by Wm Cadenhead in October 1994, specifically for the wine and spirits retailer Oddbins.
Drawn from single cask number 4646, it was released at a natural strength of 59% ABV.
The bottling reportedly achieved an impressive 94 points from WhiskyFun and has remained a sought-after release among enthusiasts of independent Highland Park bottlings.
Its combination of cask-specific character, substantial bottling strength and a direct connection to a notable British retailer makes it an especially interesting example of the vintage whisky trade.
The Whisky Vault price: net £3,333.33 ($4,437.98, ₹4,21,277)
Highland Park 20 Year Old — John Rebus 20th Anniversary Edition
Not every collectible Highland Park release is defined solely by its age or maturation history. Some have an equally compelling cultural connection.
This special 20-year-old single cask was bottled in 2007 to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of Inspector John Rebus, the celebrated detective created by Scottish crime novelist Ian Rankin.
Just 150 bottles were drawn from cask number 3272, which Rankin personally selected during a visit to the distillery. The bottles were then given to the author to distribute as he saw fit, with a number reportedly benefiting charitable causes and auctions.
This particular example comes with a distinctive oak presentation case signed by Rankin and identified as bottle number one. According to information supplied by the original owner, the signature was obtained at an exclusive London event in 2007, marking it as the first bott

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Torabhaig Balloon-Flown Bottle Sells for £1,700 at Auction A ...

2026-11-03T23:01:15Z

Torabhaig Balloon-Flown Bottle Sells for £1,700 at Auction

A bottle of Torabhaig Founders Reserve that crossed the Atlantic by hydrogen balloon has sold at auction for £1,700($2,279.63, ₹2,16,359), making it the most valuable bottle of the Skye single malt ever sold. The full hammer price will be donated to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig, the Gaelic college located a few miles from the distillery on the Isle of Skye.
“That bottle went a very long way to support us at home,” said Emma Sprackling, senior brand manager at Torabhaig. “We’re grateful to everyone who bid, and to Whisky Auctioneer for helping turn an extraordinary journey into ongoing support for Gaelic language and culture on Skye.”
The bottle, numbered 001 of 100, flew aboard the Atlantic Explorer from Maine to Luxembourg in June. The journey marked the first successful manned transatlantic balloon crossing to use only hydrogen for lift.
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All three pilots – Alicia Hempleman-Adams, Bert Padelt and Peter Cuneo – signed the bottle on landing.
Whisky Auctioneer ran the sale and waived its seller’s commission.
The remaining 99 bottles of Founders Reserve did not make the flight, and no further bottles will be produced. Following a pre-sale to members of The Torabhaig Club, the remaining bottles will go on general sale at torabhaig.com from Monday 9 November, priced at £200 ($268.19, ₹25,454) each.
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Every bottle will include a postcard of the flown bottle, signed by the three pilots. All proceeds will go to Sabhal Mòr Ostaig.
Torabhaig sits on the Sleat Peninsula on the Isle of Skye. Located off Scotland’s west coast, it is only the second licensed distillery on the island, established in 2017, and produces island-style peated single malt scotch whisky.
The distillery operates alongside Talisker as one of just two single malt producers on Skye. Its whiskies are produced by seasoned whisky maker Neil MacLeod Mathieson alongside a small team of local distillers, all trained in-house.
The brand’s portfolio includes its Legacy Series of limited releases and its first permanent core expression, Taigh, launched earlier this year. Pronounced “Tie”, Taigh means house in Scottish Gaelic, but for Torabhaig it also means “home,” reflecting the distillery’s place on the Sleat Peninsula.
Read the full article at Torabhaig Balloon-Flown Bottle Sells for £1,700 at Auction

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The Macallan A Night on Earth Finale Honours New Orleans The ...

2026-11-03T22:22:00Z

The Macallan A Night on Earth Finale Honours New Orleans

The Macallan has launched A Night on Earth, The Finale, the fifth and final release in its annual A Night on Earth collection. The special edition single malt scotch whisky pays tribute to the music, culture and character of New Orleans, and rolls out globally from 3 November 2026 at £96 ($128.73, ₹12,218).
The series has become a recurring fixture in The Macallan’s calendar, with each edition drawing on New Year traditions from a different part of the world.
This final chapter turns its focus to New Orleans, taking cues from the city’s music, communities and sense of celebration.
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“A Night on Earth has become a cherished collection celebrating New Year traditions from around the world, and it is fitting that the final chapter honours New Orleans – a city renowned for its creativity, resilience and extraordinary sense of community,” said Jaume Ferras, creative director at The Macallan.
The whisky was matured in a combination of sherry-seasoned American and European oak casks. It was crafted by The Macallan’s Whisky Mastery Team to echo the flavors and aromas of the city.
New Orleans is widely regarded as the birthplace of the cocktail, a heritage the brand sought to reflect in the liquid.
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“With A Night on Earth, The Finale, we wanted to capture the unmistakable warmth and character of New Orleans through flavour,” said Diane Stuart, senior whisky maker at The Macallan. “By carefully balancing our exceptional sherry seasoned American and European oak casks, we have created a whisky that is vibrant, harmonious and unapologetically bold.”
Bottled at 43% ABV, the whisky carries a vibrant brass color that nods to the city’s brass bands.
According to the official notes from the brand, the expression opens with orange peel and warming spices of cinnamon, clove and star anise. The palate reveals nutmeg, creamy vanilla, almond praline and rich spice, balanced with dried fruit and cherries, before a finish of sweet oak and soft spice.
For the packaging, The Macallan collaborated with New Orleans-born artist Hill Spriggins, who created three artworks drawing on her memories of New Year’s in the city.
“Growing up in New Orleans, New Year’s Eve was always filled with music, movement and an incredible sense of togetherness,” said Hill Spriggins, visual artist and painter.
A Night on Earth, The Finale is available via themacallan.com, The Macallan Estate Boutique and selected UK stockists including Harrods, Selfridges, Fortnum & Mason, Berry Bros. & Rudd, Master of Malt and The Whisky Shop.
Read the full article at The Macallan A Night on Earth Finale Honours New Orleans

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5 Indian Single Malts to Make Your Diwali Gifting Extra Special ...

2026-11-03T21:43:10Z

5 Indian Single Malts to Make Your Diwali Gifting Extra Special

This Diwali, go beyond the usual gifting choices and celebrate the festive spirit with a selection of distinguished Indian single malts. From rich, complex expressions to innovative cask finishes, these whiskies bring together craftsmanship, character, and the evolving story of Indian whisky-making.
1. GianChand Indian Single Malt Whisky – A Taste of Himalayan Craftsmanship
Crafted in the picturesque Himalayan foothills of Jammu, GianChand Indian Single Malt Whisky is a celebration of Indian heritage and thoughtful craftsmanship. Its distinctive character brings together fruity and spicy notes with hints of vanilla, caramel and gentle peat.
With its smooth, well-rounded profile, it makes a sophisticated festive gift for those who appreciate homegrown spirits with a story to tell.
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Price: ₹4,490 / £99.99 / $89.99
2. Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Whisky – For the Curious Whisky Explorer
Madhuca III is a great choice for gifting.
For someone who enjoys discovering unconventional flavours, Crazy Cock Indian Single Malt Whisky makes for an intriguing gifting choice. Its collection explores distinctive Indian ingredients and innovative cask finishes, including the use of Madhuca (Mahua) casks.
Bringing together traditional distilling techniques and a contemporary approach to whisky-making, it is an interesting addition to any whisky enthusiast’s collection.
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Price: ₹3,590–₹6,370 / £115+ / $155+
3. Rampur 1943 Virasat – A Gift Rooted in Legacy
A tribute to the heritage of Rampur Distillery, established in 1943, Rampur 1943 Virasat brings tradition and craftsmanship together in a distinctive expression. Matured in American Bourbon Barrels and finished in Ruby Port Pipes, it offers layers of sweet vanilla, caramel, toasted oak, tropical fruits and red berries.
An elegant choice for those who appreciate heritage, depth and a memorable gifting experience.
Price: ₹3,500–₹4,500 / £90+ / $69.99
4. Rampur Barrel Blush – A Celebration of Distinctive Flavours
Adding a unique twist to festive gifting, Rampur Barrel Blush stands out for its distinctive maturation journey. Matured in American Bourbon Barrels and finished in Australian Shiraz Wine Casks, this expression brings together the character of single malt whisky with the influence of wine cask finishing.
It is an appealing choice for those who enjoy exploring layered flavours and contemporary Indian single malts.
Price: ₹10,000–₹11,500 / $74.99 / £64.30
5. Rampur Asava – An Expression of Indian Innovation
For a gift that celebrates India’s innovative spirit, Rampur Asava is a distinctive pick. Matured in American Bourbon Barrels and finished in Indian Cabernet Sauvignon casks, it showcases an interesting blend of international maturation techniques and Indian influence. Its flavour profile features tropical fruits, apricot, blackberry and plum, complemented by honey sweetness, vanilla and spicy oak.
A thoughtful choice for whisky lovers who appreciate experimentation and originality.
Price: ₹8,400–₹10,000 / $89.99 / £66.99
A Festive Toast to Indian Craftsmanship
This Diwali, make gifting more meaningful with Indian single malts that celebrate heritage, innovation, and the artistry of whisky-making.
Whether it is the Himalayan character of GianChand, the experimental spirit of Crazy Cock or the distinctive expressions from Rampur, each bottle offers a different story worth celebrating.
Read the full article at 5 Indian Single Malts to Make Your Diwali Gifting Extra Special

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Signatory Vintage Port Dundas 2010 15 Year Old Un-Chillfiltered ...

2026-11-03T21:03:11Z

Signatory Vintage Port Dundas 2010 15 Year Old Un-Chillfiltered Collection Review

Read the full article at Signatory Vintage Port Dundas 2010 15 Year Old Un-Chillfiltered Collection Review

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6 Award-Winning 18 Year Old Scotch Whiskies Under $180 Credit: ...

2026-11-03T20:21:42Z

6 Award-Winning 18 Year Old Scotch Whiskies Under $180

Credit: Glenmorangie
An 18-year age statement is something of a milestone in Scotch whisky, which makes these bottles a popular choice for gifts and celebrations. Many aged whisky lovers also look to 18-year-olds for punchy oak influence, which extended time in the cask can help develop.
But, with the brilliance of 18 year old Scotch whisky also comes the expense. So, if you are going to spend a lot of money on a bottle of whisky, which one should you choose?
I picked out six 18-year-old Scotches that won medals between 2024 and 2026 and typically sell for under $180 in the US and £130 in the UK. Their awards include medals from the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, the International Spirits Challenge and the World Whiskies Awards.
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So, let’s take a look. Let us know which one you would pick up.
Chivas Regal 18 Year Old
Price: $75 / £68
Award: Double Platinum, ASCOT Awards 2026; 1st Place, Best Blended Scotch Whisky 18 Year Old (89.5 points), International Whisky Competition 2025; Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026; Gold, International Spirits Challenge 2026
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It is no secret that we love Chivas Regal 18 Year Old. For the price, I honestly think it is one of the best value 18 year old whiskies in Scotch, even for a blend.
Chivas Regal 18 was created in 1997 by Colin Scott, who was the brand’s Master Blender at the time. It is a blend of more than 20 malt and grain whiskies, each aged for at least 18 years, with Strathisla single malt from Speyside at its heart. The whiskies mature mainly in American oak, with some sherry cask influence.
On the nose, you might find dried fruits, buttery toffee, dark chocolate and spice. The palate brings chocolate and floral notes with a little gentle smoke, followed by a long, warm finish. Chivas says the whisky develops more than 85 flavor notes.
In our coverage of the San Francisco results, we picked it out as arguably the best bottle in the Chivas range for flavor against price.
Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old
Price: $110 / £80
Award: Gold (9), The Whiskey Wash Awards 2025; Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024
Johnnie Walker 18 was previously sold as Platinum Label before the brand renamed it in 2017. It is a blend of up to 18 different whiskies from distilleries including Glen Elgin, Cardhu and Blair Athol. Johnnie Walker doesn’t give details of the casks, though they are believed to be a mix of European and American oak.
Johnnie Walker’s official tasting notes include stewed fruit, malty cereal, citrus, almonds, vanilla and tangerine, along with some smoke.
Its Gold comes from our own Whiskey Wash Awards, but the blend also picked up a Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2024. Reviewing it for our 2025 awards, Pete “Jeff Whisky” Jeffery wrote that “this 18 Year Old release stands up and shows it is not a premium blend to be overlooked.”
CRN57 18 Year Old
Price: $88 / £70
Award: Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026
CRN57 is a range of blended malts from Gordon & MacPhail, the family-owned firm behind The Cairn Distillery, which opened in 2022 near Grantown-on-Spey. The name refers to the distillery’s location at 57 degrees north. The 18 Year Old is made from single malts drawn from across Scotland out of Gordon & MacPhail’s vast stocks, and The Cairn presents the range as a hint of the flavors its own whisky may offer in years to come.
You can expect raspberry and strawberry on the nose, followed by milk chocolate, dried banana, blueberries, and lime on the palate. The finish is citrusy with a touch of spice. A fruity wonder, and a nice sneak peek into what The Cairn is doing.
Alongside its Double Gold, it scored 89 points from Whisky Advocate
Wonderful value for money considering the sheer quality of Gordon & Macphail’s cask reserves, for me.
Glenmorangie The Infinita 18 Years Old
Price: $142 / £100
Award: Double Gold and Best Distillers’ Single Malt Scotch 13 to 19 Years, New York World Spirits Competition 2025; Double Gold, San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026; Gold (95 points), New York International Spirits Competition 2026
The Infinita is Glenmorangie’s long-standing 18 Year Old with a new name and packaging, which the distillery introduced in late 2023. The name refers to Glenmorangie’s idea of flavor as an endless landscape. The whisky is aged mainly in ex-bourbon casks, with a portion finished in Oloroso sherry casks.
Tasting notes include honey, caramelized orange, jasmine, lemon blossom, and figs. On the palate, there’s orange marmalade and a polished texture, with a light trail of smoke on the finish.
Alongside the medals above, it also won Silver at the World Whiskies Awards 2026 and the International Spirits Challenge 2026.
It is a beautiful bottle to boot, and a great expression of Glenmorangie’s honeyed, fruity profile.
Glen Scotia 18 Years Old
Price: $139 / £100
Award: Silver, 13 to 20 Years, World Whiskies Awards 2026; Spirit Silver (91 points), International Wine & Spirits Competition 2026
Glen Scotia is one of the few working distilleries in Campbeltown, and the 18 Year Old sits at the older end of its core range. The whisky spends 17 years in refill bourbon casks and refill American oak hogsheads, which are then vatted together and finished for 12 months in first-fill Oloroso sherry casks.
Look for salted caramel, honey, toffee and floral notes, along with pineapple, apricot, sultanas and spice. There is also that typical hint of Campbeltown salinity.
It’s the only Campbeltown whisky on this list, so it’s a good pick if you want to try something from Scotland’s smallest whisky region. I have a lot of time for Glen Scotia.
Highland Park 18 Year Old
Price: $170 / £128
Award: Platinum (96 points), San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2024; Silver, Islands (Non-Islay) 13 to 20 Years, World Whiskies Awards 2026
Highland Park is based in Kirkwall on Orkney. The distillery uses peat from Orkney, which contains a lot of heather, and matures the 18 Year Old in a high proportion of first-fill sherry-seasoned European and American oak casks.
On the palate, you might find cherries, dark chocolate, toffee and marzipan, with the classic Highland Park heather honey and aromatic peat smoke.
The whisky has a long record of praise, and Highland Park notes that American spirits critic F. Paul Pacult has named it the Best Spirit in the World on more than one occasion. At around $177, it’s the most expensive bottle on this list, and it’s the only peated one.
It won’t hit you in the face with peat, though. It is a gentle, floral peat that elevates the sweeter notes in the whisky.
Which 18-Year-Old Should You Pick Up?
If you want the most affordable option, Chivas Regal 18 is the cheapest bottle here at around $75 (£68), and it has picked up medals at several competitions this year. Johnnie Walker 18 Year Old is another great value blended pick.
CRN57 18 is worth a look if you’re curious about The Cairn, while Glenmorangie The Infinita and Glen Scotia 18 are good choices for single malt drinkers. If you enjoy a little smoke, Highland Park 18 is the only peated whisky on the list. If I were to pick just one single malt to buy, Infinita would be my pick.
Have you tried any of these, and which 18-year-old Scotch would you choose as a gift? Let us know in the comments.
Read the full article at 6 Award-Winning 18 Year Old Scotch Whiskies Under $180

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Barrel Global Unveils John Wick Kentucky Straight Bourbon Barrel ...

2026-11-03T19:40:35Z

Barrel Global Unveils John Wick Kentucky Straight Bourbon

Barrel Global, the US-based barrel ownership platform, has unveiled an officially licensed Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey inspired by the John Wick film franchise. The release marks the first in a planned collection of premium spirits, with online pre-orders opening on 3 November 2026 at a recommended retail price of US$54.99-59.99 (£42-46).
“It has been a joy to work with the team at Lionsgate to develop this unique and collectible range of John Wick spirits, inspired by the genre-defining franchise that we’re all huge fans of,” said George Koutsakis, founder of Barrel Global. He added: “Storytelling in a bottle, our spirits will offer a taste of John Wick’s coded, underground world of revenge and redemption.”
The debut expression is a seven-year-old Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey (750ml), bottled at 45% ABV. It is distilled by Bardstown Bourbon Company, a custom distilling specialist based in Kentucky.
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The bourbon is finished in cherry and sherry wood. According to the brand, the cherry wood references a rooftop scene set at The Continental Hotel in Osaka in the fourth film, while the sherry wood nods to climactic moments set in Paris and Rome.
Design details run throughout the packaging. The label depicts cherry blossoms falling around glass shattered by a gunshot, which the brand says represents the character’s pursuit of peace through violence. The neck label features the font used to issue bounties to assassins within the franchise.
The deal was facilitated by IMG Licensing, granting Barrel Global the rights to manage production and distribution of John Wick-inspired spirits across Asia, Europe and South America.
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Debbie Olshan, senior director of consumer products at Lionsgate, said: “We’re excited to give fans a new way to immerse themselves in the world of John Wick through this collaboration with Barrel Global.”
John Wick ranks among the highest-grossing franchises in Lionsgate’s portfolio. Alongside four films, it includes the television series The Continental and an upcoming film starring Donnie Yen as Caine, which has wrapped production.
The collection has been developed for collectors, enthusiasts and spirits consumers, combining craftsmanship with the franchise’s neo-noir aesthetic.
Read the full article at Barrel Global Unveils John Wick Kentucky Straight Bourbon

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Indian Whisky Keeps Winning Medals, But Can You Buy It? 5 Award ...

2026-11-03T19:01:27Z

Indian Whisky Keeps Winning Medals, But Can You Buy It? 5 Award Winners on US and UK Shelves

Indian single malt has done well at the major spirits competitions this year. At the International Wine & Spirits Competition 2026 alone, 34 Indian whiskies won medals. As the category continues to grow, a larger number of producers are grabbing medals at competitions. The problem for many of our readers, however, is availability. When I rounded up seven award-winning Indian single malts in September, several of them were difficult to find outside India.
So, today I’ve picked five Indian single malts that have each won at least one major award and that you can find at retailers in both the US and the UK. They offer good value for money and a well-rounded look at what Indian single malt can be.
Why Some Indian Whiskies Are Hard to Find
Many Indian single malts are released in India first, and some are still only sold there for now. Crazy Cock Madhuca III launched in Mumbai, Gurgaon, Bengaluru, and Goa, and DŌAAB Expression 02 launched in Gurugram, with both still difficult to find outside India. When we looked for GianChand, we found a US retailer selling it but could not find one in the UK.
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Prices can also vary quite a bit within India, because local taxes differ hugely from state to state. For drinkers in the US and the UK, the bottles to rely on are the ones that have been officially launched or imported in both countries.
Paul John Nirvana, 40% ABV, $35 / £30
Paul John launched Nirvana in 2019 as the entry-level whisky in its core range, and founder Paul P. John described it at the time as a whisky “for those willing and keen to experience single malts, especially for the first time.”
It is made in Goa from six-row Indian barley, distilled in copper pot stills, and reportedly matured for at least three years in ex-bourbon American oak casks before it is bottled, unpeated, at 40% ABV. Approachable and gentle, you’ll find caramel, leather, and stewed fruit on the nose, with lemon, honey, orchard fruits, toffee, and floral notes.
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Paul John Nirvana won Gold at the ADI International Spirits Competition and Bronze at the World Whiskies Awards, following a Double Gold at the 2024 SIP Awards.
Indri Agneya, 46% ABV, $63 / £47
You may have an easier time finding Agneya in the US or the UK than in India. It is sold in more than 40 countries, including both of those markets, but it seems to be difficult to track down in India itself.
Agneya is Indri’s first peated release, made at the distillery in Indri, Haryana, from six-row barley grown in Rajasthan and peated to 25 ppm with Scottish peat. It is matured in first-fill ex-bourbon and PX sherry casks and bottled at 46% ABV without chill filtration or added color. The name means “belonging to fire” in Sanskrit. It is a smoky, tropical wonder. Expect green apple and honey on the nose, followed by vanilla, toffee, cooked apple, sultana, baking spice, and a little smoke.
Agneya was named Indian Single Malt Whisky of the Year at the London Spirits Competition this year. It also won Double Gold at ADI, Gold at the World Whiskies Awards, and Silver at the IWSC.
Amrut Fusion, 50% ABV, $65 / £50
In 2010, Jim Murray scored Amrut Fusion 97 out of 100 and named it the “Third Finest Whisky in the World,” a result that brought Indian single malt to the attention of a lot of drinkers outside India. Despite the controversy Murray faced in 2020 over sexist language in his reviews, retailers still quote the 2010 result today.
The name comes from its two barleys, as Fusion is made in Bengaluru from 75% unpeated Indian barley and 25% peated Scottish barley. The two are distilled and matured separately, then married together in American oak before bottling at 50% ABV. You’ll find dark chocolate, vanilla, oak, fruit, and coffee, with some peat smoke running through it.
Since then, Fusion has won Gold and World Whisky of the Year at the 2019 Bartender Spirits Awards, Double Gold at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, and Silver at the International Spirits Challenge this year.
It is one of Amrut’s core bottles and is widely available in the UK and the US.
Godawan 02 Fruit & Spice, 46% ABV, $61 / £61
Godawan 02 scored 97 points at the Bartender Spirits Awards 2026, the top score among the Indian whiskies in the competition, and was named Indian Single Malt Whisky of the Year and Spirit of the Year India.
Diageo India makes Godawan at its distillery in Alwar, Rajasthan, where summer temperatures go above 100°F. According to the brand, 02 is matured in cherry wood casks, and part of the whisky is then moved into bourbon barrels treated with two Indian botanicals, Rasna and Jatamansi. However, the UK version is not treated with the botanicals.
When Phil Dwyer reviewed it for us, he found fudge, toffee, raisins, orange liqueur, and cinnamon, with apple, pear, cherry, and toffee on the palate.
It also won Gold at the World Whisky Masters 2026. Diageo India launched Godawan in the UK in December 2024, and in the US you can find 02 at online retailers.
Rampur Barrel Blush, 45% ABV, $88 / £61
The “Blush” in the name refers to the pinkish tint the whisky picks up from its Australian Shiraz finishing casks. Barrel Blush is made at Radico Khaitan’s Rampur Distillery in Uttar Pradesh, in the foothills of the Himalayas, which dates back to 1943.
It is first matured in American bourbon barrels and then finished in Shiraz casks before being bottled at 45% ABV without chill filtration. Expect floral honey and cereal on the nose, with baking spice and oak toward the finish.
Barrel Blush won Gold, with 90 points, at the Bartender Spirits Awards 2026. It launched in the UK in October 2024 before rolling out to Europe and the US, where Radico Khaitan announced nationwide distribution in February 2025.
Which One Should You Try?
If you are new to Indian single malt, Paul John Nirvana is an easy, unpeated place to start. If you like a little smoke, Indri Agneya and Amrut Fusion are both made with peated barley, and Fusion is bottled at a higher strength of 50% ABV.
Godawan 02 is the one to pick if you are curious about cherry wood casks, and it was the top-scoring Indian whisky at this year’s Bartender Spirits Awards. Rampur Barrel Blush is worth a look if you enjoy whiskies finished in wine casks.
All five are sold in both the US and the UK, so you can use The Whiskey Wash Compare to find the best price near you. Have you tried any of these, or is there an Indian single malt you have struggled to find outside India? Let us know in the comments.
Read the full article at Indian Whisky Keeps Winning Medals, But Can You Buy It? 5 Award Winners on US and UK Shelves

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Gamber Valley Launches Two New Indian Single Malts Alcobrew ...

2026-11-02T17:59:47Z

Gamber Valley Launches Two New Indian Single Malts

Alcobrew Distilleries India Limited has launched two new permanent expressions in its Gamber Valley Indian Single Malt Whisky range, named Pravah: and Tapah:. The whiskies arrived this festive season and are distilled, matured, and bottled at the company’s distillery in Solan, Himachal Pradesh.
Both expressions are made with Indian malted barley and water with Himalayan character. They are matured in ex-bourbon barrels and bottled at 46% ABV.
Pravah: is an unpeated, ex-bourbon-matured malt, while Tapah: is a peated, ex-bourbon-matured malt. Tapah: is positioned as an early entrant in the emerging Himalayan-origin peated Indian single malt segment.
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The two whiskies form the core of the brand’s portfolio. Gamber Valley debuted in June 2026 with two small-batch releases, Private Edition 1 and The Vault Series.
The first phase of the launch covers Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Himachal Pradesh. The 750ml bottles are available across select markets from November 2026.
Pravah: carries a price range of ₹3,600–₹5,500 (US$41–62 / £32–48). Tapah: is priced between ₹4,300 and ₹7,500 (US$49–85 / £38–66). Prices vary by state, depending on local duties and taxes.
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Romesh Pandita, chairman and managing director of Alcobrew Distilleries India Limited, said: “With Pravah: and Tapah:, we are taking that vision a step further by establishing the core expressions of the brand. One flows with seamless elegance, while the other carries an inner fire. Both are unmistakably born in Solan. The festive season offers an ideal occasion to introduce these expressions to consumers.”
Ashutosh Rajput, chief operating officer, described the duo as “an important milestone in the evolution of brand Gamber Valley. We are launching across four states initially but will make it national in the times to come.”
Speaking about the peated expression, Rajput said: “Peated single malt is still finding its voice in India, and that is precisely where we see an exciting opportunity.”
Gamber Valley is produced to the Indian Malt Whisky Association’s standards, using 100% malted barley, copper pot still distillation, and a minimum of three years’ maturation in oak casks in India. The brand scored 92 points at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2026.
According to the official notes from the brand, Pravah: offers layered malt with gentle vanilla, ripe banana, and a soft hint of smoke, closing with warm spice and rich chocolate. Tapah: presents gentle peat with acacia honey and liquorice, leading to a smooth finish of vanilla, warm spice, and milk chocolate.
Read the full article at Gamber Valley Launches Two New Indian Single Malts

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Copper & Kings Expands Into Texas With Johnson Brothers ...

2026-11-02T17:20:47Z

Copper & Kings Expands Into Texas With Johnson Brothers Maverick

Copper & Kings American Brandy, the Louisville distillery driving the modern revival of American brandy, has entered the Texas market through a new distribution agreement with Johnson Brothers Maverick of Texas. The brand’s core portfolio became available across the state on 1 November.
The launch centers on three flagship expressions alongside a bourbon finished in the distillery’s own brandy barrels.
“Texas has a vibrant spirits culture and an appetite for brands with personality,” said Rob Bourdon, owner and CEO of Copper & Kings. “We’re thrilled to join that conversation.”
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Bourdon added that the move is intended to showcase the breadth of the category. “We aim to reveal the possibilities of American brandy, whether it’s in a cocktail, enjoyed neat, or discovered through our brandy barrel-finished bourbon,” he said. “Johnson Brothers Maverick is the perfect partner to connect us with Texas enthusiasts.”
The Texas portfolio leads with Six-Year American Brandy V.S.O.P. The pot-distilled expression is aged six years and bottled at 86 proof, with a suggested retail price of $19.99 (£15).
Next is the Six-Year American Apple Brandy, Bottled-in-Bond. It is produced to the standards of the Bottled-in-Bond Act and carries a suggested retail price of $24.99 (£19).
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Completing the range is the brand’s Straight Bourbon Whiskey. The expression blends straight bourbons aged between five and more than 15 years, then finished for up to three years in Copper & Kings brandy barrels. It is priced at a suggested $29.99 (£23).
The distillery positions the lineup as a gateway for retailers, bartenders, and consumers to explore its style, spanning brandy for classic cocktails, apple brandy served neat, and bourbon shaped by brandy barrel finishing.
Founded in 2014, Copper & Kings is based in the NuLu district of Louisville, Kentucky, and has built its reputation on using pot stills to produce brandy from American wine and apples. The distillery’s Texas debut adds a new market for a category that has drawn renewed interest from bartenders seeking alternatives to whiskey and agave spirits.
Texas retailers, bars, and restaurants interested in stocking the range can contact Johnson Brothers Maverick for ordering details. Consumer availability and pricing will vary by location.
Read the full article at Copper & Kings Expands Into Texas With Johnson Brothers Maverick

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5 Japanese Whiskies That No Longer Justify Their Prices — and ...

2026-11-02T16:43:06Z

5 Japanese Whiskies That No Longer Justify Their Prices — and What to Buy Instead

Japanese whisky has spent most of the last decade in short supply. Demand grew much faster than distilleries could lay down aged stock, and some well-known bottles disappeared altogether. Hibiki 17 was discontinued in 2018, and Hakushu 12 was withdrawn from several markets the same year. Prices have kept rising ever since, with Suntory raising its prices in Japan in 2024 and again in 2026.
So, is there still value to be found in Japanese whisky? Each of the “overrated” whiskies below has a strong reputation, but its price has climbed well past what it offers compared with other bottles on the shelf. The good news is that there are some great alternatives. The five picks below offer better bang for your buck, so you can still enjoy Japanese whisky without overpaying.
Overrated: Yamazaki 18 Year Old, 43%, £575 / $730
Yamazaki 18 has one of the best awards records in Japanese whisky, including Supreme Champion Spirit at the International Spirits Challenge 2025. It has wonderful notes of dark chocolate, stewed fruit, pine resin, plums, ginger and sandalwood.
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A good whisky, absolutely. But the prices have just kept climbing. Around a decade ago, it cost about £170 in the UK ($265 USD), and retailers now ask around £575 and upwards of $730 in the US. Average auction prices sit closer to £360, which makes the retail price even harder to justify.
Instead: Miyagikyo 10 Year Old, 45%, £145 / $180
Nikka brought Miyagikyo 10 Year Old back to the UK in April 2026, making it the distillery’s first age-statement release since 2016. It’s matured in American oak and sherry casks, and the tasting notes include pineapple, mango, fruit cake, and clove.
It’s eight years younger than Yamazaki 18, so this isn’t a direct swap. It is still expensive, sure. But even so, you get an aged Japanese single malt for a fraction of the price.
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Overrated: Hakushu 12 Year Old, 43%, £129 / $160
Hakushu 12 was brought back in 2021 after being discontinued, and it won gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2025. You might find fresh-cut fruit, citrus zest and gentle barley, with a wisp of smoke on the finish.
Around a decade ago, a bottle cost about £80 in the UK and $115 in the US, but the price has risen significantly. It’s a lovely whisky, but at today’s price there are better ways to spend the money.
Instead: Nikka Yoichi Single Malt, 45%, £65 / $54
Yoichi Single Malt is matured in new American oak and sherry casks and made with lightly peated malt. Tasting notes include smoke, sea brine, candied orange, and nutmeg.
It doesn’t carry an age statement, but it’s bottled at a higher strength and costs a lot less than Hakushu 12. If you like Hakushu for its touch of smoke but would like a little more power on the palate, Yoichi is well worth a try.
Overrated: Yamazaki 12 Year Old, 43%, £120 / $150
Yamazaki 12 has a long history of awards. It was the first Japanese whisky to win gold at the International Spirits Challenge in 2003, and it was named Supreme Champion Spirit there in 2024. On the palate, you might find honey, cinnamon, peach and toffee.
Around a decade ago, it cost about £65 in the UK, and it now sells for around £120. It’s still a very good whisky, but it’s hard to call it good value anymore, which is a massive shame.
Instead: Mars Komagatake Single Malt, 45%, £82 / $90
Komagatake is the single malt from Hombo Shuzo’s Mars Shinshu distillery in Nagano, and the core release is bottled at 45%. Tasting notes include apple tea, apricot, and persimmon. It is bright, clean, and lingering.
It’s bottled at a higher strength than Yamazaki 12, and costs noticeably less. It’s a great way to explore a Japanese distillery beyond the big two names.
Overrated: Hibiki Japanese Harmony, 43%, £72 / $73
Hibiki Japanese Harmony is a blend of malt whisky from Yamazaki and Hakushu with grain whisky from Chita, and it won gold at the International Spirits Challenge 2025. You might find rose, lychee and sandalwood on the nose, with honey, candied orange peel and white chocolate on the palate.
When it launched in the UK in 2015, it cost around £54, and it now sells for about £75. That’s a smaller jump than some on this list, but it’s still a lot to pay for a blend with no age statement. The price here is more about the presentation, in my opinion. A beautiful bottle, for sure, but a harder value sell if you’re focusing on the whisky.
Instead: Fuji Single Blended, 43%, £60 / $70
Fuji Single Blended is made entirely from malt and grain whiskies distilled at Kirin’s Fuji Gotemba distillery and matured in ex-bourbon casks. Tasting notes include coconut, dried apricot, peach, and citrus peel.
It’s the same strength as Hibiki Harmony and usually costs a little less. Like Hibiki Harmony, it is light and gentle, making it an easy swap if that is what you’re looking for.
Overrated: Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve, 43%, £67 / $90
Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve is a no-age-statement single malt, matured in a mix of wine, sherry and Mizunara casks. On the palate, you might find strawberry, raspberry, cherry and white peach, with vanilla and cinnamon on the finish.
Around a decade ago, it cost about £40 in the UK and $65 in the US, and it now sells for around £70. It’s a nice introduction to Yamazaki, but it’s now priced like a whisky with an age statement.
Instead: Ichiro’s Malt & Grain World Blended Whisky, 46.5%, £56 / $62
Ichiro’s Malt & Grain is a world blend from Ichiro Akuto, who founded the Chichibu distillery. It combines Chichibu whisky with whiskies from Scotland, Ireland, Canada and the US. Because some of the whisky is distilled outside Japan, it doesn’t meet the Japanese whisky labeling standards introduced in 2021.
That is not a bad thing, though. This is a very well-put-together blend. Tasting notes include apple, pear, honey, and cinnamon.
Japanese Whisky Is Still Worth Exploring
None of the five overrated bottles on this list are bad whiskies, and if prices come down in the years ahead, some of them could be good buys again. Whisky writer Dave Broom told Adam O’Connell at Master of Malt that “price is really important because it’s way too expensive,” and in the same interview he singled out the new Mars and Fuji whiskies as being priced well. Until the rest of the market follows, there’s still plenty of good whisky from Japan to enjoy without overpaying.
Read the full article at 5 Japanese Whiskies That No Longer Justify Their Prices — and What to Buy Instead

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Penelope Straight Rye Whiskey Review Read the full article at ...

2026-11-02T16:03:53Z

Penelope Straight Rye Whiskey Review

Read the full article at Penelope Straight Rye Whiskey Review

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Every Jameson Whiskey Ranked: The Ones Worth Trading Up To And ...

2026-11-02T14:44:13Z

Every Jameson Whiskey Ranked: The Ones Worth Trading Up To And The Ones To Skip

Credit: Irish Distillers
Jameson is one of those whiskeys you can order without giving it a second thought. It’s familiar, reliable, and easy to enjoy. But there’s much more to the brand than its classic green bottle.
From beer cask finishes to premium 18-year-old expressions, the Jameson range has plenty to explore. I’ve ranked 11 bottles from worst to best, based on my own tasting experiences, with one important consideration throughout: value for money. Some of the most expensive releases might surprise you with where they’ve ended up.
11. Jameson Orange, 30%, $25 / £35
Kicking off the list is the only liqueur included, Jameson Orange. Bottled at 30% ABV and flavored with natural orange flavors, it’s designed to be mixed. To be fair, it makes a brilliant highball with lemonade and ice.
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If you’re looking for something to drink neat, though, this falls to the bottom of the list. That said, it certainly has its place.
10. Jameson Caskmates IPA Edition, 40%, $30 / £29
This one comes down to personal taste. I know people who loved this release, but IPA flavors just aren’t my cup of tea.
It has some incredible fruity notes and a clean, hoppy finish, but I just can’t get past the pine notes that really dominate the whiskey. It’s a cool project, but one that never quite ticked my boxes, especially compared to another cask-finished release further up this list.
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9. Jameson 18 Year Old Cask Strength, 55%, $300 / £570
Okay, we’re getting into the premium stuff now. I was lucky enough to try this in Ireland at Midleton’s 200th anniversary celebration. I wanted to love it, but I found it a little overwhelming. The bar was too busy to ask for some water to see if it calmed down, mainly because it was a free bar!
Much like Redbreast 27 Year Old, I found this incredibly spicy, to the point where it drowned out a lot of the flavors I wanted to find.
It’s great to see the distillery releasing a cask-strength expression, but as I’ve said a few times before, just because a whiskey is cask strength doesn’t necessarily mean it’s better.
8. Jameson 18 Year Old, 46%, $180 / £135
A blend of three signature distillates from Midleton Distillery, this 18-year-old is matured for nearly two decades before being finished in fresh American oak for six months.
It has all the hallmarks of classic Irish whiskey: toffee, honey, aromatic spices, and plenty of fresh vanilla and sweetness.
It’s a very interesting whiskey at 46%, but for nearly $200, I think there are better older whiskeys available, including some within the Jameson range itself.
7. Jameson Single Pot Still, 46%, $N/A
We’ve got two whiskeys in a row here that are essentially the same release. I’m not sure whether this one has been discontinued and the bottle below has taken its place, but here we go!
This single pot still whiskey is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon and ex-sherry casks, alongside three types of virgin oak: Irish, American, and European.
It’s very oak-led, with dark chocolate, aromatic spices, vanilla, and an almost autumnal forest floor note. Something a little mulchy, but in a nice way!
It’s becoming quite difficult to find now, so perhaps it has been discontinued. Either way, it’s an interesting bottle if you can track one down.
6. Jameson Distiller’s Batch, 46%, $50 / £66.50
This could be the bottle that has taken over from the one above.
I went through an entire bottle of this earlier in the year and found it a little closed off at first. It took quite a while to really open up.
Matured using the same five types of cask as the Single Pot Still release, the wood notes are very dominant here, with plenty of aromatic spice and a little more toffee.
I decanted the last half of the bottle, and it started to open up in some really positive ways. Cherry, vanilla cream, and milk chocolate notes began to emerge, creating a much more complex, layered whiskey.
Give this bottle some time, and it becomes a very interesting whiskey for the money.
5. Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition, 40%, $35 / £26
A meeting of two wonderful drinks, brought together in one bottle.
This is sweet, toffee-driven Irish whiskey that has been matured in casks previously used to hold Irish stout. I really love this release.
It has a flavor profile of apples, hazelnuts, chocolate, and pot still spices. The finish is sweet, with butterscotch and green tea, a wonderful yet unexpected combination of sweet and earthy flavors.
It’s also widely available through supermarkets and regular grocery stores, rather than just specialist retailers.
An excellent pairing and a well-deserved place in the top five.
4. Jameson Triple Triple, 40%, $30 / £30
A relatively new release in the Jameson range. Triple distilled and triple casked!
This whiskey is matured in a combination of ex-bourbon, ex-sherry, and chestnut wood casks. Irish whiskey regulations permit the use of different types of wood for maturation, giving distillers plenty of room to experiment.
On the nose, it’s layered with fudge, vanilla, and sweet, nutty notes. These continue onto the palate, alongside a slow build of woody spices and sweet green apples.
It’s a really cool bottle. There’s also an orange-label release that uses Malaga wine casks, which is another excellent whiskey.
3. Jameson Irish Whiskey, 40%, $24 / £21
The classic! The famous one! One of the reasons so many of us drink whiskey today.
Jameson Irish Whiskey is a truly legendary bottle. Combining single pot still whiskey and Irish grain whiskey, matured primarily in ex-bourbon casks, it delivers that sweet, easy-drinking profile we all know.
Whether you prefer your whiskey neat or mixed, Jameson is one of the best-value purchases you can make when you need something that just about everyone can enjoy.
2. Jameson Crested, 40%, $54
This is a step up from the regular Jameson Irish Whiskey, with a higher proportion of single pot still whiskey in the blend.
The first time I tried it, I was reminded of melted white chocolate, raisins, and plenty of honey. It’s a richer, creamier take on the classic Jameson profile, and for the additional money, you really can’t beat it.
Crested also has quite a reputation, with older bottlings commanding high prices on the secondary market. But the current release still offers great value and is the sort of whiskey you can simply sit back and enjoy.
1. Jameson Black Barrel, 40%, $37 / £30
And here we have number one! For me, Jameson Black Barrel is the best bottle in the range for your money.
The idea here is to bring together some of the best characteristics of Irish and American whiskey. By taking the classic Jameson recipe and introducing heavily charred American oak casks, the distillery has created something that delivers both great flavor and excellent value.
It retains all those sweet, welcoming notes we love about Jameson, but the stronger American oak influence gives it a rounder, richer, and more pronounced flavor profile.
It’s a whiskey that works in just about every drinking situation you can imagine, whether neat, over ice, or in a cocktail.
And that’s why it takes the top spot.
That’s my Jameson ranking, but how did your favorite bottle fare? Would you put Black Barrel at number one, or is there another Jameson you’d choose instead?
Read the full article at Every Jameson Whiskey Ranked: The Ones Worth Trading Up To And The Ones To Skip

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The Ultimate Islay Whisky? Why Laphroaig 10 Remains the Benchmark ...

2026-11-02T10:59:35Z

The Ultimate Islay Whisky? Why Laphroaig 10 Remains the Benchmark

Laphroaig 10 Year Old isn’t trying to be subtle, nor does it cater to neutral palates, and for sub-£40, it has the best quality of Islay whisky on par with ones that are around £100. It is a bold, unapologetic, and deeply evocative spirit that offers a direct, unadulterated taste of Islay’s rugged coastline. Combining award-winning craftsmanship, century-old methods, and exceptional value for money given the quality of the product, it remains the essential Islay single malt every enthusiast must own.
To step ashore on Islay is to understand that geography dictates flavour. This small, storm-battered island off the west coast of Scotland, renowned globally as the “Queen of the Hebrides”, is home to a concentrated cluster of the world’s most celebrated distilleries. From the heavily sherried drams of the south coast to the lighter, floral malts of the north, Islay produces Scotch with an unmistakable sense of place.
Yet, when connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike debate which single bottle best encapsulates the soul, heritage, and character of the island, one name consistently rises above the rest: Laphroaig 10 Year Old. It is not merely an extraordinary single malt but, in the view of many, the definitive Islay whisky you can buy.
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Islay in a Bottle: Terroir, Tradition, and Technique
What makes a whisky one of the “best” of its region is its ability to translate the environment into liquid form. Laphroaig 10 does this with an authenticity that few distilleries can match. Located directly on Kilbride Bay, the distillery draws its water from the soft, peaty Kilbride Stream and harnesses three distinct traditions to forge its signature profile:
Floor Maltings: Laphroaig is one of the rare remaining Islay distilleries to still hand-turn a portion of its malted barley on traditional stone floor maltings, which exposes the grain directly to sea air.
Cold Peat Smoking: The barley is cold-smoked in ancient kilns using local peat cut from the Glenmachrie bogs, made of a unique blend of ancient moss, heather, and sea kelp that gives the spirit its legendary coastal-medicinal reek.
Maritime Maturation: Aged in charred Bourbon barrels stored in stone dunnage warehouses right on the water’s edge, the whisky inhales Atlantic salt spray for a decade.
Laphroaig 10 Year Old Tasting Notes
In the glass, Laphroaig 10 shines with a warm, sparkling gold hue, forming slow, deliberate trails along the crystal.
The Nose: An immediate, iconic wave of peat smoke hits first, laced with iconic medicinal notes and damp sea spray. As it opens, softer aromas of toasted oak and vanilla sweetness emerge beneath the maritime wave.
The Palate: The entry is a masterclass in balance. A massive hit of peat and sea salt is instantly tempered by a surprising honeyed barley sweetness. Layers of charred oak, ash, and delicate vanilla round out the full-bodied mouthfeel.
The Finish: Intensely long, lingering, and warming. The smoke slowly tapers off, leaving a memorable afterglow of sweet seaweed, cold campfire embers, and brine.
Always follow the DrinkSmart® rules and drink in moderation.
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Read the full article at The Ultimate Islay Whisky? Why Laphroaig 10 Remains the Benchmark

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5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Macallan The Macallan is one ...

2026-11-02T10:23:26Z

5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Macallan

The Macallan is one of those names that even casual whisky drinkers tend to recognize. It’s known for sitting at the very top end of the single malt Scotch market, with a new £140 million distillery and the record for the most expensive bottle of whisky ever sold at auction.
Behind all of its modern success, though, is a fascinating story spanning over 200 years. And, despite the brand’s fame, there are some very interesting facts about The Macallan that have faded into obscurity.
So I read up on The Macallan in a few whisky books and found five things you might not know about, arguably, the most luxurious whisky brand on the planet. In these facts, you will find an unlikely Netflix connection, impressive production tidbits, and a premature dismissal from the world’s first whisky influencer.
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1. Victorian Whisky’s Most Famous Writer Almost Overlooked The Macallan
Between 1885 and 1887, Alfred Barnard, the secretary of the trade journal Harper’s Weekly Gazette, visited every working whisky distillery in Great Britain and Ireland, 162 in total. He wrote them up in The Whisky Distilleries of the United Kingdom, a 500-page book with detailed technical notes on each site, along with sketches and engravings.
Macallan appears as entry No. 73, listed under James Stuart & Co. of Rothes, and the whole entry is just seven lines. Barnard describes a modest farm distillery about a mile from Dandaleith station, producing around 40,000 gallons a year, most of which went to England for blending.
In But the Distilleries Went On, Ian Buxton points out that Barnard considered Macallan “only worthy of a scant seven line entry.” Meanwhile, huge grain distilleries such as Carsebridge and Port Dundas, which were making millions of gallons a year, were given profiles of several pages.
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Given where the distillery is today, it’s hard not to remark on how little attention Barnard paid it.
2. The Macallan’s Chairman Was Also A Screenwriter
Allan Shiach chaired Macallan-Glenlivet from 1979 until the company changed hands in the late 1990s, and for much of that time he was also writing films under the name Allan Scott.
His best-known film is probably Don’t Look Now (1973), the Daphne du Maurier adaptation starring Julie Christie and Donald Sutherland, which he co-wrote with Chris Bryant. His other credits include The Witches (1990) and Regeneration (1997), and more recently he became a co-creator and producer of The Queen’s Gambit on Netflix.
Allan Shiach has been instrumental to the development of Macallan in the modern era. Credit: The Macallan
Shiach didn’t expect to stay in the job for long, and as he told Grampian Online, “I originally agreed to do it for just a year but discovered I was good at the job and enjoyed the complexities of marketing.”
His love of film found its way into the distillery, too. According to Walter Schobert’s The Whisky Treasury, Shiach set up a small round theater at Easter Elchies House, complete with a genuine cinema organ, for a “magic lantern” show about Scotland and The Macallan.
3. News Of A Macallan Takeover Broke On The Day Of A Special Tasting
The Macallan was independently owned and run from the time it was first licensed in 1824 until the summer of 1996. According to Walter Schobert’s The Whisky Treasury, the company invited friends to the estate on July 1, 1996, to taste a limited release of Macallan distilled in 1874, presented in a replica of a 19th-century bottle.
The national newspapers on the same morning carried news of a hostile takeover. Highland Distillers had joined forces with Suntory, which had owned 25% of Macallan since 1986, and bought Rémy Cointreau’s 26% stake. Between them, the two companies now held 51% of the business.
Highland Distillers, working with Suntory, went on to take control of Macallan-Glenlivet later that year, and the deal brought the Kemp family’s ownership of The Macallan to an end.
Three years later, Highland Distillers itself was bought by Edrington and William Grant & Sons, and Edrington still owns The Macallan today.
4. The Macallan Keeps Only A Small Part Of Each Spirit Run
Most Scotch single malt is distilled twice in copper pot stills. The first distillation takes place in the wash still, which turns the fermented liquid, known as wash, into a weaker spirit called low wines. The low wines then go into the spirit still for a second distillation.
Macallan’s stills. Credit: The Macallan
The stillman then divides the spirit coming off this second run into three parts. The first is the foreshots, or heads, and the last is the feints, or tails. The part in between is the middle cut, also known as the heart of the run, and it’s the only part that goes into casks to mature.
Most Scotch malt distilleries keep around 60% of the spirit run as their middle cut. The Macallan, however, fills only 16% of the final distillation into its casks. The brand credits this narrow cut with much of the richness of its spirit.
The new distillery has 12 wash stills and 24 spirit stills. The spirit stills are unusually small and have steeply descending lyne arms, and the distillery still takes the same tight cut.
5. The Old Macallan Distillery Is Being Turned Into Wetlands
An artist’s impression of what the wetlands will look like. Credit: The Macallan
When the new distillery opened in 2018, the old stillhouses, most of which date from the 1960s, were mothballed.
Edrington has since announced a plan called Project Marley, the announcement of which coincided with The Macallan’s 200th anniversary in 2024. Plans reported by the Press and Journal showed several of the old buildings being knocked down completely, with salvaged parts kept on site as artifacts. The cleared ground is being turned into wetlands and naturalized gardens.
Edrington has also worked with EDF Renewables UK on a 2.1MW ground-mounted solar project on the estate. It now supplies around 25% of the distillery’s annual electricity demand, and up to half of its daytime needs at peak output.
Two Centuries On
The Macallan has come a long way since Alfred Barnard gave it seven lines of copy in 1887, and there are, it seems, infinite lesser-known facts about the distillery to be found.
Do you have any Macallan facts in your arsenal? Let us know in the comments.
If you’d like to know more about Allan Shiach, our feature on his time as chairman is well worth reading.
Read the full article at 5 Things You Didn’t Know About The Macallan

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/5-things-you-didnt-know-about-the-macallan-2/

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1792 Launches Full Proof Edition of Sweet Wheat Bourbon Credit: ...

2026-10-30T08:16:59Z

1792 Launches Full Proof Edition of Sweet Wheat Bourbon

Credit: Barton 1792
Barton 1792 Distillery has unveiled 1792 Wheated Full Proof Bourbon, a new 125-proof expression bottled at its original barrel entry proof. The whiskey will roll out from November 2026 in California, Texas, New York, Florida and Illinois.
The release builds on 1792 Sweet Wheat, a wheated bourbon first introduced in 2015.
Sweet Wheat is made with wheat in place of the traditional rye, producing layers of vanilla, caramel, fruit and oak. The new expression takes that same style and raises the proof to intensify its character.
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“Sweet Wheat has built a passionate following because of its distinctly smooth, rounded flavor profile,” said Ross Cornelissen, master distiller at Barton 1792 Distillery. “With Wheated Full Proof, we wanted to take what people already love and show them another side of it. The sweetness is still there, but the higher proof brings greater depth and richness.”
Cornelissen said the expression is designed to appeal to both seasoned drinkers and newcomers. “For someone who already loves high-proof bourbon, this expression offers the kind of bold character they’re looking for,” he said. “For someone just beginning to explore higher proofs, Wheated Full Proof is an inviting way to discover what higher proof bourbon can offer.”
According to the official notes from the brand, the bourbon opens on the nose with soft caramel and dried honey, followed by ripe apricot, vanilla and sweet oak. The palate carries honeyed caramel and ripe stone fruit, accented by tropical notes and balanced oak tannins, while the finish is long and warm with caramelized sugar and oak.
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The wider Sweet Wheat line has collected several awards, including Double Gold at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, Gold at the 2025 International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC) and Gold at the 2026 Denver International Spirits Competition.
Both expressions are distilled and aged at Barton 1792 Distillery in Bardstown, Kentucky. Established in 1879, the site claims to be the oldest fully operating distillery in Bardstown and spans 196 acres, with 30 barrel-aging warehouses and the Tom Moore Spring.
The 1792 name references the year Kentucky became a US state.
1792 Wheated Full Proof will be sold in a 375ml bottle at a suggested retail price of $39.99 (£30).
Read the full article at 1792 Launches Full Proof Edition of Sweet Wheat Bourbon

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/1792-launches-full-proof-edition-of-sweet-wheat-bourbon/

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Rosebank And MacLean & Bruce Team Up To Offer Rare Whisky ...

2026-10-30T07:39:31Z

Rosebank And MacLean & Bruce Team Up To Offer Rare Whisky Experience to Private Clients

Credit: Maclean & Bruce
Rosebank Distillery has partnered with whisky specialist MacLean & Bruce to offer private clients some of the first bottles from Living Cask 1165, a historic Lowland single malt Scotch whisky. Leonard Russell, managing director of Ian Macleod Distillers, and whisky writer Charles MacLean MBE chose the cask at the Falkirk distillery, and the partners announced the release in October 2026.
According to the Falkirk Herald, the pair selected an exceptional cask of Rosebank distilled in 1991, just two years before the distillery closed.
MacLean called the whisky “very impressive” during the selection tasting. He pointed to its oak influence, fruit character and depth. “It’s a typical old-style Rosebank – mellow, well-rounded and elegant,” he added.
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Under Rosebank’s Living Cask model, collectors can draw bottles on request. The rest of the spirit stays in the cask and keeps maturing. Staff will hand-bottle, label and number each bottle at the distillery, and MacLean and Rosebank distillery manager Neil Bulloch will sign every one.
Buyers can attend an event at Rosebank in December. There, they can collect their bottles, taste the whisky and meet the team. Rosebank will ship bottles directly to buyers who cannot attend.
Vikki Bruce, managing director of MacLean & Bruce, said: “Rosebank holds a very particular place in the history of Scotch whisky, and it is a pleasure to be working with the distillery on this release.”
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She added: “Our clients value provenance and authenticity, and the opportunity to see their whisky bottled, numbered and signed at Rosebank adds another dimension to what is already a remarkable single malt.”
William Ovens, head of global travel retail and private clients at Ian Macleod Distillers, said: “Cask 1165 stood out immediately for its remarkable quality and character.”
“We are delighted to be working with MacLean & Bruce to introduce this release to their private clients,” Ovens continued.
Rosebank built its name on triple distillation and traditional worm-tub condensers. That process produced an elegant Lowland style with floral and fruity notes. The distillery shut in 1993. Ian Macleod Distillers bought the site in 2017 and restarted production in June 2023 after a major restoration.
In 2025, Rosebank 31 Year Old won Best in Show – Whisk(e)y at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
Bruce established MacLean & Bruce in 2013 with Charles MacLean MBE. The company provides luxury whisky travel experiences, bespoke bottlings, private casks and premium experiences across Scotland to international markets.
Allocation is limited, and bottles are available only through MacLean & Bruce. The partners have not announced a price.
Read the full article at Rosebank And MacLean & Bruce Team Up To Offer Rare Whisky Experience to Private Clients

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Milam & Greene Rounds Out 2026 Wildlife Collection With Texas ...

2026-10-30T06:22:09Z

Milam & Greene Rounds Out 2026 Wildlife Collection With Texas Bourbon

Milam & Greene Whiskey has released Wildlife Desert Marigold, a seven-year-and-eight-month-old bourbon distilled and aged entirely at its Blanco, Texas, distillery. The expression is the final release in the brand’s 2026 Wildlife Collection and is limited to just 288 bottles drawn from three barrels.
The bourbon marks a departure from Milam & Greene’s signature approach of blending whiskeys distilled in both Texas and Kentucky. Instead, Desert Marigold showcases the brand’s own Texas pot-distilled bourbon.
Named for the golden wildflower native to western Texas, the release celebrates the resilience of the state’s natural landscape. The flower thrives in rocky soil, extreme heat and drought, while providing nectar and pollen for pollinators.
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The expression continues the Wildlife Collection’s focus on Texas nature. It also extends the brand’s concept of “Texification”, its term for the way the state’s intense heat and dramatic shifts in temperature and humidity transform whiskey as it matures.
Desert Marigold was distilled from a mashbill of 70% corn, 22% malted rye and 8% malted barley. The whiskey draws from three barrels filled in December 2018 and January 2019.
Each barrel matured in Independent Stave casks with medium toast and a No. 3 char on the south side of Rickhouse No. 1. The maturation period included an especially warm September before harvest, which helped build the bourbon’s oak character and sweetness.
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The whiskey was harvested on 5 October 2026 and bottled the following day at 124.2 proof (62.1% ABV).
According to the official notes from the brand, the mahogany-colored bourbon offers aromas of cinnamon rolls, butterscotch, maple syrup and spiced apple cider. The palate features caramel, crème brûlée, almond and cocoa, with a finish of lingering maple sweetness and cooling mint.
“We created Desert Marigold to show what our Texas-distilled bourbon can become when we let the Hill Country climate shape it over time,” said Rikk Munroe, master whiskey maker at Milam & Greene. “We typically bring together whiskeys from different places to create our blends, but these three barrels gave us an opportunity to tell a distinctly Texas story. Like the flower, this bourbon has developed its character in demanding conditions.”
The bourbon is available online through the Milam & Greene website and Flaviar, as well as in person at the brand’s tasting room in Blanco, Texas. It carries a suggested retail price of $149.99 (£112).
Read the full article at Milam & Greene Rounds Out 2026 Wildlife Collection With Texas Bourbon

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Woodford Reserve Unveils Double Oaked Rye Whiskey Credit: ...

2026-10-30T05:44:32Z

Woodford Reserve Unveils Double Oaked Rye Whiskey

Credit: Woodford Reserve
Woodford Reserve has unveiled Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Rye Whiskey, a new permanent expression that extends its double-barreling process to the rye category. The whiskey launches nationally in the US, priced at a suggested retail of $54.99 (£42) for a 750ml bottle.
The release builds on the brand’s Double Oaked Bourbon, taking fully matured Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey and re-barreling it into a custom-crafted second oak barrel for up to 12 months. That second barrel is heavily toasted and lightly charred to extract additional flavors from the wood.
“Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Rye is where Rye meets the richness of Double Oaked,” said master distiller Elizabeth McCall. “We are bringing that same meticulous attention to barrel finishing that defined our bourbon over to the rye category, creating an unexpected, complex, and incredibly flavorful whiskey,” McCall added.
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Bottled at 90.4 proof (45.2% ABV), the expression is classified as a Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey finished in a second new oak barrel.
According to the official notes from the brand, Double Oaked Rye presents a rich mahogany color, with flavors of roasted espresso, caramel, lemon custard, and candied pecan.
The new rye follows the template established by the brand’s double-barreled bourbon. Woodford Reserve released its standard Distiller’s Select bourbon in the mid-1990s under Brown-Forman, and it wasn’t until February 2012 that Double Oaked was released as a natural extension of the brand’s flagship.
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That bourbon helped popularize a technique now widely adopted across American whiskey. When the bourbon was originally reviewed, it was unique thanks to its trailblazing nature of being a bourbon that was rebarreled in a new charred oak barrel. Other major distilleries had begun to do the same thing. Years later, brands of all sizes have hopped on board the double oaked bourbon train.
Woodford Reserve is produced in Versailles, Kentucky. The brand is crafted at the historic Woodford Reserve Distillery, tucked in the heart of thoroughbred country in Versailles, Kentucky. A National Historic Landmark, the distillery represents craftsmanship with a balance of historic heritage and modern practices.
The brand sits within the portfolio of drinks giant Brown-Forman. Woodford Reserve is a product of the Brown-Forman Corporation, a premier producer and marketer of fine quality beverage alcohol brands including Jack Daniel’s, Tequila Herradura, Old Forester, and Chambord.
Double Oaked Rye is available nationally across the US, at the Woodford Reserve Distillery, and via woodfordreserve.com where shipping is legal.
Read the full article at Woodford Reserve Unveils Double Oaked Rye Whiskey

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Why Jameson Black Barrel Is Worth the Step Up Credit: Irish ...

2026-10-30T04:24:51Z

Why Jameson Black Barrel Is Worth the Step Up

Credit: Irish Distillers
Jameson Black Barrel takes everything I enjoy about the original Jameson and gives it a little more depth. It remains an approachable Irish whiskey, but its richer blend and double-charred cask finish bring enough extra flavor to make the step up worthwhile.
At around £40 in the UK, it has to justify itself against plenty of competition. After spending time with a bottle, I think it does, especially if you find it on offer.
The difference begins with the blend. Formerly known as Jameson Select Reserve, Black Barrel contains more single pot still whiskey and less grain whiskey than standard Jameson. It is matured predominantly in ex-bourbon casks, with a portion finished in wood that has been charred a second time.
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That treatment suits a whiskey already built around vanilla, butterscotch and caramel. It does not turn Black Barrel into something unrecognisable, but makes those familiar qualities fuller and more inviting.
In the glass, it has a lovely oily feel for a 40% whiskey. The nose opens with butterscotch and vanilla, alongside a gentle pepperiness and a fresh, almost honeysuckle-like floral note. What surprised me most was the lemon: bright zest at first, followed by something softer and almost baked.
On the palate, I get a touch of fresh-cut wood before the sweeter flavours take over. Rich custard, burnt sugar and charred caramel come together in a way that reminds me, in absolute bucket loads, of crème brûlée. It is sweet and easygoing without being short on character.
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Value is where Black Barrel makes its strongest case. I paid about £28 for my bottle on a supermarket offer, and at that price it is remarkable. Even at its usual £40, I would happily recommend it to someone who enjoys Irish whiskey and wants more intensity without losing Jameson’s easy-drinking nature.
It is chill-filtered and contains added coloring, which may matter to some drinkers. For me, the flavor and texture still deliver. I have enjoyed it neat, and I can see it working particularly well over ice or in a highball.
My verdict is 7.5 out of 10: a well-made, deliciously sweet whiskey that earns its place beyond the standard bottle. Would Black Barrel be your pick when you want a richer Jameson, or is there another Irish whiskey you would choose instead?
For a closer look at Jameson Black Barrel and my full tasting, watch my YouTube video.
Read the full article at Why Jameson Black Barrel Is Worth the Step Up

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Tullamore D.E.W. Blended Irish Whiskey Review Read the full ...

2026-10-30T02:18:54Z

Tullamore D.E.W. Blended Irish Whiskey Review

Read the full article at Tullamore D.E.W. Blended Irish Whiskey Review

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GianChand Unveils Diwali Gifting Collection of Single Malts ...

2026-10-29T05:47:40Z

GianChand Unveils Diwali Gifting Collection of Single Malts

Credit: DeVANS Modern Breweries
GianChand, the premium single malt from India’s DeVANS Modern Breweries, has launched an exclusive Diwali gifting collection built around its new ‘The Pursuit of Craft’ brand campaign. The range comprises three curated gift boxes – GianChand Signature, Adambaraa and Manshaa – and is available at retail outlets across Gurgaon, Punjab, Chandigarh, Goa and Jammu.
‘The Pursuit of Craft’ draws inspiration from the infinity symbol, representing a continuous pursuit of excellence. The campaign celebrates the patience and precision behind every GianChand expression.
GianChand Signature pays tribute to founder Dewan Gian Chand. The whisky is named after the company’s late founder, who was a former journalist who started with a liquor bottling plant that later turned into a distillery over the years.
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GianChand Adambaraa is an unpeated, non-chill filtered single malt matured in American bourbon casks, inspired by Dogra hospitality and Himalayan heritage. GianChand Manshaa is a peated single malt, also matured in American bourbon casks and non-chill filtered, drawing on the cultural heritage of Jammu.
Both expressions have earned recent global recognition. GianChand Manshaa bagged the titles of International Whisky of the Year 2025 and a Grand Gold at Meininger’s International Spirits Award in Germany.
Adambaraa won both ‘Best Indian Single Malt Whisky 2025’ and ‘Best Indian Whisky 2025’ at the International Whisky Competition in Louisville, Kentucky.
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“Diwali is about celebrating meaningful relationships and expressing appreciation,” said Prem Dewan, chairman and managing director of DeVANS Modern Breweries. “With our GianChand gifting collection, we have brought the philosophy of ‘The Pursuit of Craft’ into festive gifting, offering three distinctive expressions that reflect our heritage, craftsmanship and commitment to excellence.”
Dewan has previously described Adambaraa as “decades of commitment reinterpreted for today’s global palate.”
GianChand Signature is priced at ₹4,500 (US$51/£38), while Adambaraa and Manshaa each retail at ₹9,000 (US$102/£76).
The launch arrives amid rapid growth for home-grown single malts. Indian single malts hit roughly 500,000 nine-litre cases in 2025, up from 350,000 in 2023, per CIABC’s 2026 figures.
Read the full article at GianChand Unveils Diwali Gifting Collection of Single Malts

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How Diageo Finds 12 Exceptional Whiskies Among More Than 10 ...

2026-10-29T02:20:30Z

How Diageo Finds 12 Exceptional Whiskies Among More Than 10 Million Casks

Drawing whisky from a cask is a pleasingly uncomplicated operation. A valinch is lowered through the bung hole. Its opening is covered to hold the liquid inside, and the whisky is lifted out. The instrument may be rudimentary, but at Royal Lochnagar Distillery it marked the final step in a considerably more complex process.
Diageo says its whisky makers spend more than 4,200 hours each year assessing casks for Casks of Distinction, the company’s private whole-cask program. The search begins within an inventory of more than 10 million maturing casks and culminates in an annual presentation known as “The Twelve.”
For 2026, the collection spans distilleries, regions, spirit styles and maturation histories. It includes a Talisker filled in 1978, Caol Ila and Glen Ord casks from the 1980s, and several whiskies distilled during the early 1990s.
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At its center is Lagavulin 1991 Cask #1069, described by Diageo as the oldest Lagavulin cask yet offered through Casks of Distinction.
Those numbers convey scale and rarity. They do not explain how 12 casks emerge from an inventory containing millions of possibilities.
The answer lies in a combination of inventory records, scientific analysis, repeated sensory assessment and knowledge passed between generations of whisky makers. Technology helps Diageo understand what it holds and where to find it. People still determine whether a whisky is exceptional.
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From Millions Of Casks To A Shortlist
Diageo’s Scotch inventory is not a static collection. New-make spirit is continually filled into casks and moved into warehouses, while mature whisky is removed for blending and bottling. The total changes as production continues.
Digital tracking systems allow whisky makers to navigate that moving population by distillery, filling date, cask type and other characteristics. Individual casks can be flagged for future attention, selected for sampling or reserved for a particular purpose.
That infrastructure makes an inventory of this size manageable. It does not make the final decision.
During the tasting at Royal Lochnagar, a Diageo representative explained that whisky makers may begin by examining a parcel of related casks. Samples are gathered, analyzed, nosed and tasted before the field is progressively narrowed.
Some casks are judged ready. Others may be placed on a watch list, assigned to a future release or moved into a different vessel for additional maturation.
Laboratory analysis gives the team another source of information. The representative discussed the use of techniques including gas chromatography and high-performance liquid chromatography to examine whisky’s chemical composition and identify compounds associated with particular aromas.
The resulting data can show whether a sample falls within specified parameters. It cannot reproduce the act of nosing a whisky or determine whether all of its components form a compelling whole.
According to the representative, there have been occasions when an analytical result indicated that a whisky sat within an acceptable range, only for a whisky maker to reject it after sensory assessment.
Machines can supply measurements. They cannot yet smell as accurately as a trained human nose, the representative said, or decide whether a whisky is good.
That distinction is central to The Twelve. The collection is not generated by ranking Diageo’s oldest casks according to a numerical score, nor is it presented simply as the 12 “best” whiskies in the inventory.
The whisky makers instead select casks that collectively demonstrate the breadth of what Casks of Distinction can offer. A lighter, elegant spirit may appear beside a heavily peated Islay malt. A long maturation in relatively restrained refill oak may sit alongside a whisky transformed by almost two decades in a highly active second cask.
The selection therefore has two levels. Each whisky must stand on its own, but the 12 must also tell a coherent story about different distilleries, casks and approaches to maturation.
Knowledge Passed Between Whisky Makers
A cask filled in the 1970s or 1980s has outlasted individual jobs, production plans and entire chapters in a distillery’s history. Its eventual selection cannot be credited solely to the person who samples it near the end of its maturation.
The whisky makers assessing these casks inherit decisions made decades earlier: which spirit to fill, which vessel to use, where to mature it, when to sample it and whether to leave it untouched or rerack it.
During the Royal Lochnagar event, the discussion turned to former Diageo whisky makers Maureen Robinson and Jim Beveridge, alongside the team currently responsible for the company’s blends and single malts.
That continuity creates a form of institutional sensory memory. Team members have sampled casks together, learned one another’s preferences and passed promising whiskies to the next generation of custodians.
Warehouse records preserve a cask’s measurable history. The people working with it preserve something less easily recorded: how it tasted previously, why it was retained and what earlier whisky makers believed it might become.
This is especially important when the objective is not merely to preserve old whisky but to understand how an individual cask is developing.
Age alone cannot guarantee quality. Long maturation can bring concentration, integration and complexity, but an active cask may overwhelm the underlying spirit. Selecting old whisky consequently requires the team to consider how much of the distillery character remains, not simply how much oak influence has accumulated around it.
The 1978 Talisker selected for The Twelve illustrates that balance.
Preserving Talisker For Almost Five Decades
Talisker 1978 Cask #2824 was filled into refill American oak. Diageo estimates it could yield 131 bottles at 49.9% ABV.
A first-fill cask would generally contribute flavor more aggressively than a refill vessel. Across a maturation approaching five decades, that influence could come to dominate even a characterful, moderately peated spirit.
Refill oak allowed the Talisker to mature without forcing the wood to become the entire story.
At Royal Lochnagar, the whisky initially appeared restrained. Its maritime and smoky characteristics were less immediate than tasters might expect from Talisker. Creaminess arrived first, producing comparisons to vanilla pudding, sabayon and American cream soda.
With time in the glass, smoke emerged toward the back of the palate, accompanied by the peppery quality commonly associated with the distillery.
The development was gradual rather than forceful. That subtlety demonstrated why cask selection cannot be reduced to searching for the most intense flavor or darkest color. The achievement lay in maintaining a recognizable connection to Talisker after almost half a century in wood.
Returning to the whisky later in the tasting also changed the experience. After exposure to richer and smokier casks, tasters found the Talisker more expressive than it had initially appeared.
Repeated assessment is therefore important at the tasting table as well as in the warehouse. A whisky can reveal different aspects of itself depending on time, context, dilution and the spirits tasted around it.
Other members of The Twelve demonstrate a markedly different maturation philosophy. Instead of using restrained wood to preserve an existing course, their whisky makers chose to intervene.
When A Finish Lasts Almost Two Decades
Cask finishing is often discussed in terms of months. Some whiskies in the 2026 collection have spent far longer developing in a secondary vessel.
Lagavulin 1991 Cask #1069 began its maturation in refill oak before being transferred into a Pedro Ximénez-treated American oak hogshead. Diageo’s press release dates that transfer to 2007, while remarks delivered at Royal Lochnagar placed it in 2006.
Whichever date is confirmed, the Lagavulin has spent close to two decades in its second cask.
Dr. Greg Wilson told guests that his colleague, Dr. Stuart Morrison, rated the whisky among the finest Lagavulin casks he had encountered. Wilson pointed to its maturation journey as the source of its unusual character, with the PX-treated cask bringing sherry richness and the American oak contributing sweetness.
Diageo describes the resulting whisky as combining maritime smoke with dried fruit, licorice and charred oak. The company estimates an outturn of 125 bottles at 57.6% ABV.
“This is certainly one of the most special Lagavulin casks I have ever experienced,” Morrison said in the accompanying announcement. “The PX maturation has added incredible depth without ever overshadowing the distillery’s character.”
That final point is the critical test. A secondary cask is not successful simply because it adds more flavor. It must take the whisky somewhere worthwhile while preserving enough of the original spirit to make the journey coherent.
After close to two decades, describing the process as a “finish” begins to feel inadequate. The whisky has spent a substantial part of its life in the second vessel, making this closer to a secondary maturation than a final adjustment.
Diageo uses the term “select cask” for a whisky moved between vessels, according to a representative at the event, rather than describing it as a single cask. The terminology makes the maturation history more transparent even where Scotch whisky regulations may allow broader use of “single cask.”
Linkwood 1993 Cask #13 presents another long-term experiment. The whisky was transferred to freshly charred American oak in 2006, according to the event discussion, and has therefore spent approximately 20 years in a highly active second vessel.
Diageo estimates that it could yield around 180 bottles at 50.4% ABV.
This is not a secondary cask being used as a subtle final accent. It represents a major part of the whisky’s development and a decision whose consequences took years to become fully apparent.
These examples expose another dimension of the selection team’s work. Its members do not simply wait for whisky to become ready. They may decide that a spirit needs another direction, choose a vessel capable of taking it there and then wait for evidence that the judgment was correct.
A Cask Repeatedly Reconsidered
The collection also includes Blair Athol 1997 Cask #1491, matured in a first-fill European oak ex-Sherry hogshead. At 57.1% ABV, the whisky showed dark fruit, tannin and spice during the Royal Lochnagar tasting.
Water did not so much transform the whisky as separate its elements, allowing individual characteristics to become easier to identify. Returning to the glass after tasting other casks altered the experience again.
That act of revisiting a whisky is a small-scale version of what happens inside the selection program. A cask is rarely understood through one encounter. It is sampled and reconsidered in relation to its previous condition, its potential uses and the other whiskies within the company’s stocks.
Some candidates fall away. Others remain under observation for years. A small proportion enters the wider Casks of Distinction portfolio, from which the annual 12 are chosen.
Data informs every stage of that journey, but it does not dictate the conclusion. Analytical instruments can describe aspects of the liquid. Inventory systems can locate a cask among millions. Neither can experience the way smoke arrives late in an old Talisker, determine whether PX has obscured Lagavulin’s identity, or decide that a particular Blair Athol becomes more articulate with water.
Those judgments still belong to people.
Standing beside a cask with a valinch may appear far removed from a database tracking millions of barrels. In practice, the two are parts of the same system. One allows Diageo to manage Scotch whisky on an enormous scale. The other provides the final sensory encounter on which selection depends.
The journey from more than 10 million casks to 12 ultimately concludes in a glass, and with a human nose making the decision that the numbers cannot.
Photo Credit: Elite Traveler
Read the full article at How Diageo Finds 12 Exceptional Whiskies Among More Than 10 Million Casks

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Buckhorn Whiskey Launches Smoked Maple and Buck Hunt Pop-Ups ...

2026-10-29T00:59:37Z

Buckhorn Whiskey Launches Smoked Maple and Buck Hunt Pop-Ups

Sazerac-owned Buckhorn Whiskey has unveiled Buckhorn Smoked Maple, a new 32.5% ABV whiskey blending the brand’s signature liquid with a smoked maple flavor. To mark the national launch, the brand will stage two wilderness-themed pop-up events in the Bucktown neighborhood of Chicago and the Buckhead neighborhood of Atlanta next month.
The new release pairs Buckhorn’s whiskey with what the brand describes as a “bold, sweet smoked maple flavor.”
According to the brand, the expression is “a smooth blend” designed to arrive “just in time for crisp weather and fireside gatherings.”
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To celebrate, Buckhorn is saying “Buck It” to the usual night out by bringing a hidden, wilderness-themed pop-up to both cities.
The activation has been named The Buckhorn Buck Hunt. The brand describes the concept as “part scavenger hunt, part speakeasy.”
Fans who register will receive a trail of clues leading to a secret location. According to the brand, each venue is a familiar city haunt “transformed” into “a rugged, backwoods retreat packed with themed surprises, experiences, and great whiskey.”
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The two host neighborhoods were selected for their names. The hunt heads to Bucktown, Chicago, on Friday 6 November 2026, followed by Buckhead, Atlanta, on Friday 13 November 2026.
Both events are free to attend. However, advance registration is strictly required to receive the clues needed to find each location. Sign-up opens on Wednesday 28 October 2026.
The launch builds on Buckhorn’s recent expansion. In June 2026, Sazerac moved the brand into ready-to-drink (RTD) cocktails for the first time with Buckhorn Whiskey Lemonade, part of a wider trio of RTD launches.
Buckhorn Whiskey Lemonade marked the Buckhorn Bourbon Whiskey brand’s RTD entry, combining Buckhorn’s blended whiskey with real lemon juice from concentrate and ‘bold’ fruit flavours.
That range includes four flavours—Classic, Peach, Blackberry, and Honey Whiskey Lemonade—each at 7% ABV, built for outdoor occasions such as fishing trips, camping weekends, and backyard hangouts.
Buckhorn sits within the portfolio of Louisville, Kentucky-based Sazerac. In 2009, the company’s principal office was moved to Louisville, Kentucky, reflecting an increased company focus on bourbon whiskey production. Sazerac’s wider stable includes Buffalo Trace, Blanton’s, and Fireball Cinnamon Whisky.
Read the full article at Buckhorn Whiskey Launches Smoked Maple and Buck Hunt Pop-Ups

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Bunnahabhain Launches Sweeter Cask Strength 12 Year Old Credit: ...

2026-10-29T00:22:59Z

Bunnahabhain Launches Sweeter Cask Strength 12 Year Old

Credit: Bunnahabhain
Bunnahabhain, Islay’s most remote distillery, has released the latest edition of its annual 12 Year Old Cask Strength expression. Priced at £90 for a 70cl bottle, the limited-edition single malt is bottled at 55.8% ABV and available now from the brand’s website and specialist whisky retailers.
The release brings together whisky matured for 12 years in an equal split of first-fill Oloroso sherry and bourbon casks. It delivers depth from the Oloroso sherry, with dried fruit, gentle spice and chocolate, balanced by vanilla, honey and toasted coconut sweetness from the bourbon maturation.
The combination marks a shift from the sherry-led 2025 edition, bringing a sweeter, creamier character to the distillery’s signature unpeated style.
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According to the official notes from the brand, the nose offers raisins, figs and dates, with honeyed vanilla, cinnamon and clove. The palate delivers stewed fruits, toasted coconut and gentle spice, followed by a long finish of dried fruit, dark sugar and oak.
“Our annual Cask Strength release is a chance to show Bunnahabhain in its purest form,” said Julieann Fernandez, master blender at Bunnahabhain. “The whisky’s character comes from the spirit itself, the casks and the place where it matures and, at cask strength, those characteristics are amplified.”
Fernandez added: “The 2026 edition has a lovely balance between that richness and freshness. On the nose, there’s ripe orchard fruit, dried apricot and hazelnut, with gentle spice and a touch of coastal freshness. There’s nothing quite like tasting whisky straight from the cask. It’s one of the real privileges of being a master blender. Sharing that raw, unfiltered experience with fellow whisky lovers is something I never take for granted.”
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The expression is bottled at natural cask strength, without chill filtration or added color.
Bunnahabhain is known for a milder, mostly unpeated profile that sets it apart from Islay’s traditionally peaty character. Founded in 1881, Bunnahabhain has gained a reputation for its unique, unpeated expressions that contrast with Islay’s traditional peaty character.
The distillery sits on the island’s north-east coast and is matured predominantly in sherry casks and is known for being unpeated, natural in colour and non-chill filtered.
The 2026 edition is available now from bunnahabhain.com.
Read the full article at Bunnahabhain Launches Sweeter Cask Strength 12 Year Old

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Barrell Craft Spirits Unveils Sweet Peat Blend With Canadian ...

2026-10-28T23:46:32Z

Barrell Craft Spirits Unveils Sweet Peat Blend With Canadian & Scotch Whiskies

Credit: Barrell Craft Spirits
Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS) has launched a 22-year-old Sweet Peat Whiskey as the latest release in its Black Label Series. The Louisville, Kentucky-based independent blender unveiled the blend of Canadian and Scotch whiskies, finished in toasted Jamaican rum and Islay whisky casks, on October 28, 2026.
Distilleries in Canada and Scotland produced the whiskies in the blend, which include rare 22-year-old Speyside single malt. BCS then finished the blend in Kentucky and bottled it at 142.34 proof (71.17% ABV).
The official notes from the brand list caramel, tropical fruit, toasted oak and delicate peat smoke.
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“The BCS Black Label Series takes us back to our roots of creating highly unique whiskeys in extremely limited quantities and showcasing cutting edge blending techniques which set us apart from the crowd,” said Joe Beatrice, founder of BCS. “Sweet Peat not only blends two single malt Speyside scotch whiskies with Canadian whiskey, but this expression also features two unusual finishing casks.”
Sweet Peat is on sale now through barrellbourbon.com and at select retailers.
It has a suggested retail price of $199.99 (£150 / ₹19,040) per 750ml bottle.
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Earlier in 2026, BCS introduced an 18-year-old whiskey finished in Cabernet Sauvignon and Sauternes barrels as part of its Black Label Series. The release combines 18-year-old Kentucky whiskey finished in Cabernet Sauvignon barrels with Canadian whiskies aged between 23 and 25 years and finished in Sauternes barrels.
Other Black Label releases include Barrell Decade, launched in July 2025. The expression combines Canadian whiskies distilled between 1995 and 2005, aged for 20 to 30 years, with secondary maturation in Spanish brandy and Hungarian oak casks.
Founded in Louisville in 2013, BCS specializes in blending aged, cask-strength spirits. The company draws on stocks from different distillation methods, barrel types and aging environments, using blending and secondary maturation to develop its releases.
Read the full article at Barrell Craft Spirits Unveils Sweet Peat Blend With Canadian & Scotch Whiskies

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Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky Review Read the full article ...

2026-10-25T20:07:13Z

Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky Review

Read the full article at Black Bottle Blended Scotch Whisky Review

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Indri’s Master Blender On Why Indian Whisky No Longer Needs To ...

2026-10-22T18:17:59Z

Indri’s Master Blender On Why Indian Whisky No Longer Needs To Prove Itself

Indri achieved something unusual at the 2026 International Whisky Competition (IWC): it took first, second, and third place in both the Best Indian Whisky and Best Single Malt Indian Whisky categories.
For master blender Surrinder Kumar, who joined Indri in 2019, the result represents something bigger than another collection of awards. He believes Indian single malt has reached the point where it no longer needs to justify its place alongside Scotch, bourbon and other established whisky traditions.
I spoke to Kumar about the significance of Indri’s clean sweep, what blind judging can tell a whisky maker, and what’s next for the multi-award-winning distillery.
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From Novelty to Genuine Contender
Indri is made by Piccadily Distilleries at its distillery in Indri, a village in the Karnal district of Haryana. The brand launched in 2021 with Indri Trini, which was billed as India’s first triple-barrel single malt. Kumar said that when he joined in 2019, “the aim was to build an Indian single malt whisky of such quality that could stand on the world stage rather than be judged on where it came from.”
Kumar spent 19 years in the Indian whisky industry before joining Indri, an experience that taught him “how much Indian terroir could offer, if you are patient enough to draw it out.” He sees the IWC results as proof that patience has paid off.
“What matters to me personally is less the recognition itself and more what it represents: Indian single malt no longer needs to explain itself,” he added. “That shift, from novelty to genuine contender, is the achievement I set out to help build, and seeing it recognised by international judges is deeply rewarding.”
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Indri’s Three Award-Winning Whiskies
For Kumar, a result across the whole category carries more weight than any one winner. “Winning across the whole category says more about Indri as a whole rather than having just one exceptional bottle,” he said.
The Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025 topped both categories with 93.53 points. Indri Dru Cask Strength followed in second place with 90.87 points, while Indri Agneya completed the clean sweep in third with 89.70 points.
The three whiskies are quite different from one another. The Diwali Collector’s Edition 2025 is finished in Marsala wine casks and was bottled at 58.5% ABV. Indri Dru is a punchy expression bottled at cask strength, while Indri Agneya is a lightly peated yet tropical whisky and a permanent part of the range.
“Producing three single malts that judges rank first, second and third speaks to our consistency and house style that holds up across very different expressions which is harder to achieve than a single win,” Kumar said.
Of course, taking all three places in two categories doesn’t necessarily make Indri the best Indian single malt distillery. Competition results reflect the whiskies entered and the preferences of that year’s judging panel. Nevertheless, the fact that three different Indri expressions performed so consistently is noteworthy.
I asked whether he would have predicted the order. “Indri’s Diwali Collector’s Edition taking first felt right to me. It is our most ambitious release each year,” he said. “Indri Dru, at cask strength, has always shown real intensity, so second position made sense.” Agneya’s third-place finish was particularly encouraging for Kumar. “Where I am genuinely pleased is with Indri Agneya’s placing, because a newer expression proving itself against more established names is exactly the validation you hope for.”
What a Medal Can and Can’t Tell You
Whisky awards are useful, but they can also be confusing for consumers. With so many competitions awarding medals every year, it’s not always obvious what a gold medal actually means, or how much influence it should have over a buying decision.
For Kumar, blind judging offers something that sales figures and consumer feedback cannot. He describes it as “the one form of feedback with nothing else attached to it,” allowing him to assess “whether the craft itself holds up and whether the balance between cask types is genuinely well executed.”
For consumers, however, an award serves a different purpose. “What it tells you is that a panel with no knowledge of price, packaging or reputation found something genuinely well made in the glass,” Kumar said. “That is worth something, because it strips away marketing and leaves only the whisky itself.”
He was just as clear about what an award can’t do. “What it cannot tell you is whether you personally will enjoy the style, whether it is peated or sherried or fruit-forward, or whether it suits how you like to drink.”
His advice is to treat a medal as a reason to try something new. “It should be the reason you pick up an unfamiliar bottle, not the reason you assume you already know what’s inside.”
“It should be the reason you pick up an unfamiliar bottle, not the reason you assume you already know what’s inside.”
Surrinder Kumar, Master Blender, Indri
A Whisky That Could Only Come From India
Kumar believes awards are especially useful for Indian whisky outside India, because “international consumers arrive at Indian whisky carrying expectations built by Scotch and bourbon, categories with a century or more of established reputation.”
A good result, he said, helps close that gap. “A strong result at a respected competition gives a newer whisky-producing country a form of shorthand credibility that reputation alone cannot yet provide.” He also acknowledged the limitations of awards. “Awards will not replace the slower work of building a reputation over decades, but they’re a trustworthy marker of quality.”
Surrinder carefully crafts Indri’s single malt whiskies through vigorous cask management in swinging temperatures. Credit: Piccadily Distilleries
In Kumar’s view, the awards reflect well on India specifically because Indri’s character comes from where it is made. The six-row barley is grown in Rajasthan, and the whisky matures through Haryana’s extreme seasonal temperatures, both of which we talked through in detail earlier this year. “If Indri had won by producing something that tasted like it could have come from anywhere, the awards would say nothing about India,” he said.
He has noticed a change in the questions people ask him, too. “A few years ago, questions were about whether Indian whisky could be taken seriously at all. Now they are about specific expressions, cask types and our unique climate’s effect on maturation.”
“If Indri had won by producing something that tasted like it could have come from anywhere, the awards would say nothing about India.”
Surrinder Kumar, Master Blender, Indri
Depth Rather Than Breadth: Where Indri Goes Next
With so much recognition behind it, I asked Kumar where Indri goes next. For him, the priority is building aged stock and exploring longer maturation, rather than simply increasing production.
“The next phase is about depth rather than breadth. We want to keep building aged stock, and to keep exploring what single casks and extended maturations can do within our style, rather than chasing volume for its own sake,” he said.
Part of the plan is the visitor center Indri opened in Haryana in 2025, which he described as “giving people a place to understand the whisky rather than just taste it.” Internationally, the focus is on the markets where Indri is already sold, “so Indri sits alongside the world’s leading single malts rather than being viewed as a brand in an emerging category.”
Kumar joined Indri in 2019 with the ambition of creating a single malt that could compete internationally on quality alone. Seven years later, three of his whiskies have occupied every podium position in two categories at the International Whisky Competition. For Kumar, the challenge now is no longer proving that Indian single malt belongs on the world stage, but ensuring it stays there.
Read the full article at Indri’s Master Blender On Why Indian Whisky No Longer Needs To Prove Itself

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/indris-master-blender-on-why-indian-whisky-no-longer-needs-to-prove-itself/

#indianwhisky #masterblender #indri #singlemalt #englishwhisky #everywhisky #itself #needs #whiskycompetition #bestindian

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Brother’s Bond Joins AWA, CEO Vincent Hanna Gets Board Seat ...

2026-10-22T16:56:00Z

Brother’s Bond Joins AWA, CEO Vincent Hanna Gets Board Seat

Credit: Brother’s Bond
The American Whiskey Association (AWA) has named Brother’s Bond, the brand co-founded by actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley, as a Global Growth Craft Member. Brother’s Bond co-founder and CEO Vincent Hanna has also joined the Washington, D.C.-based Association’s Board of Directors.
Brother’s Bond has built an ultra-premium American whiskey portfolio since its founding by Somerhalder and Wesley. The brand is expanding its presence across the United States and international markets.
Hanna’s appointment brings the perspective of an entrepreneurial whiskey company to the AWA Board. The move comes as the Association works to advance opportunities for producers across the American whiskey supply chain.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORY
“Brother’s Bond reflects the entrepreneurship, innovation and ambition shaping the next chapter of American whiskey,” said Michael Bilello, president and CEO of the American Whiskey Association. “Ian, Paul, Vincent and their team have built a brand with a strong connection to American agriculture and the people behind the product. We’re proud to welcome Brother’s Bond to AWA, and Vincent’s experience will be valuable to our Board as we work to expand opportunity for American whiskey at home and around the world.”
Somerhalder underlined the brand’s view of the wider category.
“American whiskey is much bigger than any one brand. It begins with American farmers and extends through distillers, barrel makers, warehouses, distributors, retailers and communities across the country,” he said.
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The actor continued: “Joining the American Whiskey Association gives us an opportunity to work alongside others who believe in protecting what makes American whiskey special while helping create greater opportunity for the category around the world.”
Hanna outlined his priorities for the role. “As we continue building Brother’s Bond in the United States and internationally, we want to play a role in increasing market access, celebrating the high standards that distinguish American whiskey, supporting our agricultural partners and helping drive the long-term competitiveness of American whiskey around the world,” he said. “We’re excited to join the Association and contribute to that work.”
Brother’s Bond joins an AWA membership that spans major American whiskey producers, entrepreneurial craft brands and companies across the broader whiskey supply chain.
Somerhalder and Wesley, who starred together in the television series The Vampire Diaries, launched Brother’s Bond Bourbon in 2021.
Read the full article at Brother’s Bond Joins AWA, CEO Vincent Hanna Gets Board Seat

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/brothers-bond-joins-awa-ceo-vincent-hanna-gets-board-seat/

#americanwhiskey #vincenthanna #bond #brother #whiskeyassociation #rosessingle #fourroses #singlebarrel #awa #awaboard

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The Best Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon: The Cheapest Great Whiskey In ...

2026-10-19T12:30:06Z

The Best Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon: The Cheapest Great Whiskey In America

Credit: Heaven Hill Distilleries Inc.
What is the best bottled-in-bond bourbon that you can get your hands on? Well, we’ve put together a list of bottles at MSRP, some of which seem to be becoming more widely available.
Bottled-in-bond bourbon is simpler to explain than it might seem. The whiskey must be distilled at one distillery during a single distilling season, aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and bottled at 100 proof (50% ABV). It’s an incredible marker of quality, no matter how big or small the distillery is.
We won’t be diving too deeply into distillery origins and production styles, but we will be breaking down the tasting notes of these bottles. Some are available at extremely competitive prices, but the flavors can be very different.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
I know the basics
I have a good understanding of whisky
I am very knowledgeable about whisky
I work, or have worked, in the whisky or spirits industry
SUBMIT
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Evan Williams Bottled-in-Bond, $18 / £36
I would say that this is an underrated bourbon that you should try in general, let alone the fact that it’s a bottled-in-bond product at an extremely good price.
This bottle is a welcoming burst of sweet caramel and vanilla. There’s lots of corn on the palate, along with baked vanilla, cherries, gentle spice, and some really toasty oak notes that round things out toward the finish. It’s an excellent example of bottled-in-bond bourbon.
The finish is long and full-flavored, with more oak, soft fruits, and some very gentle rye spice that helps make it feel even longer and more layered. When it comes to value from a big brand, you could easily argue that this is the best bottled-in-bond bourbon on the market. We do have plenty more options to look at, though!
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORY
Early Times Bottled-in-Bond, $17 / £16
A bottle that we’ve all seen at a low price, no matter what country you’re in. This isn’t a bourbon that is going to blow your mind in terms of flavor, but it’s such a solid bottle that does more than it should for the price.
The nose is all orange, caramel, and honey. It’s a relatively light start to a bottle with plenty of texture and flavor on the palate. There’s lots of rich caramel, citrus, and vanilla, moving into some very light tobacco notes. It’s a creamy style of bourbon that delivers many of the characteristics we love bourbon for.
The finish is decent, with some light, peppery rye spice that also helps develop that tobacco note. For under $30 a bottle, this is very good bourbon. Some would argue it’s the best bottled-in-bond bourbon for the money.
Old Grand-Dad Bonded, $25 / £20
Time for some big rye! Old Grand-Dad is a product of the Beam distillery and one that has a serious cult following.
With a 27% rye content, we’re getting into territory that can divide bourbon drinkers simply because of the intensity of those peppery, earthy rye notes. However, the nose lures you in. It’s full of orange peel, peanuts, caramel, cinnamon, and lots of honeycomb.
The rye pops more on the palate, arriving in the form of cinnamon, nutmeg, and some mint before moving into a more classic bourbon profile. There are plenty of red and dark fruit notes, including cherry, red currant, and strawberry sauce, as well as a lovely floral honey note running throughout.
The finish is long and driven by that rye pepper, with the 100 proof pushing things even further. It’s a sip that lasts for ages on the palate. This would certainly be my pick for the best bottled-in-bond bourbon on the list.
1792 Bottled-in-Bond, $37 / £40
The fancy option now, well, in terms of how the bottle looks, anyway. 1792 has a very impressive and affordable range across the board, and this bottled-in-bond version occupies an interesting spot.
It’s roughly double the price of the first three bottles on the list, but you do gain more complexity for that higher price. Bottled-in-bond bourbon can offer great value, but more expensive options are still worth considering. Does the extra expense make this one of the best bottled-in-bond bourbons?
The nose is all butterscotch, sticky toffee pudding, and fruity espresso. The fruit qualities of this bourbon are really impressive, with stone fruits, blackberries, cherry, and apricot. The palate is creamy, thick, and full of fresh oak, more fruit, toffee, and those Christmas-style spices of mace, nutmeg, and cloves.
The finish rolls through with lots of orange oil and soft, approachable rye, alongside more coffee, raisins, and dark chocolate.
It’s a really impressive bottle of bourbon that we should all dive into when we can.
Heaven Hill 7 Year Old Bottled-in-Bond, $50 / £64
Another Heaven Hill product lands on the list, but now at more than double the price of the first bottle mentioned. How much more do you get for the extra money?
This bottle goes well beyond the minimum aging requirement for bottled-in-bond, and you can tell from the nose. It’s like a dessert trolley being rolled past you as you sip on bourbon. There’s sweet cream, vanilla, barrel spice, flambéed cherries, orange jelly, sweet fruit jams, and melted chocolate, with something malty and crisp underneath.
I wouldn’t say that this is a hugely complex or out-of-the-ordinary bottled-in-bond release, but it has more layers than the cheaper bottlings. The butterscotch notes are particularly impressive, while those older barrel notes make everything feel more rounded and mature.
Angel’s Envy Bottled-in-Bond, $60 / £130
A bottle that sticks to its guns when it comes to cask maturation. This is essentially classic Angel’s Envy with its port cask finish, but now with bottled-in-bond status attached.
The nose is clean and light, with banana, light brown sugar, and lots of different types of cookies, including plenty of chocolate chip notes. The palate is more classic in style, but full of raw honey, strawberry syrup, sweet coffee, and freshly charred oak.
The finish is sweet and rounded. I’d say it’s the sweetest of all the bottled-in-bond offerings we’ve put on this list. That doesn’t make it bad, but Angel’s Envy has always cut its own groove in the world of bourbon, and this bottled-in-bond release is no different.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Small Batch Bottled-in-Bond, $54 / £66
The bottle that will probably cause the most debate. Given the demand for other bottles in the Taylor range, though, this one is often seen as the entry point.
Made using Buffalo Trace’s Mash Bill #1, this is a bourbon with a spicy, tropical fruit-driven profile. Naturally, given that E.H. Taylor was a champion of the Bottled-in-Bond Act, it would be a little silly not to include the product named after him.
The nose is all pineapple and BBQ grill aromas. I get little touches of chili pepper, melon, softly toasted oak, and lots of caramel. It’s a bottle that commands a strong reputation, and its distinctive presentation certainly helps it stand out. It’s a really good bourbon, but I’d be hard-pressed to buy this over some of the other bottles on the list.
So, What To Pick?
As with any category of whiskey, start at the bottom. I think we all need to revisit bottles like these every few years to see what most of the world is actually buying, as well as what the industry we love is built on.
You’d be hard-pressed to beat some of the options in the $20 range, but if you want to spend more, you can gain extra flavor, complexity, and a little more presentation.
Read the full article at The Best Bottled-In-Bond Bourbon: The Cheapest Great Whiskey In America

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/the-best-bottled-in-bond-bourbon-the-cheapest-great-whiskey-in-america/

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Lost Lantern Single Cask Boulder Spirits Colorado Single Malt ...

2026-10-18T06:30:42Z

Lost Lantern Single Cask Boulder Spirits Colorado Single Malt Whiskey Review

Read the full article at Lost Lantern Single Cask Boulder Spirits Colorado Single Malt Whiskey Review

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-reviews/review-lost-lantern-single-cask-boulder-spirits-colorado-single-malt-whiskey-review-2026/

#whiskeyreview #coloradosingle #lanternsingle #singlecask #boulderspirits #maltwhiskey #lostlantern

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Brazil Has Been Making Whisky For 50 Years, So Why Haven’t You ...

2026-10-17T08:01:02Z

Brazil Has Been Making Whisky For 50 Years, So Why Haven’t You Heard About It?

Brazil is familiar to the drinks world as a producer of cachaça and a substantial market for imported whisky. Yet its own whisky story has often escaped notice. Production is not new: Union Distillery began making malt spirit in southern Brazil in 1974. What has changed since 2019 is the visibility and variety of the category. Union has returned to bottling whisky under its own name, Lamas Destilaria has placed Brazilian wood and smoke at the centre of its range, and the country’s first independent bottlers have begun to select and reinterpret local casks.
This emerging industry does not have one geographical centre. Union operates in Bento Gonçalves, among the vineyards of Rio Grande do Sul. Lamas is based in Matozinhos, Minas Gerais, a state more readily associated with cachaça. Alba Destilaria is also in Rio Grande do Sul, at Monte Belo do Sul. The Brazilian Whisky Map, published by Inside the Cask, records another cachaça producer, Weber Haus, as planning to enter whisky production in 2027. The map remains small, but it connects regions with mature knowledge of fermentation, distillation, cooperage and wine.
A Whisky Industry Decades In The Making
Union supplies the historical foundation. The Borsato and Ziero families established Union of Industries as a wine business in 1948, then turned to malt whisky in 1972. During the 1980s, the company worked with Morrison Bowmore, gaining access to Scottish expertise. Union stopped regular releases under its own name in 1986 and concentrated on supplying spirit to other drinks companies. It continued to make whisky on an industrial scale, but its role was largely hidden from consumers.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
I know the basics
I have a good understanding of whisky
I am very knowledgeable about whisky
I work, or have worked, in the whisky or spirits industry
SUBMIT
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Something went wrong. Please try again.
The business moved distillation from Veranópolis to Bento Gonçalves during 2016 and 2017. Its decision to revive branded releases in 2019 brought that accumulated experience back into view. Inside the Cask’s 2023 profile reported annual production of about two million litres of alcohol, with capacity for three million. The distillery has three copper pot stills, a 30,000-litre mash tun and 15 stainless-steel washbacks. Fermentation runs for approximately 90 hours. Most malt is sourced from Brazil and neighbouring countries, while peated malt comes from Europe.
The spirit and wash stills at Union Distillery. The one furthest on the left is a Scottish Forsyth still whilst the 2 others are made in Brazil.
Maturation is an equally imposing part of the operation. Inside the Cask recorded more than 20,000 casks in Union’s warehouses, with room for about 35,000. The company’s recent interview underlined how deeply the business-to-business model remains embedded in its identity. Most production still goes to customers that buy spirit in bulk. Developing a consumer brand therefore involves more than putting an established whisky into a new bottle. It requires specialist retail, tourism, packaging and a direct relationship with drinkers.
Union now offers that relationship through several ranges. Their Pure Malt Exclusive range includes wine-cask, virgin-oak and peated expressions; Autograph and vintage releases provide room for older or more limited stocks. Peated whisky represents only a modest share of production, at around six to seven per cent, but the range shows the breadth of spirit available. Union’s warehouses have also supplied the stock for one of the most significant developments since 2019: independent bottling.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORY
Lamas And The Influence Of Native Brazilian Woods
Lamas Destilaria presents a different version of Brazilian whisky. Brothers Márcio, Marcelo and José Carlos Lamas began experimenting on a small scale around 2009 and 2010, before releasing their first single malt in 2019. The date places Lamas at the beginning of the category’s more public phase, but its importance lies in how it has used local materials. Instead of treating Scottish single malt as a template to reproduce, the distillery has looked to Brazil’s existing spirits culture for flavour.
The Lamas Brothers with their whiskies.
Native woods provide the most obvious connection. Lamas has matured or finished whisky in amburana, bálsamo, angico, sassafrás, cumaru and putumuju, all woods with precedents in cachaça. The distillery starts with a common malt spirit, then adjusts finishing times and blending proportions to the behaviour of each cask. Amburana can transform whisky within weeks; less assertive woods may require six months or more. The task is to retain the grain beneath those unfamiliar aromas. “If you’re not careful, it becomes more native wood than malt,” Márcio Lamas told Inside the Cask.
That warning captures the difference between local character and novelty. Lamas has discarded trials that overwhelmed the spirit or made the whisky resemble cachaça too closely. Its use of eucalyptus smoke follows the same principle. Eucalyptus does not imitate peat; it supplies a recognisably different aromatic register. These experiments suggest that a Brazilian style will come from controlling local materials, rather than adding them as a point of difference after production.
Independent Bottlers Bring Brazilian Whisky To New Audiences
Wine offers another route. Brazil’s southern vineyards place distillers close to freshly emptied casks and the people who made them. Lunatic Asylum, founded by Alba’s Pedro Paiva and spirits educator Rafael Nardi, became Brazil’s first independent whisky bottler when it launched at the end of 2024. The company does not distil. It acquires individual casks, selects how they should be matured or finished, and bottles them under its own label.
Its debut, Crystal Mountain, drew directly on Union’s past. The whisky was distilled at the former Veranópolis site in 2013, then matured for 11 years in first-fill ex-bourbon casks. It was bottled at 54 per cent ABV, without chill filtration or added colour, in a run of 250 bottles. The release sold out, showing an appetite for Brazilian whisky presented with the production detail and limited scale familiar to enthusiasts of independent Scotch bottlings.
Lunatic Asylum founders Rafael Nardi and Pedro Paiva.
The second release, Golden Mouth of Ruin, connected Union’s spirit with the local wine industry. Six-year-old whisky spent five years in ex-bourbon wood before more than 13 months in a first-fill French oak cask that had held Nebbiolo. The cask came from a winery in nearby Flores da Cunha and was collected and filled with whisky on the same day. Lunatic Asylum bottled 349 bottles at 54 per cent ABV; they also sold out.
The Challenges Facing Brazilian Whisky
Brazil’s climate shapes every producer’s choices. Annual evaporation can reach roughly five to seven per cent, compared with about one to two per cent in Scotland, according to Inside the Cask. Heat can increase interaction between spirit and wood, but faster extraction is not the same as maturity. It can intensify flavour rapidly while reducing the volume left to bottle. Native wood, fresh wine casks and a warm warehouse all demand close attention if the distillate is to remain present.
The category still has obstacles. Imported whisky carries considerable prestige among Brazilian consumers, domestic distribution is expensive, and export rules differ between markets. Union possesses scale and mature stocks but must make a name long associated with bulk production meaningful to drinkers. Lamas has a clear flavour identity but works on a smaller scale. Independent bottlers rely on access to distinctive casks and on consumers understanding why their selection adds value.
Whiskies from Union, Lamas, and Lunatic Asylum.
Since 2019, however, Brazil has gained the elements of a functioning whisky culture. There is a large established producer, a distillery committed to native materials, new entrants with experience in wine and cachaça, and independent bottlers prepared to examine existing stocks cask by cask. Their whiskies do not yet amount to a settled national style, and that may be an advantage. Brazil’s evolution is being driven by several traditions at once, giving its producers more than one way to sound Brazilian.
The next chapter will depend on whether that confidence survives wider distribution.
Read the full article at Brazil Has Been Making Whisky For 50 Years, So Why Haven’t You Heard About It?

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-articles/brazil-has-been-making-whisky-for-50-years-so-why-havent-you-heard-about-it/

#whisky #union #riogrande #sul #makingunion #bentogoncalves #single #industry #distillery #lamasdestilaria

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Like Redbreast 12? Five Irish Whiskeys To Try Next Redbreast 12 ...

2026-10-17T06:44:04Z

Like Redbreast 12? Five Irish Whiskeys To Try Next

Redbreast 12 Year Old is world-famous for delivering an oily, sweet profile that’s all about fresh fruit, butter, and a gently spicy finish with notes of soft pepper. However, like most things, it is going up in price.
Here, we’ve put together a list of whiskeys like Redbreast 12. Some are comparable in price and style, some are cheaper, and one is a lot cheaper and a recent addition to my home cabinet.
Boann Single Pot Still Madeira Cask, 47%, $86 / £69
Kicking off with one of the newest quality competitors in the single pot still category. Boann has created an incredible profile and a range of whiskeys that have plenty in common with Redbreast 12, but with some key differences.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
I know the basics
I have a good understanding of whisky
I am very knowledgeable about whisky
I work, or have worked, in the whisky or spirits industry
SUBMIT
✓ Thank you — your response has been recorded!
Something went wrong. Please try again.
Instead of just malted and unmalted barley, the mash bill also contains oats and rye, giving you more mouthfeel and a little more spice. It’s aged in ex-bourbon casks alongside a range of vintage Madeira casks from Justino’s. It’s higher in ABV and a little more expensive, but it ticks all of the boxes for me.
An absolute stunner of a new release in the Irish market from a smaller distillery that is trying to bring more history and individual character back to the single pot still category.
Powers John’s Lane 12 Year Old, 46%, $70 / £62
One from the same distillery as Redbreast now. Again, this is a whisky that offers plenty of similar notes while pushing much further in a different direction.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
READ THE STORY
Powers John’s Lane is more sherry-oriented, with a higher ABV of 46%. It leans less into the buttery profile and more toward chocolate, rich red fruit, and biscuit notes.
You can pick this up for around the same price as Redbreast 12, depending on the market, and it normally won’t set you back a huge amount more. It has similarities to Redbreast 12, but follows its own path, with a richer profile that stands out in the world of single pot still whiskeys.
Drumshanbo Single Pot Still, 43%, $63 / £52
A whiskey that has similarities to both Redbreast 12 and the Boann mentioned above, Drumshanbo Single Pot Still is made using malted barley, unmalted barley, and Irish Barra oats. The oats provide a richer, creamier texture and help the whiskey stand out in a very clear way.
The Shed Distillery, which produces this whiskey, has been on my “to watch” list in Irish whiskey for years. It is certainly one worth keeping an eye on.
Busker Single Pot Still Small Batch, 46.3%, $58 / £47
Coming from the Royal Oak Distillery in Ireland, here we have something with similarities to both Redbreast 12 and Powers John’s Lane. This small-batch release is matured in ex-bourbon casks before being moved into ex-Oloroso sherry casks, all built on a foundation of malted and unmalted barley.
Laced with plump red fruit, milk chocolate, and freshly milled barley, Busker Small Batch is one of the best-value purchases you can make in the current world of Irish whiskey, let alone single pot still whiskey.
This distillery offers really good value for money across its range, but this is the bottle to have if you want something that can compete with one of the biggest distilleries in Ireland and one of the largest brands in Irish whiskey.
The Whistler Triple Oak Irish Whiskey, 40%, $40 / £32
I am a fan of affordable whiskeys, and their taste and style can be hard to deny for the money, especially in the modern world of luxury pricing and marketing.
The Whistler Triple Oak is one of those constant “must re-buy” bottles that regularly works its way through my house. A combination of single pot still, single malt, and single grain Irish whiskeys, it’s an absolute montage of creamy vanilla, caramel, and sweet oak.
It’s a fabulous bottle with plenty in common with Redbreast 12 Year Old, while saving you some money and delivering a flavor profile that can comfortably hold its own.
Which Redbreast 12 Alternative Should You Try?
Whiskeys like Redbreast 12 aren’t hard to come by, and the Redbreast lineup itself offers some of the best Irish whiskeys on the market. However, with prices rising and more smaller distilleries attracting the attention of whiskey drinkers, there are plenty of high-quality alternatives worth exploring.
Any of the bottles listed above would make a wonderful alternative to Redbreast 12 Year Old. But if you still find yourself reaching for a bottle of that classic Midleton release, nobody is going to argue with you.
Read the full article at Like Redbreast 12? Five Irish Whiskeys To Try Next

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New Era Marquee Small Batch Bourbon Blended by 9 Experts New Era ...

2026-10-17T05:25:48Z

New Era Marquee Small Batch Bourbon Blended by 9 Experts

New Era Distillery has unveiled Marquee Small Batch Bourbon, an inaugural release blended by a nine-strong panel of Kentucky bourbon professionals. The Lexington-based producer selected the first batch from 11 Kentucky bourbon barrels, aged between five and nine years across seven different mash bills, with a suggested retail price of $49.99 (£37).
The first batch was chosen through a roundtable-style blending session involving some of the state’s leading tasters.
Nine bourbon professionals came together to taste 30 barrels ranging in age from five to nine years. The group was split into three teams, with each developing its preferred blend before all three voted to select the winning batch.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
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The selection committee for batch #1 included Maggie Kimberl, content editor at American Whiskey Magazine and a spirits judge; Himanshu Mallick, general manager and bourbon barrel pick specialist at The Pour House; and Kenny Mills, co-host of the Mash Up Bourbon Podcast.
The panel also featured Edward Callico of the Bourbon Brotherhood, Felicia Chism of the Kentucky Black Bourbon Guild, Chris Rose of the Lexington Bourbon Society, Mark Rucker of The Bourbon Life Podcast, Tom Wilburn, creative bar lead at Watch Hill Proper, and Brad Williams, senior category manager at Liquor Barn.
Marquee is the latest project from the team behind New Era Whiskey, a rare, cask-strength, single barrel brand.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
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“The tastemakers that blended this first batch of Marquee had a blast and created a stellar whiskey,” said Zane Brammell, founder of New Era Whiskey. “I love cask strength bourbon. All of our New Era single barrel releases are cask strength. But I recognize sometimes people don’t always want a super strong, high-priced bottle. Some cocktails and social occasions call for a bourbon like Marquee.”
The brand said each release carries colorful labels ranging from vintage-inspired artwork to futuristic mashups, designed to “spark a story.”
“People seem to love the variety of creative labels on our newspaper style New Era bottles,” Brammell said. “We wanted to continue the fun with these colorful Marquee Exclusive labels.”
Kimberl, one of the panelists, said: “New Era has embarked on a new chapter, one which I thoroughly enjoyed participating in. We worked hard on this first Marquee Bourbon blend and I hope everyone enjoys the fruits of our labor!”
The 750ml bottle is available at the New Era Whiskey Distillery, online, and at select Kentucky retailers soon. Future releases will involve a rotating cast of tastemakers, with plans to include contributors from across the United States.
Read the full article at New Era Marquee Small Batch Bourbon Blended by 9 Experts

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The World’s Best Whisky According To The IWSC 2026 Trophies ...

2026-10-15T22:24:13Z

The World’s Best Whisky According To The IWSC 2026 Trophies

What do a bottled-in-bond bourbon sold only in Kentucky, an American whiskey finished in casks from the Scottish island of Jura, and a blend first created for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation have in common? All three are among the seven whiskies named Trophy winners at the International Wine & Spirits Competition (IWSC) 2026 last week.
The IWSC awarded 24 Spirits Trophies, and whisky took Trophies in the Bourbon, American, Irish, Worldwide, and three Scotch categories. We have already covered the Scotch winners, so today we are taking a step back and looking at how all seven are made, who made them, and the history behind each one.
How Are The IWSC Trophies Awarded?
The IWSC began in 1969 and says it is “often referred to as the ‘Olympics of the drinks industry’.” It now evaluates more than 12,000 entries a year from over 90 countries.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
I know the basics
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Each label is checked for correct categorization, and samples are served in numbered glasses to keep the judging anonymous. Judging panels bring together experts from different sectors of the trade, drawn from more than 30 countries.
Every spirit awarded Gold is then retasted by a member of the independent Spirits Judging Committee, which includes Master Distillers, Master Blenders, senior buyers, and communicators.
For the Trophies, several committee members reconvened after this year’s spirits judging to retaste the top-performing Gold and Gold Outstanding winners and choose the bottles to receive the competition’s highest individual awards.
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Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish
Award: Trophy, American Whiskey
Score: 99
Tasting Notes: “A vibrant burst of cinnamon and spiced vanilla melds seamlessly with zesty orange peels and caramel on the nose. Rich orange and nutmeg flavours unfold alongside chocolate and warm wood spices, leading to a bright, juicy finish with a lively balance of oak and sweet tang. Exceptionally well-balanced and full of character.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $139.99
This whiskey scored higher than any other entry in the IWSC’s North American judging. Bardstown Bourbon Company Lochs of Jura Barrel Finish is a blend of 49% 11-year-old Indiana bourbon, 30% 10-year-old Indiana rye, and 21% 12-year-old Kentucky bourbon, placing it in the American whiskey category.
The blend spent 32 months in casks that had held single malt on the Isle of Jura, which were made up of 84% ex-bourbon and 16% ex-sherry barrels. The sherry casks were too big for the ricks, so they stayed in the warehouse aisles. The whiskey is bottled at 104 proof (52% ABV).
Lochs of Jura forms part of Bardstown Bourbon Company’s Collaborative Series, which sees the Kentucky producer work with worldwide spirit, wine, and beer producers to craft unique expressions.
Willett Distillery Old Bardstown Bottled-in-Bond 4 Year Old
Award: Trophy, Bourbon
Score: 98
Tasting Notes: “Bright and grain-forward aromas lead into a balanced, dry palate where marmalade and brioche melds seamlessly with a delicate floral touch. The oak and distillate fuse superbly, leaving a refined, lingering finish full of character and charm. Superb.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: $19
Thompson Willett established Willett Distillery in Bardstown in 1936, but the Old Bardstown brand has not always been made there.
According to Breaking Bourbon, the distillery stopped producing bourbon during the 1970s energy crisis. By the early 1980s, the company had been renamed Kentucky Bourbon Distillers and was sourcing whiskey for Old Bardstown, believed to be mostly from Heaven Hill.
Willett returned to distilling in 2012 and started moving the brand over to its own spirit in 2016, the year this bottled-in-bond expression was released.
The bourbon uses what Willett calls the original family mash bill of 72% corn, 13% rye, and 15% malted barley, and it enters the barrel at 125 proof.
To be labeled bottled-in-bond, it must come from one distilling season at a single distillery, be aged for at least four years in a federally bonded warehouse, and be bottled at 100 proof. Willett distributes it only in Kentucky.
Teeling Distillery Exclusive 20 Year Old Mongolian Oak Cask Single Malt Irish Whiskey
Award: Trophy, Irish Whiskey
Score: 98
Tasting Notes: “Bright tropical fruits of mango and pineapple to the fore with well-integrated oak. The palate offers a lively burst of citrus that unfolds into gentle nuttiness, evoking a subtle cheese board richness. It concludes with a crisp, white-wine freshness and a sweet, candy-floss sweetness.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: Distillery exclusive
Teeling’s 20-year-old single malt was finished in a Mongolian oak cask. Quercus Mongolica is a species of deciduous broadleaf that, when used in whisky maturation, gives a smooth mouthfeel thanks to the lack of tannins compared to other types of oak. It also gives similar flavors to Mizunara oak.
The whiskey is older than Teeling’s own distillery in Dublin. It was distilled and partly matured at Cooley Distillery before being moved to Teeling. It is bottled at 45.9% ABV, and only 276 bottles were released.
The Teeling family established Cooley in 1987, and the family’s history in Dublin distilling goes back to 1782, when Walter Teeling set up a distillery on Marrowbone Lane. John Teeling’s sons, Jack and Stephen, opened the current distillery in the Liberties in 2015.
This release is part of Teeling’s run of 20-year-old distillery exclusives, which has also included a Cognac cask edition.
Wan Ja Shan Distillery Dawu Malt Blended Whiskey
Award: Trophy, Worldwide Whiskey
Score: 98
Tasting Notes: “A gorgeous blend of tropical and orchard fruits, with toffee and woody spice notes. Layers of rich sweetness unfold on the palate, revealing baked apple and cherries with elegant texture. The delightful wine gum finish is full of charm.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: N/A
Here we have one of the peculiarities that sometimes make their way into international competitions: a whiskey distilled in Ireland and aged in Taiwan.
Wan Ja Shan is best known in Taiwan as a soy sauce maker. The Drinks Business reports that it was founded after Japan withdrew from Taiwan at the end of the Second World War. In 2016, it brought in Dr Frank Lin, who spent 38 years at the state-run Taiwan Tobacco and Liquor Corporation, as a whiskey consultant.
The Dawu name was adopted in 2023 and comes from Dawu Mountain in Pingtung County, in the south of the island.
The label on this bottle states that it was distilled in Ireland and aged in Taiwan, but it does not name the Irish distillery. Wan Ja Shan is based in Pingtung, where the company has built a maturation facility with temperature and humidity controls, powered by solar panels on its factory roofs.
The whiskey carries no age statement and is bottled at 54.9% ABV.
Bowmore 9 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Award: Trophy, Single Malt Scotch Whisky Under 20 YO
Score: 98
Tasting Notes: “Aromas of delicate sea salt, crème caramel, and light peat smoke. On the palate, roasted peaches and soft bonfire smoke take centre stage, beautifully balanced by notes of oats, roasted pumpkin seeds, fresh rhubarb, and a pinch of sea salt.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: £32.50 / $44
Bowmore still runs its own malt barn, and according to the distillery, the barley there is turned by hand every four hours, day and night. It is then dried in a kiln with two furnaces, where peat smoke rises through a mesh floor to the malt above. Fermentation takes place in six two-story Oregon pine washbacks, each named after a person or family from the distillery’s history, and the spirit is distilled in four stills.
The 9 Year Old is matured for at least nine years in a mix of American oak ex-bourbon casks and European oak Oloroso sherry butts, and it is bottled at 40% ABV. It is fantastic value-for-money for a single malt from Bowmore.
Bowmore has been making whisky on the shore of Loch Indaal since 1779 and is now owned by Suntory Global Spirits. We cover more of its history in our Scotch Trophy round-up.
East Asia Whisky Company & Silver Seal 35 Year Old Manta Ray Seven Clean Seas Bunnahabhain Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Award: Trophy, Single Malt Scotch Whisky Over 20 YO
Score: 98
Tasting Notes: “Bright fragrant notes of lemon biscuits and chamomile lead into a sweet, creamy palate rich with delicate floral notes and hints of Danish pastry. The vibrant tropical fruit carries through to a long, elegant finish, showing superb balance and depth.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: N/A
The Manta Ray series began with a rum. The East Asia Whisky Company and Italy’s Silver Seal Whisky Company first used the name on a 1997 vintage Caroni rum, bottled after 25 years, with sales supporting the UK charity the Manta Trust. Caroni is a closed distillery, and the bottlers used the release to warn that manta rays could meet the same fate.
This 35-year-old single malt is a joint entry from the two bottlers, according to the IWSC, and it is bottled at a cask strength of 49.3% ABV. You can read more about it here.
The blender William Robertson and the brothers William and James Greenlees established Bunnahabhain in 1881. The distillery and a village for its workers were built together in the north-east corner of Islay, and production began in 1883. Bunnahabhain is known for its unpeated single malt.
Royal Salute 21 Year Old Signature Blend Blended Scotch Whisky
Award: Trophy, Blended Scotch Whisky
Score: 96
Tasting Notes: “A layered nose of bright tropical fruits and polished oak with savoury depth. The palate unfolds with a wisp of smoke over oatcakes, digestive biscuits, and subtle spice. Refreshing citrus and playful sherbet tones leave a vibrant, lasting impression.” – IWSC Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: £105 / $131
Royal Salute takes its name from the 21-gun salute fired in tribute to royalty, and the Signature Blend was created as a gift for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation in 1953. The youngest whisky in any Royal Salute blend is at least 21 years old. The original blend was created using whisky from Strathisla, which, like Royal Salute, is now owned by Chivas Brothers, Pernod Ricard’s Scotch whisky business. The recipe has apparently stayed the same for all these years.
The Signature Blend is bottled at 40% ABV in a sapphire blue flagon designed to recall the stones in the Crown Jewels. Royal Salute has been part of Pernod Ricard since 2001.
The blend earned Gold with 96 points, and as we noted in our Scotch Trophy round-up, no blended Scotch reached Gold Outstanding this year.
Seven Trophies From Thousands of Entries
The IWSC’s judges tasted thousands of spirits entered from around the world this year. Only the Gold and Gold Outstanding winners moved on to be retasted by the Spirits Judging Committee, and just 24 Spirits Trophies came out of that whole field, seven of them for whisky. The IWSC evaluates more than 12,000 entries a year across wine, spirits, and other drinks, and a Trophy is the highest award it gives to an individual bottle. So, these whiskies certainly made their marks.
Have you tried any of these seven? Are there any you would like to get your hands on, and what do you make of the awards? Let us know in the comments.
Read the full article at The World’s Best Whisky According To The IWSC 2026 Trophies

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-awards/the-worlds-best-whisky-according-to-the-iwsc-2026-trophies/

These 5 Indian Whiskies Scored Highest At The USA Spirits Ratings ...

2026-10-15T21:53:00Z

These 5 Indian Whiskies Scored Highest At The USA Spirits Ratings 2026

The USA Spirits Ratings is a little different from many spirits competitions. Rather than having critics taste the whiskies, the judges at the USA Spirits Ratings are trade buyers, the people who decide which bottles end up on store shelves and restaurant back bars. Alongside quality (50%), they also score every entry on value for money (25%) and how it looks on the shelf (25%). So, it is worth sitting up and paying attention to what they have to say.
Indian single malt did very well with this crowd in 2026. Indri’s Diwali release topped the Indian entries with 96 points and two special awards, a Goan single malt called Kadamba was named Single Malt Whiskey of the Year, and Amrut, which was nowhere to be seen in the Indian results at the International Whisky Competition 2026, placed twice in the top five.
Here are the five highest-scoring Indian whiskies, and let us know in the comments if you think the judges got it right.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
I know the basics
I have a good understanding of whisky
I am very knowledgeable about whisky
I work, or have worked, in the whisky or spirits industry
SUBMIT
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Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2026 – Ruby Port Cask
Award: Double Gold, Indian Single Malt Whiskey Of The Year, Spirit Of The Year – India
Score: 96 points
Tasting Notes: “Aromas of sea air, peat, and burned sugar lead to a full-bodied palate with layered spices and a long, well-balanced finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings Judges
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Find Your Next Bottle: £179.95 / $225 / ₹25,500
Indri’s Diwali releases have had a very good year, with the 2025 Marsala cask edition taking first place among the Indian whiskies at the IWC and the new 2026 bottling now finishing top here. Piccadily Distilleries has released one each year since 2023, starting with peated PX sherry casks and moving to Ruby Port for this fourth edition.
The limited editions are crafted to celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of light.
It is made at Indri in Haryana, under master blended Surrinder Kumar, from Indian six-row barley distilled in copper pot stills, then matured in Ruby Port casks from Portugal. Krsnaa Mehta of India Circus designed the bottle, which has a white Marwari horse and foal printed onto the glass.
In the UK, 180 numbered bottles were released at 58.5% ABV with no age statement. The Indian market variant is 50% ABV and can be found in some duty-free airports.
This whisky also took Indian Single Malt Whisky of the Year and Spirit of the Year India.
Amrut Indian Single Malt Whisky Cask Strength
Award: Gold
Score: 95 points
Tasting Notes: “A soft, grain-forward profile features sandalwood, toasted coconut, and cinnamon, with a subtle peat note, balanced spice, and a smooth, lingering finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: £70 / $86 / ₹9,190
India’s first single malt came from Amrut, and the company launched it in Glasgow in 2004 rather than at home. J.N. Radhakrishna Rao Jagdale founded the business in Bengaluru in 1948, and it made brandy and rum for years before its Kambipura distillery was completed in 1987.
The Cask Strength is made from unpeated six-row barley from Punjab, Haryana, and Rajasthan, double distilled in copper pot stills, and matured in new American oak and ex-bourbon barrels. It is a permanent part of the range, bottled at 61.8% ABV with no age statement.
It packs a powerful punch with the high ABV, but is fairly easy-drinking and a great way to step-up from entry-level Amruts.
Kadamba Indian Single Malt Whisky World Cask
Award: Gold, Single Malt Whiskey Of The Year
Score: 94 points
Tasting Notes: “A light gold spirit offers earthy grain and caramel notes complemented by subtle tropical and baking spice nuances, with a balanced, warm finish and a refined smoky peat aroma.” – USA Spirits Rating Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: ₹2700+
Kadamba finished two points behind Indri but still took the competition’s overall Single Malt Whiskey of the Year award.
It comes from Imperial Distillers & Vintners in Goa, part of the Cheers Group founded by Dr. Mohan Krishna, and takes its name from the Kadamba dynasty, which ruled Goa for around three centuries.
The World Cask edition launched in November 2024. It is distilled in copper pot stills and matured in various casks near the town of Kadamba in North Goa, with no age statement. The judges’ notes mention a “refined smoky peat aroma.”
This one is very difficult to find outside of India. But if you see it, grab it and give it a try.
Godawan 01 Single Malt Rich & Rounded Artisan Whisky
Award: Gold
Score: 94 points
Tasting Notes: “This spirit offers a refined balance of toasted oak and burnt sugar on the nose, with a rich, mellow palate featuring malty biscuit, tobacco, and subtle vanilla, culminating in a smooth, well-integrated finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings
Find Your Next Bottle: £61 / $76 / ₹5,400
Godawan takes its name from the Great Indian Bustard, an endangered bird found in Rajasthan, and Diageo India launched the brand in 2022 with a commitment to its conservation. It is made at the Alwar distillery from six-row barley grown in the region, and matures in temperatures often around 100°F.
This expression is matured in PX sherry casks, then moved into bourbon barrels treated with two Indian botanicals, Rasna and Jatamansi. A brand representative told Robb Report the botanicals are “used for sensorial purposes, more so than for taste.”
It is bottled at 46% ABV with no age statement.
Godawan has certainly made an impression since it launched, with over 125 global awards to its name to date.
Amrut Pravas Single Malt Whisky
Award: Gold
Score: 93 points
Tasting Notes: “A medium amber spirit reveals gentle pear and turbinado sugar on the nose, with a sweet malty palate, toasted cereal notes, and a smooth, lightly smoky finish.” – USA Spirits Ratings Judges
Find Your Next Bottle: GTR Exclusive
Pravas is the newest whisky on this list, and you won’t find it on regular store shelves. Amrut launched it at TFWA Singapore in May 2026 as an exclusive for duty-free and travel retail.
It comes from the same Kambipura distillery as the Cask Strength, crafted by master distiller Ashok Chokalingam, and was matured in ex-bourbon, Madeira, and Port wine casks.
The first run is 3,000 one-liter bottles at 46% ABV, non-chill filtered and with no added color.
At the time of launch, Rakshit N. Jagdale, MD of Amrut Distilleries, said: “We are immensely proud to present Amrut Pravas on the global stage at TFWA Singapore. This expression is a celebration of India in every sense — diverse, vibrant, layered, and constantly evolving. Through Pravas, we wanted to create a whisky that reflects the spirit of travel and discovery while remaining deeply rooted in Indian craftsmanship and identity.”
What Do You Think?
Four producers account for the five highest-scoring Indian whiskies at this year’s USA Spirits Ratings. Indri’s Diwali release finished on top with 96 points and two special awards, and Kadamba took Single Malt Whiskey of the Year. Amrut, which was missing from the Indian results at the IWC, placed twice with a long-running cask strength bottling and a brand-new travel exclusive.
Have you tried any of these five? Are there any you would like to get your hands on, and what do you make of the awards? Let us know in the comments.
Read the full article at These 5 Indian Whiskies Scored Highest At The USA Spirits Ratings 2026

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-awards/these-5-indian-whiskies-scored-highest-at-the-usa-spirits-ratings-2026/

Barrell Craft Spirits Launches 12 Year Old French Toasted Oak ...

2026-10-15T20:51:28Z

Barrell Craft Spirits Launches 12 Year Old French Toasted Oak Bourbon In Red Label Series

Louisville-based independent blender Barrell Craft Spirits (BCS) has launched a 12-year-old bourbon called French Toast(ed), finished in French oak casks, as part of its age-stated Red Label Series. The blend combines straight bourbon whiskeys from distilleries in Indiana, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Wyoming, with the component whiskeys ranging from 12 to 17 years old.
BCS finished the liquid in several types of French oak cask with different toast levels. The blenders focused on Grand Chauffe barrels “for deeper, more complex flavor.”
The bottling strength is 107.24 proof (53.62% ABV).
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
I know the basics
I have a good understanding of whisky
I am very knowledgeable about whisky
I work, or have worked, in the whisky or spirits industry
SUBMIT
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According to the official notes from the brand, the whiskey shows toasted brioche, vanilla custard, roasted nuts, cinnamon, clove, and crème brûlée. BCS said these French toast-inspired flavors “naturally emerged from the blend” and gave the release its name.
“This is our second release of a 12-year bourbon finished in French Oak,” said BCS founder Joe Beatrice. “While this bourbon whiskey shares the same foundation as our first release, we take a vintage-like approach with each batch, allowing every expression to develop its own distinct character.”
The earlier bottling arrived in September 2025 at 108.5 proof. It combined bourbons aged 12 to 15 years and finished them in French oak barrels for 3 to 36 months, depending on the component.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
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That release reached a cask strength of 113.4 proof, with a suggested retail price of $159.99 per 750ml bottle.
At the time, Beatrice said: “Red Label bourbons offer a twist on our classics, paying homage to our origins and to some of our favorite products.”
French Toast(ed) has the same suggested retail price of $159.99 (£121 / ₹15,480) per 750ml bottle. Consumers can buy it online at barrellbourbon.com and at select retailers.
BCS launched in Louisville in 2013, operating as an independent blender and bottler. It selects and blends whiskeys to explore different distillation methods, barrels, and aging environments.
The company’s portfolio is available in 49 US states, Puerto Rico, the UK, South Korea, Ukraine, and Australia.
Read the full article at Barrell Craft Spirits Launches 12 Year Old French Toasted Oak Bourbon In Red Label Series

https://thewhiskeywash.com/whiskey-news/barrell-craft-spirits-launches-12-year-old-french-toasted-oak-bourbon-in-red-label-series/

Heriot-Watt £35m Brewing & Distilling Centre Could Boost ...

2026-10-15T19:30:01Z

Heriot-Watt £35m Brewing & Distilling Centre Could Boost Scottish Economy by £53.5m

A proposed £35 million (US$46.7m) Centre for Advanced Brewing and Distilling (CABD) at Heriot-Watt University could generate an additional £53.4m (US$71.2m) for the Scottish economy each year, according to a new report from BiGGAR Economics. The independent Economic Impact Assessment analyzes the potential benefits of the state-of-the-art facility, which would continue the Edinburgh university’s brewing and distilling research dating back to 1903.
BiGGAR estimates that within 10 years, the CABD could generate a total economic impact of £324.8m (US$433m) in Gross Value Added (GVA) per year for Scotland, alongside 1,570 jobs.
The new center would build on the success of Heriot-Watt’s International Centre for Brewing and Distilling (ICBD), which has supported the sector for nearly 40 years. In 2024/25, the ICBD generated £240.1m (US$320m) GVA for the Scottish economy and supported 1,180 jobs.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
Tick as many as you like
or
2
Must the barley in a single malt be grown in the same country the whisky is made in?
Yes
No
Not sure
3
How would you describe your whisky knowledge?
I know very little about whisky
I know the basics
I have a good understanding of whisky
I am very knowledgeable about whisky
I work, or have worked, in the whisky or spirits industry
SUBMIT
✓ Thank you — your response has been recorded!
Something went wrong. Please try again.
To construct the CABD, Heriot-Watt is seeking £25.3m (US$33.7m) from industry and £9.7m (US$12.9m) in public investment. BiGGAR’s assessment states the center could deliver £20.80 of economic benefit for every £1 of public funding invested.
Scotland’s alcohol sector currently employs 60,000 people, representing 2.4% of all jobs in the country and 71% of the UK’s distilling workforce.
The report warns that the ICBD’s ability to sustain its success is under threat, with facilities no longer able to meet student and industry demand.
What Will Whisky Look Like in 2027? Voices from Whisky Live Paris
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A new center would help the sector tackle 21st-century challenges, including a commitment to reach net zero by 2040, high water usage in Scotch whisky production, and input costs that rose 37% between 2020 and 2025.
To be located beside the National Robotarium, the CABD would house plug-and-play brewing and distilling equipment, advanced research labs, a sensory suite, and carbon capture technology.
Professor Chris Turney, deputy principal of research and innovation at Heriot-Watt University, said the report “provides a huge vote of confidence in our vision.” He added: “Now we can build a new era for brewing and distilling, driven by sustainability and excellence, and keep Scotland where it belongs: a global leader in both.”
Ewan Andrew, Diageo’s president of global supply chain and procurement and chief sustainability officer, who co-chairs Heriot-Watt’s CABD fundraising committee, said: “Together, industry investment, philanthropy, government and academic excellence can build resilience and growth opportunities at a speed and scale none of us can achieve alone.”
Shona Glenn, director at BiGGAR Economics, said the ICBD’s “facilities and equipment are no longer fit for purpose.” She added: “The CABD would address this by providing a bespoke new facility designed to meet the research and development needs of the sector and facilitate industry wide collaboration.”
Read the full article at Heriot-Watt £35m Brewing & Distilling Centre Could Boost Scottish Economy by £53.5m

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Old Forester Tribute Series Debuts With 12-Year-Old Bourbon ...

2026-10-15T16:50:12Z

Old Forester Tribute Series Debuts With 12-Year-Old Bourbon

Credit: Old Forester
Old Forester has launched the Tribute Series, a new annual ultra-premium bourbon release that debuts with a 12-year-old expression bottled at 115 proof. The Brown-Forman-owned brand will release the 2026 edition in limited quantities at select U.S. retailers from today (October 15), priced at $299.99 (£226 / ₹28,500).
The series celebrates the brand’s “legacy of firsts” and its mid-century decanter designs.
Old Forester calls the release “the pinnacle of the brand’s craft.” The liquid comes in a new collectible bottle inspired by the brand’s historic holiday decanter collection.
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“The Tribute Series celebrates the craftsmanship and innovation that has defined Old Forester for generations,” said Caleb Trigo, assistant master distiller. “By bringing together some of our most mature whisky and drawing inspiration from an important chapter in our design history, we’ve created an expression that honors where Old Forester has been while showcasing what makes our whisky distinctive today.”
The brand batches its highest age-stated stock for the series. It does not rely on single-barrel or single-lot selections.
Each edition will be bottled between 110 and 125 proof. Old Forester describes this range as “the optimal proof.”
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According to the brand, each release will deliver “a rich profile that sets a new standard for high-aged bourbon.” The official notes from the brand cite aromas of warm caramel, sweet leather, golden raisins and dark cherries. Cherry and candied walnuts lead on the palate, followed by sweet cinnamon and cardamom. A long finish brings toasted oak, peppercorn, cherry preserves and black tea.
Old Forester first launched its decanter series in 1950. Between 1954 and 1969, the brand released annual holiday decanters with mid-century designs. The new bottle reinterprets that heritage. It has an architectural glass shape with vertical facets and metallic accents.
A heavy metallic stopper carries an engraving of Old Forester’s historic quality statement.
The brand said the series pairs “exceptional whisky and Old Forester’s historic eye for distinctive packaging.” It aims to create “a meaningful, modern collectible designed to be as memorable as the bourbon it holds.”
Pharmacist George Garvin Brown founded Old Forester in Louisville in 1870. It was the first bourbon sold only in sealed bottles, which is the basis for its “America’s First Bottled Bourbon” claim.
Brown’s company became Brown-Forman, which still owns the brand. The group’s portfolio also includes Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve and Herradura.
Old Forester’s existing range includes the Whiskey Row Series. That collection includes Old Forester 1910 Old Fine Whisky, the brand’s first twice-barreled expression.
The brand also matures its whisky with a heat-cycling process, which it says shapes flavor over time.
Read the full article at Old Forester Tribute Series Debuts With 12-Year-Old Bourbon

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How a Tornado Created One of Buffalo Trace’s Most Collectible ...

2026-10-15T14:15:56Z

How a Tornado Created One of Buffalo Trace’s Most Collectible Bourbons

On the evening of April 2, 2006, a storm with tornado-strength winds hit Buffalo Trace Distillery in Frankfort, Kentucky. According to Robin Robinson’s American Whiskey, it ripped the roof off Warehouse C, a brick rickhouse built under Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. in 1881.
You might expect a story like this to end with a pile of ruined barrels, but the bourbon resting on the warehouse’s top floors actually went on to become a bottle collectors still chase today.
Buffalo Trace released Colonel E.H. Taylor, Jr. Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon in 2012, with a suggested retail price of $69.99. Today, bottles regularly list for several thousand dollars at retail, anywhere from $ 6,000 to $ 10,000.
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.
1
Which stages must take place at the same distillery for a whisky to be called “single malt”?
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or
2
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3
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So, what actually happened to those barrels of bourbon, and what effect did it have on the final product?
How The 2006 Tornado Hit Buffalo Trace Warehouse C
Warehouse C was already a notable building long before the storm. Colonel Edmund Haynes Taylor Jr., a legendary figure in the industry, built it in 1885 while he was running the site as the O.F.C. Distillery. He was reportedly extremely proud of the warehouse, which was designed to optimise air circulation and control maturation.
An image from a Buffalo Trace press release showing the damage to Warehouse C after the storm.
Sadly, around 120 years later, Warehouse C took a battering. April 2, 2006, saw one of the worst tornado outbreaks in modern US history, with 66 instances over seven states. Tornado-strength winds ripped part of the roof off of Warehouse C in Frankfort.
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Miraculously, though, the barrels remained intact. Rather than move them, the distillery left them in place while repairs went on for several months.
What Did This Do To The Bourbon?
The exposed barrels from Warehouse C spent a Kentucky summer in direct sunlight, with much bigger swings in heat and airflow than usual. This increased the whiskey/wood interaction, pushing the bourbon in and out of the crevices in the cask at a greater rate. Robin Robinson reports that the time spent exposed doubled the expected angel’s share, with evaporation reaching 63.9%.
Left to age once the warehouse was repaired, Buffalo Trace chose 93 barrels from the top two floors for the release and emptied them into a single batch in late 2011. At that point, the youngest barrel was 9 years and 8 months old, and many were 11 years and 11 months old.
The distillery bottled the whiskey under its E.H. Taylor, Jr. label as a bottled-in-bond bourbon at 100 proof, using what it calls its Rye Mash #1 recipe. It was the third release in the E.H. Taylor collection, following the Old Fashioned Sour Mash and the Single Barrel.
Colonel E.H. Taylor Jr. Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon Tasting Notes and Reviews
So, what did this increased whiskey/wood interaction do to the flavor of the bourbon?
According to Buffalo Trace’s official tasting notes, the nose opens with dried fig and cloves, then baking spice and a dry oakiness. On the palate, the distillery picks out jammy fruit, vanilla and a little smoke, and the finish moves into dark spice and tobacco.
Critics were broadly positive when it came out. John Hansell gave it 90 points in the Summer 2012 issue of Whisky Advocate and summed it up as “Very drinkable for 100 proof, and with plenty of character.” Christopher Null at Drinkhacker was even more enthusiastic, writing that it was “Probably the best Taylor of the three bottlings released so far.”
From $70 to Thousands
When it launched in 2012, Buffalo Trace set a suggested retail price of $69.99, but thanks to its rarity and collectibility, bottles now change hands for thousands of dollars.
At auction, bottles are currently selling for around $3,100-$4,000, with a bottle selling for as much as $8,404 in February 2021. Retailers regularly ask $6,000 plus for the bottle.
Buffalo Trace Warehouse X: Recreating the Storm on Purpose
E.H. Taylor Jr. Tornado Surviving Bourbon was a happy accident born out of tragedy that has become something of an icon in the bourbon community. According to Robin Robinson, though, it actually had far-reaching consequences for Buffalo Trace.
According to Robinson’s American Whiskey, the tornado bourbon was what inspired Buffalo Trace to build Warehouse X in 2013. It’s an experimental warehouse designed to study how the elements affect bourbon while it ages, including what made the Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon so special.
The building is fairly small, at 30 by 50 feet. Inside are four separate chambers that can each be set up differently, plus an open-air breezeway. Buffalo Trace tests natural light, temperature, humidity, and airflow one at a time, as part of a 20-year project that it expects to produce around 70 million data points.
The first experiment ended in 2016 and looked at natural light. It found that light on its own didn’t change the color or proof of the bourbon.
The second experiment ended in 2019 and focused on temperature. It gathered 9.1 million data points, which the distillery says showed how temperature changes the pressure inside the barrels, along with the whiskey’s color and flavor.
Buffalo Trace then announced a third, two-year experiment looking at how rising and falling temperatures affect the whiskey in the barrel. By October 2020, that experiment had already produced 1.3 million data points.
What The Tornado Surviving Bourbon Taught Buffalo Trace
Warehouse C today. Credit: Buffalo Trace
Nobody at Buffalo Trace wanted a storm to tear open one of its warehouses, but the barrels left sitting under an open sky turned into a bourbon collectors still go looking for today. The accident also pushed the distillery to think much more carefully about how the conditions inside a warehouse shape the whiskey, and that thinking led directly to Warehouse X, which we hope to hear more about in the near future.
Have you ever managed to try a bottle of Warehouse C Tornado Surviving Bourbon, and if not, would you pay what it costs now to find out?
Read the full article at How a Tornado Created One of Buffalo Trace’s Most Collectible Bourbons

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