Background – Here at The Cask Connoisseur, even though we’re not subscribed to every potential newsletter or source of information, we receive around four hundred emails over the course of a month with various promotions, new release information, distillery newsletter,updates etc. Add on social media posts and that amounts to somewhere well over 1000 pieces of information being reviewed per month. The aim of this monthly round up is to provide a summary of the most interesting bits along with upcoming events that can be gleaned from them. The downside to a monthly review is a lot of “special offers” will have come and gone.
Summary of the Month
Distilleries reducing production, blends increasing in popularity.
Whisky Highlights
Recent analysis by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), showed the increase in alcohol tax in last year’s budget added 0.35 percent to inflation from 1 August to 30 June, resulting in £2.3billion in additional interest payments on government borrowing. Whilst His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC) found that revenue from excise duty decreased by £132 million over the same period, compared to the previous year.
If correct, then that cost would roughly provide a free bottle of standard single malt whisky for every man, woman and child in the UK. Now that would be awesome. What are your thoughts?
Non-Age Statement (NAS) whisky became a popular product amongst distilleries (at least) a decade ago. This we were told, was because distilleries had a shortage of appropriately aged casks to supply the needs of their “age statement” core ranges. This year has seen multiple well aged whiskies including blends being released. This suggests that stock management has improved, or could it simply be a surplus? An intriguing alternative provided is that collectors now better appreciate and understand age statements and are more willing to explore rare spirits. Or is this just marketing?
Whisky Business
Auction prices appear to be increasing although volume is still low, probably due to the time of year.
Master of Malts has returned to ownership of the founder, Justin Pestzaft, six years after he sold to ZX Ventures, the growth and innovation unit of AB InBev.
Glen Scotia’s Victoriana (£75, 54.2% ABV) won a platinum medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition in 2024. First released in 2017 it is said to be, “a modern interpretation of a classic Victorian style Campbeltown Malt Whisky”.
Swedish distillery Mackmyra files for bankruptcy.
Princetown Distillers, claimed to be England’s largest whisky distillery (1.5 million litres of pure alcohol) is looking to raise £5 million to start production.
Penderyn halts production at its third distillery in Swansea due to the “slow economy” and a drop in demand for premium products. Distillery tours and tasting events will continue top be provided.
Whisky Releases
Cadenheads Authentic Collection August 2024 – Nine cask strength whiskies with prices vary between £60 for a Balmenach-Glenlivet 12yo 56.5% ABV to £500 Highland Park 32yo 56.0%ABV.
Decadent Drinks completes the “Whisky Sponge Series” and releases the first chapter of Whiskyland a 26 year old Springbank (£975, 56.8% ABV).
Little Brown Dog summer release consists of three single casks and one blend. Our favourite is a Glentauchers 11 Year limited to 285 bottles (£89.99, 58.9% ABV)
Ardbeg 19 Years Old Traigh Bhan Batch 6 (£245, 46.2% ABV), “every drop leads to a crescendo of smoky soot, dark chocolate, and peppermint”.
Glenmorangie releases a three bottle, 600 sets, Pursuit of Passion Wine Cask Collection for£7,740. The set consists of a 29 year old Glenmorangie Margaux Wine Cask Finish (52.5% ABV), a 28 year old Corton-Charlemagne Wine Cask Finish (52.1% ABV) having spent 18 of those years in white wine casks, a 27 year old Barbaresco Wine Cask Finish (52.1% ABV).
Talisker releases its annual 30 year old (£1300, 49.5% ABV). This year’s release consists of 2610 bottles. First released in 2006, the signature flavour for Talisker is “pepper and smoke” is “elevated to new heights” and “it’s like drinking the best smoked butter.
Lindores distillery introduces Thiron (2024), the first of an annual series of limited edition bottles.
Infrequent Flyers (Alistair Walker Whisky Company) release five new single casks from Tormore, Craigellachie, Linkwood, Glenrothes and Bunnahabhain.
Upcoming Whisky Events
Those without full dates, have occurred in 2024 without releasing 2025 dates at present.
6th September 2024 – Cadenhead’s in the Courtyard, Campbeltown
6th – 8th September 2024 – Whisky Show, London
6th– 7th September 2024 – Spirit of Speyside: Distilled, Elgin
9th – 14th September 2024 – Hebridean Whisky Festival
13th – 14th September 2024 – Whisky Indy Love Fest, Newcastle upon Tyne
14th September 2024 – Scottish National Whisky Festival, Aberdeen
21st September 2024 – The Whisky Lounge: Liverpool Whisky Festival
26th September 2024 – Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival
28th September 2024 – Alhambra Whisky Festival, Stirling
5th October 2024 – Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival
5th – 6th October 2024 – Midland Whisky Festival, Birmingham
18th – 19th October 2024 – Manchester Whisky Festival
19th October 2024 – Wee Dram Fest, Bakewell
25th – 27th October 2024 – Dornoch Whisky Festival
26th October 2024 – Whisky Social Belfast, Belfast
1st – 3rd November 2024 – Wales Whisky Fest, Llandudno
2nd November 2024 – Leeds Whisky Festival
2nd November 2024 – Stirling Whisky Festival
23rd November 2024 – English Whisky Festival, Birmingham
6th – 7th December 2024 – Kendal Whisky Festival
10th – 11th January 2025 – Harrow Whisky Festival
18th – 19th January 2025 – Southport Whisky Festival (Winter)
25th January 2025 – Scottish National Whisky Festival, Glasgow
8th February 2025 – Exploring Whisky: Bristol
28th February – 2nd March 2025 – Fife Whisky Festival, various locations in Fife.
15th March 2025 – Croydon Whisky Festival
21st – 22nd 2025 – Whisky Live London
28th March 2025 – Whisky Fair – Cambridge
29th March 2025 – The Whisky Lounge: Newcastle Whisky Festival
11th – 12th April 2025 – Welcome to Whisky Show, London
12th April 2025 – Clackmannanshire’s Whisky Festival, Alloa
30th April – 5th May 2025 – Spirit of Speyside
16th – 17th May 2025 – Whiskey Live Dublin
18th May 2025 – The Whisky Event, London
19th – 24th May 2025 – Campbeltown Whisky Festival
23rd – 31 May 2025 – Fèis Ìle, Islay
14th – 15th June 2025 – Bladnoch Wave Weekend
27th – 29th June 2025 – Arran Whisky Festival, Arran
18th – 26th July Belfast Whisky Week, Belfast
March
- Whisky Birmingham – Birmingham
May
- Summerton Whisky Festival, St Albans
June
- The Whisky Lounge: Edinburgh Whisky Festival
- Stoke Whisky Festival – Stoke on Trent
- National Whisky Festival, Inverness
July
- The Whisky Lounge: Bristol Whisky Festival
- Southport Summer Whisky Festival, Churchtown & Southport
August
- The Dram Good Whisky Festival, Edinburgh
- Whisky Fringe, Edinburgh
- Falkirk Whisky Social, Larbert
- Spirit of Alba Festival, Kirkintilloch
