December Monthly Round up for the Whisky Drinker

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

Christmas gifts were the theme of this month with sales starting straight after Christmas. As one might expect, not a lot happens in December, except Christmas and New Year.

Highlights

The Whisky Exchange names Loch Lomond 18 year old as whisky of the year for 2024. All nominated bottles had to be under £90. The shortlist included Glenglassaugh Sandend (second place), Glenallachie 15 Year Old (third place), Jura 18 Year Old, Balblair 15 Year Old, and Arran Sherry Cask. 

Decadent Drinks release their “Winter Archive” of NAS bottles. Not the usual Non Age Statement but Notable Age Statements.

Whiskystats reported that their index fell by 8% during November. Glenfarclas bucked the overall trend increasing by 7.3%.

Ellers Farm Distillery in North Yorkshire has started producing whisky along with investment from Ricky Gervais. You can buy new make spirit currently with the first three year old expected to be released in late 2025. They’ve also completed their Founders Release cask investment programme of 38 200litre c asks priced at £8000 each. It is believed to be the highest average sale price of any first cask programme. 

North Star Spirits receives Independent Bottler of the year for the third time at the Scotch Whisky Awards. Little Brown Dog came second. 

Ardgowan distillery broke ground, starting construction of the new distillery.

Whisky Advocate started the countdown to their Top Twenty whiskies of 2023. Glenglassaugh Sandend was first, with Highland Park Cask Strength Batch 4 second. Six of the top twenty were scotch. 

Glen Scotia 15 year old received a gold medal at the Scotch Whisky Awards.

Over £3 million pounds was lost by investors in “alcohol” scams in 2023. City of London police stated, “we would like to remind people of the potential risks associated with investment opportunities, especially around whisky.”

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers Old Perth (Best blended malt) and Mac-Talla PX  Fèis Ìle Limited Edition (Best product launch) won gold in their respective categories.

Glen Moray releases Phoenix Rising. The whisky started life in ex-bourbon barrels and then was finished in “new oak scorched by fire to release the wood’s full intensity.” Which is said to “ bring a whole new spectrum of flavour to life’. The whisky is said to have notes of caramel, ginger and milk chocolate.

Duncan Taylor opens The Club Room in Huntly. The room will be used for private hire, whisky tasting, as extra space for the Bank cafe and Restaurant also owned by Duncan Taylor. Along with their Whiskies of Scotland shop in Gordon Street, it is hoped that the three buildings will become a focal point for locals and tourists. 

Upcoming Whisky Events

Those without full dates, have occurred in 2023 without releasing 2024 dates at present. 

12^th -13^th January 2024 Harrow Whisky Festival

19^th – 20^th January 2024 – Southport Whisky Festival (Winter)

27^th January 2024 – Scottish National Whisky Festival, Glasgow

24^th February 2024 – The Whisky Lounge: Newcastle Whisky Festival

1^st-3^rd March 2024 – Fife Whisky Festival, various locations in Fife.

2^nd March 2024 – Whisky Birmingham – Birmingham

16^th March 2024 – Croydon Whisky Festival 

22^nd March 2024 – Whisky Fair – Cambridge

22^nd-23^rd March 2024 – Whisky Live London

6^th April 2024 – Clackmannanshire’s Whisky Festival, Alloa 

1^st-6^th May 2024 – Spirit of Speyside

18^th May 2024 – Summerton Whisky Festival, St Albans

20^st-25^th May 2024 – Campbeltown Whisky Festival

17^th – 18^th May 2024 – Whiskey Live Dublin

18^th May 2024 – Bladnoch Waterfall release day. This is the last release of the series.

24^th May – 1^st June 2024 – Fèis Ìle, Islay

2^nd June 2024 – The Whisky Event, London

15^th June 2024 – The Whisky Lounge: Edinburgh Whisky Festival

22^nd June 2024 – Stoke Whisky Festival – Stoke on Trent (cancelled)

28^th – 30^th June 2024 – Arran Whisky Festival, Arran

29^th June – National Whisky Festival, Inverness

6^th July 2024 – The Whisky Lounge: Bristol Whisky Festival

19^th – 20^th July 2024 – Southport Summer Whisky Festival, Churchtown & Southport

19^th – 27^th July 2024 – Belfast Whisky Week, Belfast

9^th – 11^th August 2024 – Whisky Fringe, Edinburgh

10^th August 2024 – Falkirk Whisky Social, Larbert

31^st August 2024 – Spirit of Alba Festival, Kirkintilloch

6^th September 2024 – Cadenhead’s in the Courtyard, Campbeltown

6^th – 8^th September 2024 – Whisky Show, London

6^th– 7^th September 2024 – Spirit of Speyside: Distilled, Elgin

9^th – 14^th September 2024 – Hebridean Whisky Festival

13^th – 14^th September 2024 – Whisky Indy Love Fest, Newcastle upon Tyne

14^th September 2024 – Scottish National Whisky Festival, Aberdeen

21^st September 2024 – The Whisky Lounge: Liverpool Whisky Festival

26^th September 2024 – Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival

5^th October 2024 – Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival

5^th – 6^th October 2024 – Midland Whisky Festival, Birmingham

18^th – 19^th October 2024 – Manchester Whisky Festival

19^th October 2024 – Wee Dram Fest, Bakewell

25^th – 27^th October 2024 – Dornoch Whisky Festival 

26^th October 2024 – Whisky Social Belfast, Belfast

1^st – 3^rd November 2024 – Wales Whisky Fest, Llandudno

2^nd November 2024 – Leeds Whisky Festival

2^nd November 2024 – Stirling Whisky Festival

23^rd November 2024 – English Whisky Festival, Birmingham

7^th – 8^th December 2024 – Kendal Whisky Festival