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
Perhaps unsurprisingly, what caught our eyes this month was the availability of whisky tourism, ranging from distillery tours to special meals and accommodation all allowing you to indulge in your whisky passion. Maybe a one off, due to the lack of summer weather this year, but whisky tourism is definitely a “growth industry”.
July is a relatively quite month for whisky as businesses prepare for the final quarter of the year. One thing that might have passed you by is National Scotch Day on the 27th.
Highlights
Here’s a conundrum – Two distilleries (one Scottish, one English) each released this month two “small batch” Non Age- Statement (NAS) malt whiskies. Both batches are likely relatively young (certainly well under 10 years old) as from newish distilleries. Both cask strength. The price for one is £115 per bottle, for the other £59. Which has already sold out?
You might be amazed to know it is the £115 per bottle, which is also the English distillery. But when you look at the number of bottles in each batch the difference is huge, around 18 times more bottles from the Scottish distillery. In terms of potential revenue, the £115 bottles produced roughly one tenth the revenue of the £59 bottles. This might help explain the price differential but also begs the question “how small is a small batch”?
Business
Dallas Dhu Distillery which closed in 1983 is set to reopen. The site is managed by Historic Environment Scotland (HES) and distilling will restart in 2025 under the management of Aceo Distillers company, whilst management of the site will be retained by HES. The aim is to showcase traditional distilling techniques as a living history attraction.
Whiskystats reported auction prices stabilising with only a 0.9% drop overall and Springbank increasing 5% in value, back to its December 2023 pricing. The summer period tends to be the worst time of year to sell your whisky collection. So maybe this is good news?
Erdington reported a revenue increase of 11% in the year to March 31, 2024, led by double digit growth by Macallan. They also own Highland Park and The Glenrothes.
Diageo owned Johnnie Walker was revealed as the sixth most valuable spirits brand globally with a value of $10.6 billion. It is the fifth most valuable brand in the UK.
GlenDronach plans distillery expansion to further build on renovations to the visitor centre in 2020 and doubling the production in 2022. Timed to coincide with the distillery’s 200thanniversary in 2026, the multimillion pound investment is set to “enhance and preserve” the site. Plans include a new visitor centre and development of Boynsmill House into a luxury guest experience.
And they’ve also rebranded their core range to combine “tradition with modern luxury”.
Lancaster Spirits Company, unsurprisingly based in Lancaster, has opened a new whisky distillery which will begin bottling its first malt in 2027.
Isle of Barra distillery has raised nearly £900,000 through 574 investors via the Crowdcube website. Launched in 2017, the distillery is expected to require £12 million to construct.
Diageo reported Scotch sales declined by 10% overall for the year ending 30 June 2024. Johnnie Walker sales globally declined by 6% and single malt by 14%. The decrease was blamed on lack of demand for premium products in Latin America.
The Londonderry Arms Hotel in Carnlough, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, is set to become Irelands first “Whiskey Hotel” when it reopens after refurbishment around Easter 2025. The hotel is set to offer several whiskey “treats” to guests.
Releases
White Peak distillery releases Wire Works Bourbon Barrel (£65, 53.4% ABV). Made from first-fill ex-bourbon barrels it is said to shine a light on the distillery’s unique spirit character along with flavours of vanilla, chocolate and nuts.
Ardbeg releases the second expression in its Anthology Collection, The Unicorn’s Tale (£130, 46% ABV). Aged for 14 years in Malmsey Madeira and bourbon casks it is said to create aromatic and sweet notes of smoke, banana, menthol and lime on the palate.
The second notable Ardbeg released this month is Ardbeg Vintage_Y2K, a 23 year old priced at £650 and 46% ABV.
Halcyon Spirits release a 27 year old Burnside (teaspooned Balvenie – usually Glenfiddich). As a teaspoon is roughly equivalent to 0.002% in a 250 litre cask, you’re really looking at a 27 year old sherried Balvenie. At £195 a bottle and 52.8% ABV this is a bit of a bargain.
Brora distillery has released a 44 year old “Untold Depths” (£10,000, 49.1% ABV), exclusively available at the distillery, to celebrate the third anniversary of Brora’s reopening.
Glengoyne announce a new addition to their core range – White Oak (£55, 48% ABV). Matured exclusively in first fill bourbon and virgin oak casks it is said to let the Glengoyne spirit shine through.
Glenmorangie replaces The Original 10 year old with a 12 year old (£40, 40%ABV). Adding the extra two years to the maturation process is said to give a “silkier and creamier” flavour profile whilst still being true to the whisky’s notes of orange, vanilla, peach and honey.
Cadenheads Authentic Collection August 2024 consists of eight bottles ranging from £60 to £500 for a 32 year old Highland Park. All are cask strength.
Tomatin releases a trio of new malts, The Sherry Collection. Showcasing classic Tomatin whisky matured in Manzanilla (£65, 46% ABV, 10 year old), Palo Cortado (£95, 46% ABV, 15 year old)and Pedro Ximénez (£150, 46%ABV, 17 year old) butts.
Cotswolds distillery releases their first rye whisky “Traitors Ford” in collaboration with the Hook Norton Brewery. Aged for eight years in re-charred American oak casks, the release is timed to coincide with the Cotswolds Distillery’s 10th anniversary and 175 years of brewing at Hook Norton.
Eden Mill has unveiled the latest release in its Art of St Andrews whisky series. Started in 2019 the series celebrates “the spirit, landscape and flavours of Eden Mill’s coastal hometown – and the artists inspired by its beautiful scenery”. Bottled at 46.5% ABV, the 2024 release is limited to 2,250 bottles, which retail for £150.
Compass Box introduces their new core range. Consisting of four bottles, The Orchard House (£45, 46% ABV), The Peat Monster (£55, 465 ABV), Nectarosity (£55, 46% ABV) and Crimson Casks (£65, 46% ABV).
One of the joys of Compass Box is the amount of clear information you can find about their whiskies on their website.
Upcoming Whisky Events
Those without full dates, have occurred in 2024 without releasing 2025 dates at present.
2nd-3rd August 2024 – The Dram Good Whisky Festival, Edinburgh
9th – 11th August 2024 – Whisky Fringe, Edinburgh
10th August 2024 – Falkirk Whisky Social, Larbert
31st August 2024 – Spirit of Alba Festival, Kirkintilloch
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
7th – 8th December 2024 – Kendal Whisky Festival
10th – 11th January 2025 – Harrow Whisky Festival
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
27-29th June 2025 – Arran Whisky Festival, Arran
January
- Southport Whisky Festival (Winter)
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
- Belfast Whisky Week, Belfast
