Here is our October whisky newsletter, full of the latest trends and releases. If you’re a fan of whisky or are just interested in learning more about it, then make sure to read on!
Whisky Highlights
The month passed with very little in the way of marketing whisky for Halloween. What little there was, occurred in the last week of the month, so too late to have any real impact, although Bimber Distillery’s The Spectre’s Craft certainly caught our eye. Why does whisky ignore this “celebration” when every other celebratory day is part of the marketing strategy?
Laphroaig’s Friends of Laphroaig community marked its 30th anniversary. More than 260,000 people apparently love the fact they “own” one square foot of Islay peat bog, or more likely the whisky Laphroaig produces.
The end of the month saw the budget which was described as a “betrayal” and “bewildering” for Scotch and a “blow” to the hospitality industry. The intended tax increase will occur next February in line with the inflation measure – the Retail Price Index (RPI). This year’s 10.1% increase in duty, it is claimed, has already cost the Treasury £300 million in lost revenue.
Perhaps the highlight of the month is the opening at The Macallan of TimeSpirit, not the donut bottle shaped NAS whisky (Time:Space) for £1100, but their permanent dining experience, which is described as “a pinnacle of culinary excellence in Scotland”. If it is a pinnacle, then the £60 cost for lunch per person and £95 for dinner would seem reasonable. What do you think?
There seems to have been a rash of rebrands and new marketing campaigns recently from established brands. Is this just part of the normal cycle of business, or an indication that things are not as rosy as some would like us to believe?
Business about Whisky
Scotland’s minimum unit price (MUP) has increased by 30% to 65p per unit. This means a 40% ABV bottle of whisky cannot be sold for less than £18.30 an increase from the previous £14.
Of 167 distilleries registered in 1824, only six remain to celebrate their bicentennial – The Glenlivet, The Macallan, Fettercairn, Miltonduff, Cardhu, and Balmenach.
Consumers are looking to spend less on their favourite whisky as economic pressure and a move to moderate consumption takes hold.
Whiskystats reports auction trading by volume was down in September by 6%, and trading value was down 13% compared to 2023. However, both statistics are steadily increasing throughout 2024 providing a 1.5% average increase compared to August.
George Campbell has been appointed as Laphroaig’s new Distillery Manager. He brings more than 12 years of experience in the whisky industry.
Dewars, the sixth largest selling whisky brand in the world, launches a new campaign “Here’s to the Story”. Aimed at “redefining how whisky is perceived, open up new opportunities and invite a broader audience to Scotch”. It focuses on promoting the stories and experiences we love.
Tomatin Legacy (£36.50, 43% ABV) wins the Trophy at the IWSC awards for best NAS single malt scotch. This follows on from being awarded a score of 98 points and a Gold Outstanding award earlier in the year at the IWSC Awards. This latest award represents that the product has demonstrated exceptional quality. At £36.50 seems worth seeing what all the fuss is about, what do you think?
Port of Leith Distillery celebrates one year on from opening its doors.
Mackmyra Distillery, Sweden is saved from bankruptcy. Former Board member Lennart Hero and investment firm No.1 Capital AB acquired the distillery after it filed for bankruptcy in August.
Diageo has proposed the demolition and rebuilding of their Talisker distillery. The aim is to be able to expand production and create a new distillery using sustainable technologies. What exactly may/may not happen will be clearer after a public consultation.
Erdington owned Highland Park reveals its new packaging for its core range, said to be inspired by “the natural beauty and creative spirit of its home in Orkney”.
Ardnahoe Infinite Loch (£55, 50% ABV) has been released as the first bottle of Ardnahoe’s core range.
Ardnamurchan Distillery celebrates the release of AD/10 year old (£65, 50% ABV) celebrating ten years of distilling on the west highland peninsula of Ardnamurchan.
Compass Box obtains a £35 million load to help it expand its global markets. Currently it sells in the UK, the US, China, Japan, France and Germany. But it wishes to expand into wider European, Asian and travel retail markets.
The Extended Producer Responsibility scheme (EPR) which will be introduced on the 1st April 2025, is intended to ensure producers consider disposal and recycling when designing a product. Of concern to distilleries is that the current indicative base fees are calculated on the weight of packaging. This means glass shoulders a disproportionate burden compared to other packaging such as plastic or aluminium.
Community owned, The Cabrach Distillery held its “First Spirits Ceremony” as it started whisky distillation. The aim is to produce 100,000 litres of pure alcohol from barley grown on adjacent fields and local farms.
Wild Atlantic distillery in Northern Ireland expects to release its first whiskey in December, The IslandMen 1921, it will be three years old. 1921 was the year the last distillery in the region closed down.
Master of Malt’s chest has been found! Shame for any fan who competed throughout the year for the Old and Rare whisky advent calendar worth £799.95. But well done to the winner!
Whisky Releases
Macallan releases two more bottles in their The Macallan Harmony Collection, Vibrant Oak (44.2% ABV) and Guardian Oak (44.2%) an exclusive to travel retail. Pricing is a bit harder to find but both will be around £160-180. Some flippers did very well at auction with a bottle of the Guardian Oak selling for £620. Later in the month, an IWSR report on super premium whiskies reported that the average age of whisky in the Harmony collection was 4-5 years old. Does this mean age no longer matters? Is it the content and experience that is more important?
North Star the Glaswegian independent bottlers release their Cask Series 024. This includes bottles from Ardbeg, Ben Nevis, Tullibardine and Cameronbridge. Along with an Invergordon which is the first bottle in their new Capella series.
Glenrothes releases a limited edition 32 year old (The 32, £1950, 43% ABV). It sounds absolutely scrumptious and a “taste of a by-gone era”. But will it ever be drunk at nearly £85 per dram?
Kingsbarns releases their oldest whisky yet (so likely a nine year old – the first casks were filled at the distillery in 2015), Distillery Reserve 2024 (£75, 58.2% ABV, 1 of 3000 bottles). Hand selected from six American Oak Sherry Butts, it has a rich colour and is said to have intricate flavours.
Hibiki releases a 40 year old (£33,150, 43% ABV). Said by Suntory’s chief blender, Shinji Fukuyo, it is described as a ‘harmonious’ blend made from a mixture of casks including mizunara Japanese oak, Spanish oak and American oak.
London-based distillery, Kingston Distillers release their first ever malt whisky – Beckett’s Single Malt (£79.80, 46.8% ABV, 1 of 324 bottles), further it’s the first time whisky has been matured in sloe gin casks. The distillery intends to release one cask annually.
Glenfarclas releases Glenfarclas 24 Year Old 2000 Millennium Cask (£510, 47.4% ABV, 1 of 600 decanters). One of a series of five, selected by the director of Pol Roger portfolio Peter Donelly, to celebrate the traditions and heritage of the five generations of the Grant family who own Glenfarclas.
Claxton’s introduced their core range, a selection of blended, single malt and aged grain whiskies ranging in price from £34 to £89.
Stirling Distillery announced they have new stocks of their Sons of Scotland Range. It consists of a series of single cask bottlings, each named after historical Stirlingshire distilleries and features whiskies drawn from different regions of Scotland; the Highlands (Cashly), Speyside (Arngibbon), the Lowlands (Cambusbarron), and the Islands (Stoneywood).
The Whisky Exchange release their “A Good Old-Fashioned Christmas Whisky 15 Year Old”
2024 Edition (£79.95, 54.8% ABV) from Speyside. The description does sound like the ideal Christmas whisky as a gift to yourself or others.
Bunnahabhain release a 21 year old whisky as part of their new cask strength range, to become an annual release, this Bunnahabhain 21 year old (£275, 53.6% ABV) has been matured in ex-oloroso sherry casks and finished in Pedro Ximénez (PX) casks for 21 months. Distillery Manager Andrew Brown said, “This 21-year-old cask strength is everything you’d expect from Bunnahabhain; our signature unpeated and Sherried Islay expression, but with a distinct honeyed flavour lent from the PX cask finish.”
Glengoyne released their Teapot Dram No 10 (£140, 59.4% ABV) available from the distillery or their website. The series was introduced in 2011 and has always been a high alcohol NAS, so fairly young whisky. The series is a good example of how the industry has elevated the “status” of NAS whisky enabling it to increase the price. The last five years has seen an increase of £50 per bottle (£90 to £140).
Glasgow 1770 distillery releases three new limited editions – Islay Cask Finish (£59, 57.3% ABV, 1 of 303 bottles), Marsala Wine Cask Finish (£59, 60.2% ABV, 1 of 860 bottles), Madeira Cask Finish (£59, 58% ABV, 1 of 298 bottles).
Cadenheads brings back their Chairmans Stock, small batch, single cask, cask strength whiskies of varying age. The initial release of 11 bottles varies in price between £60 and £80.
Upcoming Whisky Events
Those without full dates, have occurred in 2024 without releasing 2025 dates at present.
1st – 3rd November 2024 – Wales Whisky Fest, Llandudno
2nd November 2024 – Leeds Whisky Festival
2nd November 2024 – Stirling Whisky Festival
9th November 2024 – Glasgow’s Whisky Festival
15th-16th November 2024 – The World Whisky Experience, Spitalfields, London
16th November 2024 – The Whisky Lounge, York Whisky Festival
23rd November 2024 – English Whisky Festival, Birmingham
30th November 2024 – Drambusters Whisky Festival, Dumfries
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.
1st March 2025 – Whisky Birmingham, Birmingham
15th March 2025 – Croydon Whisky Festival
15th March 2025 – Independent Spirits Whisky Festival, Leith, Edinburgh
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
30th May – 3rd June – Spirit of Speyside
14th – 15th June 2025 – Bladnoch Wave Weekend
27th – 29th June 2025 – Arran Whisky Festival, Arran
28th June 2025 – The Whisky Lounge: Bristol Whisky Festival
18th – 26th July 2025 – Belfast Whisky Week, Belfast
May
- Summerton Whisky Festival, St Albans
June
- The Whisky Lounge: Edinburgh Whisky Festival
- Stoke Whisky Festival – Stoke on Trent
- National Whisky Festival, Inverness
July
- 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
September
- Cadenhead’s in the Courtyard, Campbeltown
- Whisky Show, London
- Hebridean Whisky Festival
- Whisky Indy Love Fest, Newcastle upon Tyne
- Scottish National Whisky Festival, Aberdeen
- The Whisky Lounge: Liverpool Whisky Festival
- Lomond & Clyde Whisky Festival, Helensburgh
- Lagavulin Islay Jazz Festival
- Alhambra Whisky Festival, Stirling
October
- Edinburgh’s Whisky Festival
- Midland Whisky Festival, Birmingham
- Borderlands Whisky Festival, Lockerbie
- Manchester Whisky Festival
- Wee Whisky Festival Dram Fest, Bakewell
- Dornoch Whisky Festival
- Whisky Social Belfast, Belfast
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 newsletters, 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.
