Weekly Whisky News- 11th of April
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 11th April 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Latest Whisky Releases: Strathearn Batch 02, Glen Grant Exploration No.1 & SMWS Two to One Series
- Strathearn Distillery, based in Perthshire, announced its Strathearn Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky Batch 02. Following the success of its inaugural release, Batch 02 is crafted from a vatting of 31 casks – a blend of ex-Bourbon, Virgin Oak, and ex-Sherry Oak – to create enhanced creaminess, freshness, and balance. Read More
- The Glen Grant unveiled its new Exploration Series – The Glen Grant Exploration No.1 is the first in a collection of limited-release single malt Scotch whiskies celebrating James ‘The Major’ Grant’s journey of discovery in his quest to uncover unique flavours. Read More
- The Scotch Malt Whisky Society revealed its new series of Two to One ultra small-batch bottlings. These whiskies are the combination of two casks of single malt from the same distillery that are married before bottling. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 4th of April
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 4th April 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Johnnie Walker Unveils Black Ruby & Royal Salute Introduces Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition.
- Johnnie Walker officially launched Black Ruby worldwide – the latest edition to its core range of blended whiskies. It features Roseisle whiskies aged in first-fill red wine casks and other casks used include oloroso and Pedro Ximénez Sherry-seasoned casks, as well as ex-Bourbon barrels. Read More
- Blended Scotch whisky Royal Salute announced Rio de Janeiro Polo Edition – the seventh edition in its annual Polo Series limited collection. Read More
Woven Whisky Debuts 100% English Blend & The Lakes Distillery Launches Signature Single Malt
- Woven Whisky blending studio created the world’s first 100% English blend. Experience N.22 Pastures New is made with liquid from six English distilleries; Cotswolds Distillery, White Peak Distillery, Cooper King Distillery, Copper Rivet, Fielden, and Adnams Distilleries. Read More
- The Lakes Distillery launched Signature – the distillery’s first permanent sherry-led single malt whisky. Matured in sherry-seasoned oak casks, it brings together discoveries made from over a decade of exploration by the distillery’s whiskymakers using the art of élevage – a technique traditionally associated with fine wines and cognacs. Read More
Bowmore Unveils ARC-54 with Aston Martin & Tomatin Launches Travel Retail Exclusive 13-Year-Old.
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- Bowmore Distillery based in Islay revealed the second whisky in its ARC series with Aston Martin. One of its oldest launches, ARC-54 was distilled in 1968 and comes in a handblown decanter inspired by the design of Aston Martin’s Valkyrie hypercar. 130 decanters are available at £71,000 each. Read More
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- Tomatin released a Double Cask 13 Year Old travel retail exclusive single malt in a 1 litre bottle. Matured in bourbon barrels and Oloroso sherry casks, it will be available from April in major UK and international airports. Read More
For more on the latest whisky releases, join us at The Whisky Hub Weekly Whisky News every Friday
Weekly Whisky News-28th March
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 28th March 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Rare Casks & Fiery Finishes: Dewar’s Magma-Inspired Whisky and Gleann Mòr’s Spring Single Cask Showcase
- Dewar’s launched a 21-year-old blend finished in casks that have been toasted with hot Icelandic magma stones. Dewar’s Double Double 21 Year Old Magma Stone Toasted has notes of cinnamon, cloves, creamy caramel, and baked apples, complemented by toasted cereal and refined oak.
>> Read More
- Gleann Mor Rare Find announced their 2025 Spring Single Cask releases featuring a Glen Garioch 16 Year Old, Glen Ord 10 Year Old, Secret Lowland 11 Year Old and a Dailuaine 16 Year Old.
>> Read More
Islay Icons Emerge: Port Askaig’s Limited Editions & Bruichladdich’s Organic GTR Debut
- Elixir Distillers revealed three new limited-edition releases from its Port Askaig Islay single malt whisky range; Port Askaig Cask Strength #02-2024, Port Askaig 15 Year Old and Port Askaig 25 Year-Old
>> Read More
- Bruichladdich added to its global travel retail collection with Bruichladdich Organic Barley 16 Aged Years. It will be available in travel hubs, including Copenhagen, Frankfurt, London, Glasgow, the Middle East, and India.
>> Read More
Weekly Whisky News-21st March
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 21st March 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
New whiskies from Lochlea Distillery, Tobermory Distillery and The Isle of Harris Distillery
- Ayrshire based Lochlea Distillery unveiled its smokiest whisky yet with its last ever seasonal limited-edition release; Lochlea Ploughing Edition (Third Crop). It marks the culmination of the three-year series concluding this year by the award-winning distillery.
>> Read More
- Tobermory Distillery in the Isle of Mull announced the fifth and final whisky in its Hebridean Series. Tobermory 27 Year Old was initially aged in Bourbon casks and then aged for 12 years in hand-selected Sherry casks from González Byass.
>> Read More
- The Isle of Harris Distillery launched a limited-edition single malt Scotch in partnership with the winemakers of Château Biac in Bordeaux. The Hearach of Château Biac has been wholly matured in French Oak wine barrels.
>> Read More
Weekly Whisky News-14th March
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 14th March 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
New releases from Jameson Irish Whiskey and Chivas Brothers
- Jameson Irish Whiskey revealed its Triple Triple Marsala Cask Edition – the third release in its Triple Triple series. All the whiskeys are triple-distilled and aged in Bourbon and oloroso Sherry casks with the third cask changing each time. This limited edition, travel retail exclusive has been aged in Marsala wine casks.
>> Read More
- Chivas Brothers unveiled a trio of new Aberlour single malts as well as Chivas Regal 18-year-old Pauillac Finish – also for Duty Free stores worldwide. The trio consists of Aberlour 13 Year Old, Aberlour 16 Year Old Double Charred Selection and Aberlour Suthainn.
>> Read More
New releases from Gyre & Gimble and Ardbeg
- Gyre & Gimble announced the launch of Curious Whiskies, featuring a collection of single cask bottlings; Jura 15 Years Old, Craigellachie 15 Years Old and Ben Nevis 14 Years Old. There’s also Islay peated blend; Dirt Turf Peated Whisky.
>> Read More or Visit The Website
- Ardbeg Distillery in Islay announced the third expression in its Smoketrails collection – also only available from Duty Free and the Distillery Visitor Centre. Smoketrails Napa Valley combines Bourbon barrels with Cabernet Sauvignon red wine casks from California’s Napa Valley.
>> Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 7th March
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 7th March 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Whisky Releases: Kilchoman 13-Year-Old, Two Stacks Fruit Drops & Glen Grant 65-Year-Old
- Kilchoman, the farm distillery based on Islay, unveiled Kilchoman 13 Years Old. This new limited edition single malt is matured in a combination of bourbon barrels, bourbon octaves and calvados casks for 13 years. Read More
- Two Stacks, in Northern Ireland, launched Fruit Drops – a new Irish whiskey range finished in brandy casks. The series come in three expressions: Apricot Fruity Brandy Cask, Apple Fruit Brandy Cask and Blackberry Fruit Brandy Cask. Read More
- The Glen Grant Distillery launched the Splendours Collection with a 65 year old single malt, taking creative inspiration from the garden on the distillery grounds. The Glen Grant 65 Year Old is housed in a handcrafted cherry wood masterpiece. Read More
Whisky News: Glenmorangie Elevates Lasanta, London’s Bourbon-Style Debut & Bushmills’ Record-Breaking Release
- Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky reimagined its core range Sherry-finished Glenmorangie Lasanta, raising its age statement from 12 to 15 years old. Read More
- Battersea based Doghouse Distillery released London’s first ‘Bourbon-style’ whisky. The limited edition, grain to bottle Debt Collector is made with a mash of 75% corn, complemented by malted barley and rye. Read More
- Bushmills revealed the oldest Irish single malt ever released with its 46 Year Old ‘Secrets of the River Bush’. It’s matured in oloroso Sherry butts from the Antonio Paez Lobato Cooperage in Jerez, Spain, and a marriage of Bushmills’ most elusive reserves, dating back to 1978. Read More
Kyrö Distillery
Kyro Distillery
In this Q&A, Kyrö Distillery takes us behind the scenes of their whisky-making process, the story behind their unique Finnish rye, and what makes their spirits stand out
Kyrö Distillery started from an idea in a sauna—can you tell us more about how this unique beginning shaped the distillery’s vision?
In that Sauna, one of the co-founders had brought a bottle of rye whisky. As rye is the quintessentially Finnish grain, it felt irrational that no one was making rye whisky in Finland. We also talked about finding our own way of making whisky—there are not many places in the world where there is such a strong culinary tradition around rye. Not copying any existing whisky region but combining local tradition of rye and best of both rye and single malt whisky categories. If you look at our core range of whiskies now, 12 years later, we have done exactly that. The backbone is pot-distilled whisky from 100% rye malt and unique expressions: oloroso sherry finish, freshwater peat, and woodsmoked varieties on the smoky side.
Finnish rye is at the heart of your spirits. What makes it so special, and how does it influence the character of your whisky and gin?
Rye is smaller and hence tastier, but the magic lies in why we grow the rye—it is grown for food, not for feed, so we care how it tastes. We use rye malt in Finnish cuisine and brewing so we have an ingredient that allows us to contribute something unique in the world of whisky.
Rye gives the liquids a distinct spiciness and character. Finnish rye grows in tough nordic weather conditions, which you can taste in the liquid. To enhance the rich and spicy notes in whiskies, we use whole-grain rye and don’t chill-filter.
You produce both whisky and gin, which is quite rare for a distillery. How do you balance innovation while staying true to traditional distilling methods?
Our philosophy is unique: unpretentious enjoyment, much like Nordic design—well-crafted products with the consumer experience in mind. When it comes to whisky, we make our own rules, blending the best of Scottish and American traditions.
For our gin, we use fresh local botanicals to capture the essence of the Finnish summer. For our whisky, we distill with Scottish stills and malt-only, but add a twist with wood-smoked and freshwater-peated rye.
Sustainability is an important focus in modern distilling. What steps is Kyrö Distillery taking to reduce its environmental footprint?
Sustainability is a journey. Rye is a great grain to start with, as on average it has a smaller carbon footprint than barley. In production we use biogas to power our stills and the cooling system at the whisky distillery is operated with water from the nearby river without contamination or waste, and returned unharmed after the circulation process. Production excess, such as pot ale and ethanol, repurposed to the benefit of other industries.
We continuously work on our packaging to be more sustainable. As we speak, we are updating our bottles to a lighter recycled glass, and offer bag-in-box with refillable bottles for trade. Our visitor center holds a Green Key certificate.
Kyrö Distillery is known for its warm hospitality and immersive experiences. What can visitors expect when they tour the distillery?
Visitors to Kyrö Distillery can expect an unforgettable experience filled with warmth, stories, and of course, award-winning rye spirits. Our guided distillery tour offers an immersive journey into the heart of our production, where you’ll learn about our history, the unique process behind our rye whisky and gin, and the passion that drives everything we do. You’ll get to see behind the scenes of our working distillery, hear tales of how five friends turned a wild idea into an internationally recognized brand, and, most importantly, enjoy a tasting of our signature spirits.
After the tour, visitors can unwind at our Visitor Center restaurant, where our cocktail bar serves expertly crafted cocktails made with Kyrö spirits, alongside delicious seasonal dishes highlighting local ingredients.
For those looking to extend their stay, Visitor Center offers charming accommodation at Kyrö House, a beautifully restored house in our distillery yard. Whether you’re here for an afternoon or an overnight escape, our warm hospitality ensures a memorable visit filled with great flavors and even better stories. Before you leave, don’t forget to stop by the Kyrö Shop, where you’ll find a selection of Kyrö merchandise and other souvenirs to take home as a memory of your visit!
If you’d like to learn more about the Kyrö Distillery or are interested in purchasing one of their bottles, you can visit their website here
Weekly Whisky News- 28th February
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 28th February 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Exclusive Whisky Releases: Tomintoul 1966 & Ballantine’s Sweet Blend Unveiled
- Tomintoul Single Malt Scotch Whisky revealed the limited release of a rare vintage bourbon cask expression. Tomintoul 1966 Bourbon Cask No. 6077 is matured in a specially commissioned bourbon barrel made from American oak staves and presented in a beautiful, handcrafted decanter by Glencairn Crystal. Read More
- Ballantine’s announced a new expression that blends classic Scotch with ‘indulgent sweet notes’. Ballantine’s Sweet Blend has hints of hazelnut and butterscotch, followed by rich flavours of toffee apples, milk chocolate, crème brûlée and vanilla fudge, with a smooth and creamy finish. Read More
Livingstone announced launched Macbeth Act II & Bruichladdich’s Port Charlotte 18 YO Released
- Independent whisky company Livingstone announced Macbeth Act II featuring eight limited edition single malts. The bottles feature character drawings by illustrator Sir Quentin Blake. Read More
- Bruichladdich Distillery has released the 2025 edition of Port Charlotte 18 Years Old. It’s made using 100% Scottish barley, with only 8,000 bottles created. Read More
Weekly Whisky News- 21st February
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 21st February 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
Latest Whisky Releases: Compass Box Unveils Hedonism 2025, Maker’s Mark Launches ‘Perfectly Unreasonable’ Campaign, and Kavalan Completes Solist ‘Sherry Family’
- Compass Box unveils Hedonism 2025 whisky. Read More
- Maker’s Mark launches a new global campaign entitled ‘Perfectly Unreasonable’ centred on the brand’s uncompromising whiskey making. Read More
- Taiwanese producer Kavalan has completed its ‘Sherry family’ of Solist whiskies with a Palo Cortado cask-aged single malt. Read More
The Macallan Releases Folio 8 in the US for the First Time, as Plans Emerge for a New Distillery in Ferintosh
Weekly Whisky News- 14th February
WEEKLY WHISKY NEWS
Friday 14th February 2025
Read on to get your weekly dose of news all about the UK’s latest whisky launches.
Every Friday we will bring you a quick round up of everything you need to know about what’s new in the world of whisky.
New Limited-Edition Whisky Releases: Bushmills Private Reserve & Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique
- Bushmills Irish Whiskey unveiled a second set of releases in its limited Private Reserve series. Each of the new releases were aged in a combination of Sherry and Bourbon casks before entering a third cask. Read More
- The Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery announced the launch of a new limited-edition whisky; Filey Bay Orange Wine Barrique. This 7 Year Old single malt was initially matured in ex-Bourbon casks for three years and three months, before being re-racked into orange wine casks. Read More
New Cask-Strength & Limited-Edition Whiskies: Isle of Raasay & Jameson Triple Triple Chestnut
- Isle of Raasay Distillery announced the third edition of its Isle of Raasay Cask Strength Scotch single malt whisky. This latest release highlights the island’s signature Na Sia six-cask maturation process which delivers a lightly peated profile with deep, dark fruit flavours. Read More
- Jameson Irish Whiskey revealed its Triple Triple Chestnut Edition which has been triple-distilled and blended from a combination of ex-Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks as well as hand-selected sweet chestnut casks. Read More