Finished in casks imported from Tuscany, this new 92 proof expression is the result of result from the natural interaction between the brand’s 15-year-old expression and these wine casks. Crafted by Malt Master Stephanie Macleod and her team, the whisky was first matured in refill and hogshead casks before being finished for two years in rare Tuscan Bolgheri casks. Bolgheri, a famed wine region on Tuscany’s coast, is celebrated for producing bold, elegant red wines.

“In keeping with our approach to innovation and exploration, we wanted to use these beautiful Tuscan casks again, for a second expression, as they contrast so wonderfully with the signature character of Aberfeldy,” said Aberfeldy Single Malt Scotch Whisky Malt Master Stephanie Macleod. “Fifteen-year-old whisky is known for being at an age where the influence from the cask reaches a certain peak. Bolgheri wines are known for being robust and full of dark fruit flavours with intense oakiness. Combining the two has crafted a beautifully rich and rounded Single Malt with soft ripe red cherries and creamy vanilla notes, spice and layers of dark chocolate and scented oak.”

Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Bolgheri Red Wine Cask Finish is a continuation in the distillery’s limited-edition wine cask finished whiskies, where previous iterations have included a Cabernet Sauvignon from Napa Valley, a Pomerol, a Bordeaux, and a Rhône from France.

Aberfeldy 15 Year Old Bolgheri Red Wine Cask Finish is available for $84.99.

The post Aberfeldy Goes To Italy For New Wine Cask appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Celebrating the arrival of the first light of the new year in New Zealand, one of the most easterly countries in the world, the limited edition single malt s the fourth release in the annual A Night on Earth series that honors New Year traditions across the globe. This release draws inspiration from one of the first sunrises of the year.

Created from a combination of sherry seasoned American and European oak casks selected by The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team and complemented by the sparing introduction of American oak casks that once held bourbon, the whisky offers a delicate sweetness.

“This edition of A Night on Earth is about light – its cultural symbolism and its sensory warmth,” said The Macallan Whisky Maker Russell Greig. “Inspired by traditions and rituals that have been handed down from generation to generation, this is a whisky designed to be gifted, shared, and enjoyed with friends and family. Unmistakably Scottish at its heart, this single malt acknowledges its Antipodean narrative with a finish that is sweet and fruity, with mellow spice and toasted oak.”

The Macallan collaborates with local artists from around the world to bring to life each edition of the A Night on Earth series. For this expression, it has collaborated with Bonnie Brown, an artist and illustrator living in Wellington, New Zealand, to craft a gift box representing her memories of home on New Year’s Eve. In New Zealand, people traditionally welcome the new year on the beach, celebrating with festivities, parties, and fireworks. The sunrise symbolizes the beginning of a new chapter and is embraced as a time for joy, personal reflection, and fresh starts.

“When I created this artwork, it reminded me of my family’s New Year’s Day ritual – starting the day at the beach and taking a swim in the ocean,” said Bonnie Brown. “It’s a fond memory and a key part of our annual tradition. Having spent many summers on the coast, the design reflects the enjoyment of being outdoors all day. It embodies the Kiwi way of life that I grew up with, like the weekends I spent exploring different parts of New Zealand with my mum and appreciating nature to the fullest.”

The Macallan’s A Night on Earth: The First Light is available for $124.

The post The Macallan Celebrates New Year’s In New Zealand appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Available exclusively in the United States, the expression has spent the entirety of its maturation life on Islay in a combination of quality first-fill bourbon barrels and first-fill Virgin American Oak casks. It is aged for seven years and bottled at 100 proof. With a distinct mash bill, The Laddie Rye is distilled using a combination of locally grown Islay rye and malting barley.

Beyond expanding the distillery’s diverse cereal growing program, the idea to use rye was born out of the grain’s regenerative properties for the soil. Rye is a beneficial rotational crop that promotes healthy soils, essential for future-proofing the land.

“This whisky couldn’t be more ‘Islay.’ Every single aspect of its creation, from growing and harvesting the rye right through to its final bottling, has been done on our island home,” says Bruichladdich Master Blender Adam Hannett. “Experimenting and pushing boundaries is at the heart of what we do, and The Laddie Rye perfectly embodies that spirit. Distilled using locally grown Islay rye and Islay malting barley, we’ve crafted a signature expression with remarkable depth and complexity, and we’re delighted to invite whisky lovers to experience something truly special with this limited release.”

Bruichladdich’s The Laddie Rye is available now for $59.99.

The post Bruichladdich Tries Rye With The Laddie appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

The inaugural release, The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Jamaica Edition, offers a tropical twist on the distillery’s signature style through a selective finish in casks that previously held Jamaican rum.

“Exploration lies at the heart of The Glenlivet,” said The Glenlivet Cask Master Kevin Balmforth. “Guided by a spirit of curiosity, we venture beyond tradition to uncover remarkable taste experiences. We’ve long been known for our smooth, refined style – and with The Glenlivet Jamaica Edition, we’re offering a fresh take on that legacy.”

The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Jamaica Edition is the first expression in the new Beyond Speyside series, in which each release will offer a journey to iconic destinations, bringing the element of terroir to cask finishes. “For centuries, the single malt Scotch category has been associated with luxury, prestige and status,” said Pernod Ricard USA Vice President Marketing Kristen Colonna. “As the codes of luxury evolve, today’s discerning whisky drinker is seeking new experiences and flavors that celebrate individuality, curiosity and the joy of discovering something newAs a leader in single malt Scotch whisky in the US, The Glenlivet is committed to modernizing the category while maintaining its craft.”

To bring the first journey of Beyond Speyside to life, The Glenlivet is once again teaming up with Scottish actor and brand ambassador Thomas Doherty as he explores the cultural flavor of Jamaica in a new campaign styled by Jamaican-Scottish designer Nicholas Daley.

Doherty immersed himself into Jamaican culture in new creative content by exploring the the island with former Miss Universe Jamaica Miqueal-Symone Williams. “My partnership with The Glenlivet has always been about honoring Scottish craft while embracing the transformative power of journeying beyond the expected,” Thomas Doherty said. “There is such a vibrancy to The Glenlivet Jamaica Edition, so I’m proud to continue my partnership with The Glenlivet in celebration of this new release.”

The content embodies the convergence of Scottish heritage and Jamaican vibrancy represented in The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Jamaica Edition through its fashion as styled by Daley. The purposeful styling influenced by his own multicultural roots marks the start of a collaboration between the brand and the creator. The collaboration will include a capsule collection launching next year, featuring The Glenlivet tartan on travel pieces.

“My dual heritage is what inspires my work. From Scotland, I take inspiration from the traditions of craft, knitwear and tartan. From Jamaica, I draw on the colors, the vibrancy of sound system culture and the energy of reggae,” Nicholas Daley said. “The Glenlivet Jamaica Edition was born in Speyside and inspired by Jamaica, and that’s the same approach I took to style this campaign, choosing clothes that featured the signature patterns and textiles of Scotland with the vibrant colors and silhouettes inspired by Jamaica.”

To further enhance the taste experience, The Glenlivet has partnered with Jamaican-American chef DeVonn Francis to create a series of recipes featuring tastes of the island and designed to complement The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Jamaica Edition.

“Studying Jamaican foodways taught me to see heritage as something alive and rooted in history but also evolving,” said DeVonn Francis. “When creating these recipes I was inspired by the profile of the liquid itself, separating The Glenlivet 12 Year Old Jamaica Edition into its individual flavor notes to find the perfect ingredient pairings from both Scottish and Jamaican cuisines. I wanted the food to come as a ‘best supporting actor’ for the flavors so that you can take a bite of this or that and keep discovering the depths of each note.”

The Glenlivet Jamaica Edition is available for $76.99.

The post The Glenlivet Goes “Beyond” To Jamaica appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie expands the collection’s profile by combining the inaugural release, a rare single cask expression drawn exclusively from a European oak refill butt filled in 1973, with an American oak hogshead, also filled that year.

“The Balvenie Fifty Collection pays tribute to the makers, craftspeople and custodians who have watched over our liquid for the past five decades,” said The Balvenie Malt Master Kelsey McKechnie. “For The Second Edition, we selected an American oak hogshead filled in 1973 to build on the legacy of the inaugural release. The time spent maturing in American oak has nurtured a beautifully balanced character, with notes of sweet honey and warming oak. This profile was chosen to complement the European oak influence of The First Edition, creating a marriage of casks that brings both contrast and continuity to the flavor thread running through the trilogy. The collection reflects our respect for tradition and our commitment to looking to the future by preserving the rare crafts of whisky making from barley to bottle.”

A trilogy celebrating half a century of the Speyside distillery, the First Edition’s debuted in 2024, this Second Edition continues the journey of three unique releases that will culminate next year with the release of the Third Edition.

Each hand-blown bottle of The Balvenie Fifty Second Edition is individually numbered and housed in a case crafted by Croglin, a bespoke workshop in Cumbria. The design features seven layers of wood in a helix structure, a darker stain than the inaugural release, and a 14-carat gold-plated brass display.

Only 97 bottles of The Balvenie Fifty Second Edition will be available globally, with only 13 bottles available in the United States for $55,000.

The post The Balvenie Introduces Fifty’s Second Act appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Made at the Fuji Gotemba Distillery, the 92 proofexpression is aged in a range of casks, including American white oak and French oak red wine barrels. Fuji’s pioneering whisky-making draws on three traditions—Scottish copper pot stills, Canadian-style multi-column distillation, and American bourbon techniques—all crafted at a single site.

“I wanted to pay homage to the Fuji Gotemba Distillery by blending carefully selected 100% Japanese malts—all produced on-site using the pure, snowmelt-fed waters of Mt. Fuji,” said Fuji Whisky Master Blender Jota Tanaka, only the second in the distillery’s history. “By combining traditional techniques with new innovations, we created a single malt that’s delicately fruity with a hint of honey and a rich, evolving finish.”

Located just 7.5 miles from Mt. Fuji’s peak, the Fuji Gotemba Distillery, the world’s only distillery to craft malt and three styles of grain whiskies, has been a beacon of Japanese whisky craftsmanship since its founding in 1973. Surrounded by forest, mist, and mineral-rich volcanic soil, the site offers ideal conditions for aging whisky and developing complexity with grace.

The debut of this single malt marks a new chapter in Fuji Whisky’s growing U.S. portfolio, the Fuji Single Malt Whisky is available for $99.99.

The post Fuji Whisky Debuts Its Single Malt In US appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

The expression is a single malt that explores the flavor impact of an event at Laphroaig distillery. Following a kiln fire that burned longer and at significantly higher temperatures than usual, the spirit led to a unique whisky at 110.6 proof.

The Elements Series examines how small changes in production can bring new depth to the final product. The third release in the Series continues this tradition, following the success of Elements 1.0 in 2023 and Elements 2.0 in 2024, which experimented with changes in wort, mash size and malt makeup, and extended fermentation respectively.

“Our Elements Series focusses on pushing the boundaries of traditional whisky making while retaining the distinctive character that defines Laphroaig,” said Laphroaig Distillery Manager George Campbell. “The period of unexpectedly hot kiln smoking presented a unique opportunity to explore how such an event could influence the flavour of Islay’s iconic dram. Elements 3.0 adds an exciting new twist to our multi-award-winning range, and I’m eager to hear what our Friends think of this latest addition.”

“Through the Elements Series we have been able to experiment and gain a deeper insight into the many variables that contribute to Laphroaig’s rich and characterful profile,” Laphroaig Lead Whisky Maker Sarah Dowling added. “Our third release is a fascinating example of how innovation in the distillery can lead to delightful discoveries, enhancing our understanding of the origin of specific flavour compounds. Elements 3.0 not only offers a new way to experience the bold and distinct taste of Laphroaig but also explores aspects that impact the smoky flavour, making it a must-try for whisky explorers and enthusiasts.”

Each release in the Elements Series is designed to highlight the specific experiments behind its creation, with packaging that alludes to the experiments and the people involved, providing a unique look into the magic of the whisky-making process.

Laphroaig Elements 3.0 is available now for $165.

The post Laphroaig Releases Its Latest Element appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

A celebration of the character of Scotland’s smallest whisky region and testament to the environment that has shaped it over generations, the expression captures Campbeltown’s maritime climate and the influence it has on whisky. Five decades in the making, Release No. 1: Air was distilled in 1973 and bottled at a natural cask strength of 84.6 proof in 2024. Fully matured in refill American oak hogshead casks to preserve the distillery’s character.

“Responsibility for whisky of this age, where the passage of time shapes the character of the spirit is a privilege,” said Michael Henry, Loch Lomond Group Master Blender. “With this milestone release for Glen Scotia, I want to give people the opportunity to experience our distillery character at this remarkable age and showcase how time has shaped it.”

To mark the release, Glen Scotia has collaborated with UK artist Gina Parr to create a piece of art capturing the essence of ‘air’ in the distillery’s historic dunnage warehouse. Parr took inspiration from Campbeltown’s coastal air stream and Glen Scotia’s distilling process to create an oil painting to adorn the cabinet doors concealing each whisky decanter.

Housed in the white leather interior is a bespoke Glencairn crystal decanter encasing the whisky. Created exclusively for this release, it features a delicate band around the base to represent ‘air’ while a Celtic knot crowns a heavy brass stopper. Accompanying the whisky is a hardback book telling the story of this single malt.

Only 10 bottles of Glen Scotia Elements of Campbeltown Release No. 1: Air will be available in the U.S. by special request and will retail for $50,000.

The post Glen Scotia Releases Its First 50-Year-Old appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

Named after the narrow sea that runs beside the distillery, and shares its name with the Sleat Peninsula on which the distillery sits, the 92 proof expression is made with Concerto and Laureate malted barley and fully matured in American oak using new oak casks and ex-bourbon casks.

Known as The Garden of Skye, the Sleat Peninsula is the southernmost peninsula of the Isle of Skye, closest to the mainland and separated only by the Sound of Sleat. The rugged beauty of the region acts as the distillery’s home and creative muse.

“Our journey to a 10-year-old expression continues and for Sound of Sleat we’re returning to a classic ex-bourbon cask profile, enhanced by the addition of a crisp spice edge from the new American oak barrels, without losing the elegance and intricacy our fans have come to expect from a Torabhaig whisky,” said Torabhaig Whisky Maker Neil MacLeod Mathieson. “There is plenty of oak spice, citrus and maritime saltiness alongside a newfound waxiness we’ve discovered as our spirit continues to mature. This expression is a journey in itself as each wave of flavor washes in.”

Encapsulating the beauty and artistry of the island, Torabhaig has also unveiled new label artwork, created exclusively for the distillery by local artists. The first of which, for Sound of Sleat, has been painted by Skye-based artist Ellis O’Connor.

Sound of Sleat is the latest in The Torabhaig Legacy Series, a collection of single malts from the Isle of Skye distillery. Previous releases in the series include Torabhaig 2017, alongside Torabhaig Allt Gleann, and Torabhaig Cnoc Na Mòine.

Torabhaig Sound of Sleat is available now for $100.

The post Torabhaig Reveals Sound of Sleat appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.

The limited-edition single malts – Inspired By Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea and Inspired By Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea – pay homage to the world of tea and the artistry of nature. Every stage of the whisky making process was managed through ownership and partnerships with direct suppliers – from vineyards and sherry producers in Jerez de la Frontera to oak sourced from their own sawmills in the US and Spain.

Inspired By Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea, crafted by The Macallan Whisky Mastery Team, is a tribute to the rare oolong tea traditionally grown in China’s Phoenix Mountain range. Known for its lush dessert wine aromas and exotic fruit notes, this tea inspired a whisky predominantly matured in Sherry Seasoned American oak casks, with additional depth from Sherry Seasoned European oak and a subtle inclusion of American oak casks that previously held bourbon.

Inspired By Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea, an exclusive Global Travel Retail release, draws inspiration from JING’s Organic Cherrywood Lapsang tea – a reinvented take on Lapsang Souchong, delicately smoked over cherrywood in the UK. This expression wasprimarily matured in Sherry Seasoned European oak casks and complemented by a selection of Sherry Seasoned American oak casks.

“Our collaboration with JING is a celebration of the parallels between whisky and tea – two crafts deeply rooted in nature, tradition and time,” said Jaume Ferras, Creative Director at The Macallan. “Working with JING has allowed us to explore new dimensions of flavor and storytelling, creating two whiskies that are both innovative and deeply connected to the land.”

In keeping with the collection’s ethos of sustainability, the presentation boxes for both whiskies are crafted using repurposed waste tea leaves, embracing the use of organic materials in their packaging.

“At JING, we’re inspired by the unique terroir and craftsmanship behind every tea origin,” said Melanie Tricklebank, CEO of JING. “It’s a pleasure to collaborate with such an incredible brand and to see The Macallan draw inspiration from the distinctive quality and craft of the tea producer partners who inspire our mission to change the perception of what tea can be. The collaboration with The Macallan is a true meeting of minds and traditions.”

To celebrate this collaboration, The Macallan has introduced a whisky and tea pairing ritual, inspired by the traditional Chinese Gong Fu tea ceremony (工夫茶). Originating in Eastern Guangdong, this ceremonial practice emphasizes the artistic preparation and communal enjoyment of tea, reflecting a deep cultural heritage. This ritual highlights the shared values of terroir and tradition that unite single garden teas and single malt whisky, offering a multi-sensory experience that honors the complexity and sophistication of both traditions.

The Macallan Harmony Collection draws inspiration from collaborations with chefs, connoisseurs and artists to produce innovative whiskies with unique flavors. Previous Harmony editions include partnerships with Cirque Du Soleil, the Roca Brothers, and Stella and Mary McCartney.

The Macallan’s Inspired By Phoenix Honey Orchid Tea is available now for $200. The Macallan’s Inspired By Organic Cherrywood Lapsang Tea will launch on October 1 exclusively at Global Travel Retail stores for $190.

The post The Macallan Harmony Collection Takes To Tea appeared first on The Whiskey Lifestyle.