So here we are again. At the back end of the year in the make or break season that will decide what sort of year our pubs, bars, clubs and restaurants are going to look back upon.
The SWA opens London office
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) opens its London office today (December 3).
John Walker & Sons Private Collection 2016 launched
The Johnnie Walker team has unveiled the 2016 edition of its John Walker & Sons Private Collection.
What possessed me? I shouldn’t have done it. We’ve all been warned about going online at night, specially after a drink. I know where it’ll lead and how grubby and ashamed I will feel afterwards.
Decline in Scotch whisky exports 'slowing'
The decline in Scotch whisky exports is slowing, as industry exports in the first half of the year totalled £1.7 billion.
SWA positive over scotch future
The scotch whisky industry is in a positive frame mind and expects a return to growth, despite recent twists and turns.
How would you define ‘Irish whiskey’?
It’s not as stupid a question as it might first seem. It’s a spirit made from grain, yeast and water in the country of Ireland, right?
Ballantine's space glass
The Ballantine’s team at Chivas Brothers has instigated the design of a especially designed drinking vessel for drinking whisky in space.
New Deveron expressions
John Dewar & Sons has announced the release of new expressions of its Deveron single malt scotch whisky.
Single malt whisky distilling returns to Edinburgh
Single malt whisky distilling is poised to return to Scotland’s capital after a 90 year absence, according to reports.
Dewar launches new Royal Brackla expressions
John Dewar & Sons has announced three new Royal Brackla expressions, a 12, 16 and 21 year old.
Dewars helps power Scottish homes
The Rothes CoRDe, part-owned by the Combination of Rothes Distillers, is a facility that is said to produce enough energy to power entire communities of neighbouring distilleries.
Bladnoch makes Macmillan master distiller and blender
Bladnoch Distillery has appointed Ian Macmillan, former head of distilleries and master blender with Burn Stewart Distillers, as its master distiller and blender.
The Macallan take up London residence
The Macallan single malt scotch whisky is taking over a London venue to create ‘The World of The Macallan'.
Scotch whisky exports down
Scotch whisky exports declined 7% to £3.95 billion in 2014, according to figures from the UK government’s HM Revenue and Customs published today (1 April).
Old Pulteney to help seafarers
Old Pulteney has announced a partnership to raise funds for the maritime charity, The Mission to Seafarers.
The Distillers’ City Debate 2015
Just how innovative is the whisk(e)y industry? is the subject of this year’s Distillers;’ City Debate on May 14.
Scotch contributes £5bn on the UK
The scotch whisky industry, adds almost £5 billion in value every year to the UK economy, according to a report commissioned by the Scotch Whisky Association.
Bacardi launches Aultmore expressions
Bacardí has unveiled a new range of proprietary bottlings from its John Dewar & Sons’ Aultmore distillery.
John Walker Private Collection 2015 edition unveiled
The 2015 edition of the John Walker & Sons Private Collection was unveiled in London yesterday (December 9).
New Macallan distillery started
Edrington has marked the official start of works on its £100 million distillery and visitor centre for its The Macallan single malt scotch whisky brand.
SWA makes Pernod's Pringuet its new chairman
The Scotch Whisky Association has appointed Pierre Pringuet, CEO of Pernod Ricard, as its new chairman.
Michael Owen endorses scotch whisky
Michael Owen, the former Liverpool, Real Madrid, Manchester United and England striker is the latest footballer to sign up to a scotch whisky.
Diageo unveils Special Releases
Diageo has unveiled this year’s Special Release scotch whiskies.
David Beckham comes to Cannes
Football legend and global fashion icon, David Beckham, was in Cannes last Tuesday (October 28) for the the TFWA exhibition to promote Diageo’s new single grain scotch whisky, Haig Club.
Irish Whiskey Academy opens to the general public
Irish Distillers is opening the doors to its Irish Whiskey Academy to the general public with in-depth courses available to spirits enthusiasts from December this year.
Beam Suntory unveils peated malts range
Beam Suntory has launched a collection of whiskies from its Scottish and Irish distilleries.
Explorers Club and Diageo settle
The Explorers Club has announced that it has come to a settlement with Diageo over the use of its name in regard to the global number one scotch whisky brand, Johnnie Walker.
Scotch whisky exports decline in first half of 2014
Exports of scotch in the first half of the year were £1.77 billion, down 11% from £1.99bn in the same period of 2013, according to the Scotch Whisky Association.
SWA welcomes stability
Scotch Whisky Association chief executive David Frost has welcomed stability following the Scottish vote in favour of staying in the United Kingdom.
Rabobank says no to Scottish independence
Rabobank, the Dutch-based cooperative food and agricultural bank, believes the short term impact on the scotch whisky industry will be negative.
New Johnnie Walker houses at Mumbai and Taipei
Diageo Global Travel has announced the opening of two Johnnie Walker House retail showcase stores in travel retail – one in Mumbai, India and another in Taipei, Taiwan.
Kyndal to bottle, distribute and market Cutty Sark in India
Edrington and the Kyndal Group have announced a 50:50 joint venture to bottle, distribute and market Cutty Sark scotch whisky in India.
Wm Grant's Abrook to advocate whisky innovation
William Grant & Sons has appointed Kevin Abrook, currently global marketing manager innovation for whisky as its first ever global whisky specialist, innovation.
Rémy Cointreau promotes Sarantopoulos
Rémy Cointreau has announced the promotion of former LVMH boss Panos Sarantopoulos as CEO of its liqueurs and spirits division.
Chairperson of Scotch Whisky Action Fund announced
Leading academic Professor Dame Joan K Stringer DBE FRSE is the new independent chairperson of the Scotch Whisky Action Fund, set up last year by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to tackle alcohol-related harm.
Gonzalez Byass unveils 'new whisky category'
Gonzalez Byass, the major sherry producer, has unveiled a new whisky which, it claims, is a first and could represent the beginning of a new spirits category.
Glenfiddich 26-year-old launches
William Grant & Sons has unveiled a new Glenfiddich expression.
Beam Suntory to distribute Suntory brands
Beam Suntory has announced that it will begin distribution of the Suntory Japanese and scotch whiskies and Midori liqueur in the US and Germany beginning July 1.
Jinro remains the world's best-selling spirit
Hite-Jinro’s soju brand, Jinro, remains the world’s best-selling spirit, according to this year's Drinks International’s million-case brands survey.
Campari completes Forty Creek deal
Gruppo Campari has announced the completion of its acquisition of Canadian distiller, Forty Creek.
Another one of those low key informal briefings this time revolving around the new Johnnie Walker expression: John Walker Private Collection 2014. As has become customary, held in London’s Soho, officiated over by Diageo’s head of whisky outreach, Nick Morgan and in the hot seat a jet and train-lagged master distiller, Jim Beveridge.
SWA to visit Mexico
Senior representatives of the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) are visiting Mexico next week (June 4-7) to promote the industry and to sign an agreement with the regulatory body for tequila.
Diageo to build $115m distillery in Kentucky
Diageo has announced its intention to invest an estimated US$115 million to build a 1.8m proof gallon (750,000 9-litre cases) distillery and six barrel storage warehouses in Shelby county, Kentucky.
Special Lagavulin and Caol Ila for Islay Festival
Diageo has announced special cask strength bottlings of Lagavulin and Caol Ila for this year’s Islay Festival of Malt & Music.
Drambuie up for sale
Drambuie the scotch whisky liqueur is up for sale, according to the Financial Times newspaper.
Alliance Global buys Whyte & Mackay
The Philippines-based Alliance Global Group drinks group which owns the Emperador brand, has bought Whyte & Mackay US$726 million, including debt, according to unconfirmed reports.
Edrington completes Grouse Experience makeover
Edrington has announced that the £250,000 investment in the visitor facilities at the Famous Grouse Experience at its Glenturret Distillery, Scotland’s most visited distillery, in Crieff, has been completed.
Diageo GTME launches new John Walker
Diageo Global Travel and Middle East (GTME) has announced the launch of the John Walker & Sons Private Collection by Walker's master blender Jim Beveridge.