Dr Emma Walker will replace the legendary Dr Jim Beveridge as Johnnie Walker master blender at the end of the year.

Glenmorangie single malt has opened the Lighthouse, the brand’s first innovation distillery created for experimentation.

Diageo’s drinks accelerator arm Distil Ventures has made a minority investment in Japanese single malt producer Komasa Kanosuke Distillery.

Aber Falls has released its 2021 single malt bottling, the Welsh distillery’s second single malt following its inaugural release in May.

Glenfiddich has launched a ‘closed loop’ sustainable transport initiative that will run its delivery fleet on green biogas made from the residues of its own distilling process.

Scottish whisky auction firm, Whisky Hammer, and sister company Still Spirit has sold a 49% stake of the business to the Hong Kong investment group, Rare Whisky Holdings.

The Glenlivet has opened its newly refurbished distillery and visitor centre in Speyside after undergoing 18 months of renovations.

Ardgowan Distillery has announced a new one million litre single malt distillery and visitor centre, built on the Ardgowan Estate in Inverclyde, Scotland.

Bushmills Irish Whiskey has released two new products as part of its Original Cask series which combine finished single malts with triple distilled grain whiskey.

Glenmorangie has released a new single malt scotch whisky called X by Glenmorangie which has been specifically designed for mixing.

Elixir Distillers has appointed Georgie Crawford as distillery manager for the brand’s forthcoming Islay distillery, following planning approval for the project at the end of 2020.

Buffalo Trace has released its annual supply of Kosher whiskey which is set to arrive at retail in May this year.

BR Distilling Company in Memphis, US, has gained distribution across Texas as part of its rapid domestic expansion.

Independent whisky bottlers Single Malts of Scotland has added new 11-year-old whiskies as part of its Reserve Casks range.

The Famous Grouse has launched a limited-edition label to celebrate the brand’s role as the official sponsor of The British & Irish Lions.

Glen Moray has appointed Stephen Woodcock as head of whisky creation & stocks and will therefore be responsible for developing the range and maturing and marrying casks.

Jura single malt whisky has launched a new rum cask finish as the latest member of the Jura Cask Editions.

Single cask whisky buying platform Caskshare has announced a partnership with Edinburgh’s Holyrood Distillery.

Beam Suntory has announced a £6m investment in the Glen Garioch distillery in Oldmeldrum, which will see the reintroduction of floor matings and installation of direct-fired heating.

Global campaign OurWhisky is calling for whisky makers to improve female representation in marketing after conducting a new study on gender equality within the industry.

Deirdre O’Carroll has been appointed blender at Midleton Distillery in Cork nearly a decade after joining the Pernod Ricard subsidary.

The team behind London’s Bimber Distillery has confirmed plans to open a new Scottish whisky distillery in Dunphail, south of Forres.

GreatDrams has been named a winner at the Lloyds Bank Small Business of 2020 awards through the success of its virtual tastings.

Daddy Rack, an original Tennessee straight small batch whiskey, has launched in Scotland with plans for a wider UK roll out in March.

The Japan Spirits and Liqueurs Makers Association has announced a new set of rules and regulations for the production of Japanese whisky.

Elixir Distillers has been granted permission to build a new distillery in Islay with construction set to begin this year.

Ardbeg has released a limited-edition bottling, Arrrrrrrdbeg, to celebrate distillery manager, Mickey Heads’ 13 years at the head of the distillery.

The Macallan has revealed Folio 6, the latest instalment in the Scottish distillery’s Archival Series which takes inspiration from classic advertising campaigns of the brand

Israel's first whisky distillery Milk & Honey has partnered with Welsh distillery Penderyn to act as the exclusive UK distributor of its first range of single malt whiskies.

The world whiskies category is a mixed bag from all corners of the Earth, excluding the historical categories of scotch, American and Irish whiskey.

It says something of Irish whiskey’s progress over recent years that 92% of respondents to our survey stock the category of spirits in their bar – that just wouldn’t have been the case 10 years ago.

Scotch leader Johnnie Walker made it 11 wins from 12 this year, with another dominant display. No matter where you are among the world’s top bars, this is the scotch you’re most likely to see behind the stick, according to our poll.

Diageo’s Bulleit has come out trumps as the bestselling brand in the American whiskey category for the third time in four years.

Johnnie Walker has announced a commitment to plant one million trees across Scotland in the next five years.

Glen Moray has launchd its inaugural whisky as part of the distillery’s new ‘Warehouse 1 Collection’ called Glen Moray Sauternes Cask Matured expression.

Redbreast Irish Whiskey has created an animated version of its brand logo called Robin Redbreast with the aim of inspiring a new generation of whiskey drinkers.

Australian whisky producer Starward has appointed CASK Liquid Marketing as the distribution partner for the UK.

Glenmorangie has launched a new single malt whisky called A Tale of Cake which has been finished in Tokaji dessert wine casks.

The Last Drop Distillers has appointed Colin Scott as master blender to move the brand from the curation to creation of rare spirits.

Kentucky-based Lux Row Distillers has launched its second limited edition release of Rebel Yell bourbon in the UK.

Benriach Distillery, located in north Speyside, has relaunched its portfolio of single malt whiskies with new liquids and branding.

Danish distillery Stauning has unveiled a new bottle design in line with the brand’s global expansion.

Irish Distillers’ Jameson experienced a -1% decline in value growth due to the impacts of COVID-19 in the second half of the year.

GreatDrams has launched three new whiskies including a 30-year-old Girvan single grain expression which are now available online.

Loch Lomond Whiskies has launched a complete brand refresh across its domestic and global travel retail single malt scotch whisky ranges.

Taiwanese distillery Kavalan has launched a new entry-level range of whisky called The Distillery Select Series.

Chivas director of blending Sandy Hyslop said the company had anticipated changes to the scotch whisky laws allowing for the launch of Chivas Extra 13 in March.

In October 2020, Mickey Heads will retire as Ardbeg Distillery Manager after 13 years in the role.

Irish Distillers has unveiled a new look for its Powers Irish whiskey brand. The rebrand is meant to attract a new generation of drinkers to, historically, one of Ireland’s key whiskey brands.

This catch-all category, taking in global whiskies (outside of American, scotch and Irish) tends to be dominated by Japan.