Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s Caskmaster 2026 championship comes to London Whisky London whisky enthusiasts have a chance to compete for a spot in the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s national blind tasting final at 19 Greville Street on Wednesday 02 September 2026 as part of the Society’s inaugural Caskmaster 2026 championship. Competitors will receive 30 minutes to evaluate eight Society drams and match them against nine potential [...]
The Highland tourist tax: Is Scotland pricing out whisky tourists? Whisky The latest available data from the Scottish Tourism Economic Activity Monitor in Scotland (STEAM) shows that between 2012 and 2024, visitor numbers to the Highlands increased 82 per cent to 9.4m. Spending increased by a similar amount, to £2.1bn. A large share of that is directly linked to the Scotch whisky sector. You’d think, therefore, [...]
Four South Korean whiskies to try today Whisky Whether it’s through K-Pop, Squid Game or Korean street food, you’ve probably heard about, or indulged in, the rise in popularity of South Korean lifestyle culture in the UK. And the world of whisky certainly hasn’t been immune to this trend. Since the 2025 win for Korea’s first single malt whisky – Ki One Unicorn [...]
Fielden: Crafting a modern whisky brand August 13, 2026 This month’s issue of Whisky Business, City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky, takes a look at a new English whisky brand, Fielden Spend five minutes online looking for confirming evidence, and you’ll find plenty of commentary arguing that consumers the world over are drinking and spending less on alcohol. However, the underlying, real-world data [...]
Scotch whisky sales are falling, but what’s really behind the decline? July 22, 2026 Whisky Business, City AM’s whisky supplement. The Scotch whisky sector and indeed the wider spirits market have faced a challenging six months, marked by a wave of negative headlines that have painted a bleak picture of the industry’s health. At the beginning of the year, data from restructuring firm BTG warned nearly one in five of [...]
Duncan Taylor expands award-winning Octave whisky collection July 13, 2026 Independent bottler Duncan Taylor has dramatically expanded its Octave collection to meet rising global demand. The Octave collection can trace its roots back to the 1970s, when octave (or one-eighth-sized) casks were used to train coopers and distillers discovered they could be used to rapidly transform and elevate the whisky’s flavour profile. Each Octave cask [...]
Two centuries of Old Pulteney July 9, 2026 This month’s issue of Whisky Business, City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky, examines the history of Old Pulteney If there’s one Whisky that encapsulates the rugged beauty of Scotland’s Highlands and its coastal areas more than anything else, it’s Old Pulteney. Founded by James Henderson, a serial whisky entrepreneur, in 1826 to supply fishermen [...]
Build the perfect summer spritz, from elderflower to limoncello July 9, 2026 The spritz has become a dominant drink of the summer. Linked by simple ingredients, it can be enjoyed everywhere from back gardens to pub terraces; the wonderful thing about a spritz is that it can be tailored to your drink preferences. Link something dry? Go for a Fino Sherry Spritz. Like something sweet? The Berry [...]
The World of Fine Spirits launches with a focus on ultra-premium coverage June 30, 2026 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. Here, Alex Martin, editor of the new publication, The World of Fine Spirits, takes a look at what it takes to succeed in a tough industry. It’s hard to know which industry is more under threat: spirits or journalism. The former is facing a generational shift in [...]
Old Pulteney releases 50-year-old whisky for 200th anniversary June 16, 2026 Old Pulteney is marking its 200th anniversary with the release of two exceptionally rare single malts, including the oldest whisky ever bottled by the historic Highland distillery. The Wick-based producer has unveiled a 50-year-old and a 30-year-old single malt to celebrate two centuries of whisky-making on Scotland’s rugged northern coastline. The limited-edition expressions have been [...]