What the Scotch whisky industry wants from government Whisky There was a mixture of dismay, exasperation and righteous indignation in the Scotch whisky industry when, in his first Budget as chancellor last Wednesday, John Healey ignored longstanding pleas for a fairer approach to excise duty on spirits. The Scotch Whisky Association’s CEO Mark Kent, said afterwards: “Another increase – the fourth in as many [...]
Monkey Shoulder is winning over a new generation of whisky drinkers Whisky The slow burn success of this playful malt has inspired a bevvy of rival brands to enter the category. But Monkey Shoulder’s fans are not drinking it because it’s a blended malt. For many it is just a cool, lifestyle brand discovers Tom Bruce-Gardyne. That cheeky, fun-loving malt from William Grant & Sons, known as Monkey [...]
The challenges facing barley farmers and Scotch distillers Whisky Global demand for Scotch appears to be holding up reasonably well, but there is clearly no shortage of supply. With bulging warehouses, distillers have cut production, causing real grief to the farmers and maltsters who supply them. Ron Emler investigates … This year’s British summer, the hottest on record, left a scorched trail down the [...]
Scraping the barrel: The gold rush in whisky cask investment schemes October 12, 2026 Within the unregulated waters of whisky cask investment schemes, there be sharks. The sector has certainly had a bad press, and there has been lots of squabbling and finger-pointing, often by those with a vested interest. Tom Bruce-Gardyne lifts the lid on this murky world for City AM’s Whisky Business. “Let me take you into [...]
The Lakes Distillery: Profit slumps at Nyetimber’s whisky brand October 7, 2026 Nyetimber, the English sparkling wine producer, paid £71m to acquire The Lakes Distillery in 2024 as part of its goal to create a UK-based luxury drinks brand. But just two years on, and it’s starting to look as if Nyetimber, led by CEO Eric Heerema, may be suffering buyer’s remorse. Paul Carrie (who previously co-founded [...]
Austrian whisky makes its mark October 7, 2026 This month’s issue of Whisky Business, City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky, takes a look at the whisky coming out of Austria. Austria’s spirits market is worth around €360m a year, with whisky exports accounting for about 10 per cent of that, according to figures published in 2024. That makes the company a minnow [...]
A Dram with Paddy Fletcher October 6, 2026 Instead of erecting yet another Highland whisky ’shed’, Paddy Fletcher and Ian Stirling hit the scene with their dramatic, vertical Port of Leith distillery in 2023. This restless pair have also embraced gin, Scotch RTDs and launched a new whisky bar as Ian Fraser discovers … Despite developing an early taste for Tè Bheag, the [...]
Awash With Whisk(e)y October 2, 2026 Faltering demand, especially in the USA, has promoted concerns about oversupply and the prospect of another whisk(e)y loch. A number of Scotch distillers are slowing down production, but for Tom Bruce-Gardyne it feels like a bigger issue across the pond … “Every drop of liquid we distil, every barrel we choose to fill, every palate [...]
Northumberland’s bold producers reinventing English whisky and gin September 16, 2026 To celebrate the introduction of geographical indications for English Whisky, Rupert Hargreaves takes a look at two innovative producers shaking up England’s spirits market. When you think of Northumberland, images of rugged landscapes, heather-covered hills, fir trees and ancient ruins spring to mind. Nestled between Scotland and England, the region is steeped in history, from [...]
Scotch Whisky’s slightly sore head September 15, 2026 In a recent in-depth analysis of the Scotch whisky industry, the FT painted a grim picture of suppressed demand and an ever-rising tide of maturing spirit. Will distilleries and jobs be swept away in another great whisky loch? Tom Bruce-Gardyne believes such talk is way too pessimistic The week-end before last, the FT went big [...]