Last Drop Distillers launches its 2025 ultra-aged whisky collection April 4, 2025 This week, The Last Drop Distillers unveiled its 2025 Collection of three ultra-aged whiskies from America, Scotland, and Japan. Founded in 2008 by industry veterans Tom Jago and James Espey, The Last Drop has carved out a niche in the ultra-premium spirits world by hunting down forgotten barrels and long-overlooked casks from storied distilleries. With [...]
Japanese Whisky: A celebration of Japan’s culture April 3, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. April 1st marked Japanese Whisky Day, the annual event designed to celebrate and showcase Japanese whisky. While the drink has gained recognition in recent years, it’s still fighting for a place on the shelf alongside Scotch, Irish and Bourbon. It might come as a surprise, [...]
The award-winning Lakes Distillery launches its Signature whisky March 27, 2025 Over the past five years, English whisky has emerged as one of the most exciting categories in the drinks business. Whiskies from distilleries across the country have been scooping up awards, with no fewer than five English single malts picking up a Gold Award at this year’s World Whiskies Awards (26th March). The Lakes Distillery [...]
Whisk(e)y Business: The Irish Whiskey renaissance March 14, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. Today, Scotland is the world’s go-to destination for whisky, but back in the 19th century, Irish whisky (the ‘e’ in Irish whiskey wasn’t universal until the latter half of the 1990s), not Scotch, dominated the global market. By the late 1800s, Irish distillers had the [...]
Founder of whisky investment firm Hackstons tied to notorious ‘Wolf of Wall Street’ wine scam March 13, 2025 A high-flying salesman who made millions during his time at a business that was subsequently exposed as a notorious wine scam is now running a West End whisky investment firm having changed his name, City AM can reveal. Alphie Valentine, 41, is the co-founder and director of Hackstons, whose flagship store opened in Knightsbridge in [...]
No luxury markets outperformed the FTSE 100 last year March 5, 2025 The once reliable luxury market suffered last year, with even the top performers in the market only posting modest gains in a weak market. The Knight Frank Luxury Investment Index (KFLII), which tracks the performance of 10 popular investments, fell 3.3 per cent for the second year in a row. The FTSE100, meanwhile, posted gains [...]
Whisky Business: The Glenlivet’s oldest permanent expression to date February 14, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. The key to whisky’s unique flavour is patience, but for producers, there will always be a trade-off between patience and profit. While the process of distilling whisky only takes a few days, Scotch whisky must be matured for a minimum of three years, a significant [...]
The Famous Grouse sale to billionaire’s empire on the rocks January 29, 2025 A deal which saw whisky giant The Famous Grouse sold to one of the UK’s richest men is to be investigated by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Drinks business Edrington sold the brand, which been owned by its 1887 Company, to William Grant & Sons in September last year for an undisclosed sum. William Grant & [...]
Whisky Business: Lessons from 150 years in the Whisky trade January 16, 2025 Whisky Business: City AM’s monthly look at the world of whisky. Robert Graham 1874 is one of the UK’s oldest whisky and tobacco merchants. Founded in 1874 by Glasgow’s former city treasurer, Robert Graham, the company has grown steadily over the years, branching out in 2002 with its own exclusive award-winning range of whiskies. “Our [...]
Whisky Business: Scotch Whisky exports take a hit November 14, 2024 City AM’s monthly look at trends in the world of Scotch Whisky. Scotch Whisky is one of the UK’s most successful sectors, but it’s facing increasing headwinds from challenges both at home and overseas. According to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), the value of Scotch exports topped £5.6bn in 2023, supporting 66,000 jobs across the [...]