EDINBURGH WHISKY ENTREPRENEURS TAKE ON 54-MILE HIGHLAND CHALLENGE FOR CHARITY

Edinburgh, May 2026; Edinburgh whisky entrepreneurs are swapping drams for hiking boots this summer as they prepare to take on the legendary Cateran Yomp in support of the Army Benevolent Fund.

Adam Harding and Tom Costello – the team behind award-winning Leith whisky business Tailored Spirits Co. – have spent recent months training across Edinburgh and beyond ahead of the gruelling 54-mile endurance challenge through the Perthshire Highlands.

Widely regarded as one of the UK’s toughest endurance events, on 6-7th June 2026 the Cateran Yomp sees challengers cover 54 miles in under 24 hours, climbing more than 2,000 metres across rugged Scottish terrain while raising vital funds for soldiers, veterans and military families.

The challenge comes just weeks after Tailored Spirits Co. celebrated national success at the Stelios Foundation UK Young Entrepreneur Awards, where Co-Founders Adam Harding and Carl Johnstone secured a £50,000 prize in recognition of the company’s rapid growth, innovation and international success.

As training continues, the Tailored Spirits team will be sharing regular updates across Instagram, documenting everything from preparation walks and fundraising efforts to the challenge itself. Supporters will also be able to follow live updates throughout the 24-hour Cateran Yomp as the team takes on one of Scotland’s toughest endurance events.

Founded in Edinburgh in 2024, Tailored Spirits Co. has quickly established itself as one of Scotland’s most exciting whisky businesses, working with private clients, luxury brands and hospitality groups around the world to create bespoke single cask Scotch whiskies.

Rather than operating as a traditional independent bottler, Tailored Spirits positions itself as an experience-led whisky partner, guiding clients through the full journey – from cask selection and liquid style to brand design and final bottling.

Now, the team is turning their attention from whisky tastings and luxury client events to endurance training.

Over the past several months, the team have completed countless training walks across Scotland, clocked up miles around Edinburgh and made repeated climbs of Arthur’s Seat as they prepare for what is likely to be the most physically demanding challenge they have ever undertaken.

The Cateran Yomp will see participants set off on 6th June before walking through the night and into the following morning in a test of endurance, resilience and determination.

Adam Harding, Co-Founder & Director of Tailored Spirits Co. said: “The Cateran Yomp is an incredible event with a brilliant cause behind it, so we’re really proud to be taking part this year. We’ve spent months training, putting miles in the legs and trying to get ourselves into shape for what’s likely to be the toughest 24 hours we’ve ever faced. There’s been plenty of Scottish wind, rain and early starts along the way.

“As a business proudly based in Edinburgh and passionate about Scotland, community and bringing people together through whisky, it felt like a really meaningful event for us to get involved with. We’re delighted to be supporting the Army Benevolent Fund and would be hugely grateful for any support.”

The Army Benevolent Fund is the British Army’s national charity, supporting soldiers, former soldiers and their families for life. The charity provides financial assistance, independent living support and wellbeing services to thousands of people across the UK each year.

Supporters can follow the team’s progress and donate HERE 

Find out everything about Scotland’s most exciting bespoke whisky bottler here 

About Tailored Spirits Co.

Experts in spirits, specialising in whisky supply, creating exceptional brands and bottlings. Tailored Spirits Co. is an Edinburgh-based, global-serving company who guide clients through the complexities of spirits bottling projects and ensure their dreams are achieved.

W: https://www.tailoredspirits.co.uk/
I: @tailoredspiritsco
F: @tailoredspiritsco
L: @tailoredspiritsco

Texas Whiskey Festival Announces The Must-Have 2026 Texas Whiskeys

 An annual blind tasting event tied to the festival and conducted by judges reveals the bottles that are the cream of the crop of the Texas whiskey scene.

AUSTIN, Texas — When you think Texas, think Texas whiskey. Once again the Texas Whiskey Festival, the signature brown spirits event in the Lone Star State, brought together the best of the best, highlighting through its coveted awards program the must-try Texas whiskeys of the moment.

One thing that quickly emerged in 2026 is a snapshot of Texas whiskey in motion. The evolution of flavor, working with the grains, climate, and individual styles, creates remarkable whiskey that is a reflection of the state and the people who make it.

“Texas whiskey reflects where it’s made and who’s making it—the heat, the grain, the independence,” said Jake Clements, founder of the Texas Whiskey Festival. “What we’re seeing now is a category coming into its own, with distillers writing their own playbook. That’s what makes it so compelling.”

The whiskey type Texas is best known for is bourbon. The high-quality Texan grains, hot Texan summers, and fierce Texan pride all combine to bring to the world stage bourbons easily rivaling those coming out of Kentucky. For the 2026 Texas Whiskey Festival Best Bourbon, the must-try bottle is Garrison Brothers Cowboy Bourbon. A monster of an expression aged at least six years and bottled at a staggering 146.4 proof, it is a testament to the pioneering Texan bourbon distillery behind it in crafting such a high ABV offering that is so loved by so many and highly sought after each year it is released.

This exceptional bourbon also got the coveted nod as the overall must-try of all the whiskeys submitted for judging.

Another well-known whiskey category out of Texas is rye. The top 2026 Texas Whiskey Festival choice here, Koopers Family Barrel Reserve Rye, is a masterfully crafted blend of straight rye whiskeys, each aged between four and seven years from a mix of first and second fill barrels. As if this wasn’t enough, the team at Koopers Family then finishes the blend with toasted oak staves before bottling this at barrel proof.

Malt whiskeys, particularly American single malts, are another whiskey category that’s put Texas on the map. For 2026, the Festival must-try bottle is the Andalusia Whiskey Co. Cigar Malt. A joint venture between master blender Irene Tan and one of the best of the “grain-to-glass” distilleries in all of Texas, this very limited edition American single malt release is a peated, wine cask finished bottling meant to pair with the finest in cigars. Delivering rich notes of dark fruit and tobacco, it is a perfect whiskey for any time of the year.

Light whiskey and cask finished whiskeys are also big must-haves in Texas. Judges from the Texas Whiskey Festival sampled a number of well-produced offerings in these categories. For light whiskey, a type of whiskey developed in the late 1960s to help brands at that time compete against white spirits in a changing market, the must-have is from light whiskey specialists Austin Craft Spirits. Their Austin 121 is a bottled at cask strength release that varies in high proof barrel by barrel.

Cask finished whiskeys in Texas build upon the already high-quality spirits put forth by local distilleries. A range of cask finishing types showcase the diversity of possibilities in this category — for the must-have choice from the 2026 Festival, Andalusia Whiskey Co. is again on the list with its Madeira Cask Stryker. This bold American single malt, distilled from grains smoked with oak, mesquite, and apple woods, is finished for six months in ex-Madeira casks, resulting in flavors of BBQ, campfire, leather, and dark chocolate.

In addition to the judge awards, the night of the Festival revealed the People’s Choice Award Winner.  Milam & Green Whiskey was this year’s winner. An error during the event resulted in an incorrect initial announcement of the People’s Choice Award. Final results have since been verified, and we apologize for any confusion.

“This tasting is about what people actually enjoy drinking, not just what checks technical boxes,” noted Clements. “Each of these bottles earned its place in the glass and reflects where Texas whiskey is today—bold, diverse, and continuing to evolve.”

Judging for the Texas Whiskey Festival occurs annually, with all entries being put through a blind tasting process, grouped by style. Judges focus on tasting criteria that prioritizes what people actually want to drink.

About Texas Whiskey Festival 

The purpose of the annual Texas Whiskey Festival is to promote and enhance the brands of the many great distilleries throughout Texas. Along with promotion, we’re focused on educating whiskey enthusiasts on the many fantastic whiskeys produced in our great state, while having fun, drinking great whiskey, and building memorable experiences. We believe that Texas has some of the best distilleries and whiskeys in the world, and the Texas Whiskey Festival is an opportunity to expand the reach and status of Texas Whiskey through public and private events.

A warm welcome everyone to our now live 180th auction!  As ever we have a tremendous selection of bottles to choose from, with just about every flavour profile on the planet represented.  To get your watchlist moving we’ve picked out a few special bottlings you might want to keep your eye on.

A fantastic bottle this one from a now-defunct Italian independent bottler, this is the Ardbeg 1966 ‘The Birds’ Moon Import 75cl.  Until their untimely demise in 2015 Moon were well known for the quality of their releases and this gem is no exception.  A real old-school Ardbeg single cask from the 1966 vintage, this one is surely to get Islay collectors enthused.

Next up, and a bit of a departure from Islay, we have a rather magnificent bourbon from one of the States oldest and most respected brands, this is the Michter’s 20 Year Old Limited Release.  Aged for two whole decades this deliciously decadent dram represents for some the pinnacle of bourbon production, and that is saying something given the vast range of high-quality bourbons on the American market.

Back to something a bit closer to home, but by no means less interesting, this understated belter is the Springbank 35 Year Old Millennium Collection.  This venerable whisky is from Springbank’s famed Millennium Collection and is an incredible 35 years old while still retaining a respectable 46% ABV.  Ever popular in the secondary market Springbank shows no signs of letting up yet.

And last but by no means least we have an outstanding bottling from a distillery which is REALLY close to home for us here at SWA, this is the Auchentoshan 1957 50 Year Old Single Cask #480.  As the title suggests this remarkable whisky was distilled way back in 1957 and has spent five whole decades ageing to perfection in a single sherry butt.  One of only 144 bottles released this whisky has a darkly inviting hue to add to its already impressive pedigree.As always we have an enormous selection of drams to suit every budget on offer this month, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.

Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

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Most whisky drinkers can recognise a couple of key flavours. Not many understand where all those delicious flavours might actually come from. Our bestselling Certificate in Scotch Whisky course explores the history, production, maturation and culture behind Scotland’s national drink, helping every dram make a little more sense. Accessible, self-paced and fun. Have you completed it yet?

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ralfy review 1130 – Longrow NAS @57.1%vol: (Batch2)

Toast to time together with Tomatin’s Father’s Day whisky experiences

Tomatin launches new Stillman’s Tour experience ahead of Father’s Day

This Father’s Day, Tomatin is encouraging gift-givers to celebrate the joy of a lasting gift: time shared with loved ones, meaningful moments and the simple pleasure of being together.

Nestled in the Scottish Highlands, just south of Inverness, the whisky distillery is the ideal spot to slow down and create special moments. Exploring Tomatin’s Visitor Centre and thoughtfully curated tours is the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day with a whisky and history curious dad, spending time together sharing drams and learning about the Highland distillery’s rich distilling heritage.

For guests arriving by car, Tomatin offers the expressions included in each experience to takeaway as ‘Driver’s Drams’ to be tried later, so whether visiting on a Highland getaway or a day trip, everyone can enjoy a taste of Tomatin.

For a never-seen-before Tomatin experience – Stillman’s Tour

£65, 2.5 hours

Step behind the scenes at Tomatin with Stillman David Milne. This new, small group tour offers rare access to parts of the distillery not usually open to visitors, bringing guests closer to the craft of whisky-making.

Led by David himself, the experience explores each stage of the journey, from cask selection and filling to maturation, alongside a close-up look inside the historic still house and a working warehouse. The tour concludes in the sensory room, an intimate space home to decades-old whisky samples, where guests can enjoy a private tasting of four of David’s favourite Tomatin single malts.

For the history-loving dad – The Legacy Tour

£20 – 1.5 hours

The Legacy Tour takes guests on a journey through Tomatin’s history, from its beginnings in 1897 through the height of production in the 1970s to the present day. The experience culminates in a tutored tasting of three single malts from Tomatin, as well as Cù Bòcan, an experimental single malt which is produced at the distillery during one month of the year using lightly peated Scottish barley.

For the true whisky enthusiast – Warehouse 6 Tasting Experience 

£80 – 3 hours

To experience the heart of Tomatin, opt for the Warehouse 6 Tasting Experience, an exclusive journey into the very soul of the distillery. Stepping into Warehouse 6, a quiet corner in the traditional dunnage warehouse, guests will delve into the story of maturation in the whisky making process, surrounded by the sight and scent of some of Tomatin’s most precious casks, many of which have been maturing for decades.

Led by the distillery’s expert guides, the tour culminates in a unique tasting of new make spirit and four carefully selected exclusive single cask whiskies straight from the cask, showcasing the complexity and character that has earned Tomatin global acclaim.

For a gift that becomes a real memento – Design your own Tomatin Scotch

Prices from £3,000 per decanter – minimum 3 hours.

This intimate experience at Tomatin Distillery offers the chance to create something truly memorable. Guests are guided through a curated selection of exceptionally rare single malt vintages, before choosing their favourite to be hand-filled into a bespoke Glencairn Crystal decanter and finishing with a small personalised engravement.

The experience is completed with a private tour of the distillery, with available vintages including 1975, 1977, 1978, as well as remarkable 45 and 50-year-old expressions, a lasting keepsake and a fitting tribute to what matters most.

For more information on Tomatin and to book a tour, please visit https://tomatin.com

Tomatin is located in the Scottish Highlands, 16 miles south of Inverness, and is famous for its refined and elegant whiskies. The distillery has a proud heritage stretching back to the 15th century when illicit production was likely to be taking place, but it wasn’t until 1897 that the first formal distillery was established by John MacDougall as the Tomatin Spey Distillery Company.

In 2022, Tomatin was awarded ‘Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year’ and ‘Outstanding Spirits Producer of the Year’ at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). Later that year, it was recognised as ‘Sustainable Distillery of the Year’ at Whisky Magazine’s Icons of Whisky 2023, in recognition of its continued contribution to sustainability at the distillery.

In 2023, Tomatin took home seven awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, while Cù Bòcan, took home three. Tomatin’s 36 Year Old was crowned the ultimate winner at SFWSC for malts, being named ‘Best in Show’, officially making it one of the best whiskies in the world.

2024 saw Tomatin’s 18 Year Old secure Double Gold for the third consecutive year at the SFWSC, elevating it to Platinum status.

Tomatin has a first-class wood policy and a commitment to knowing the history of each cask that passes through its warehouses. It is one of only a handful of Scotch whisky distilleries to have its own cooperage on-site, with cooper Allan Bartlett being named ‘Cooper of the Year’ at the 2025 Icons of Whisky Awards.

‘To What Matters’ lies at the heart of the brand’s ethos and is a belief in savouring what is truly important.

Tomatin is owned by the Japanese company Takara Shuzo International: www.takara-intl.co.jp/en/

Artisan Casks announces 2026 private cask portfolio

Artisan Casks, the exclusive private cask program from the Artisanal Spirits Company, owners of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, reveals its 2026 cask portfolio, which includes a 32 year old Macallan, a 30 year old Laphroaig, and a 34 year old Mortlach.

Each year Artisan Casks releases only a handful of whisky casks of impeccable provenance, expertly selected and cared for in ‘The Artisanal Way’ by experts in single cask whisky.

Established and led by James Mackay, Private Client Director at The Artisanal Spirits Company plc, a globally trusted authority in exceptional rare whisky, Artisan Casks is building an exclusive circle of Cask Owners through James’ unique network of private clients internationally and expertise, built over more than 10 years managing cask programmes for some of the world’s biggest whisky companies.

Following the program’s launch in 2025, this year’s portfolio includes single casks from a host of renowned Scotch whisky distilleries, each of which have been selected and cared for by the Artisanal Spirits Company’s expert whisky-makers, who spare no expense in skilfully guiding them towards the peak of their potential.

Artisan Casks start at $80,000 and extend into six figures, depending on age, distillery of origin and cask size. All casks are at least 20 years old and ready to bottle, whilst Cask Owners can also choose to age their casks further as desired or to celebrate a particular milestone, witnessing first-hand the technical artistry involved in maturing whisky of this calibre. To aid their maturation assessment of the cask, Cask Owners may request up to two bottles per year, which will be delivered alongside a whisky-maker’s maturation statement and evaluation.

The very first Artisan Casks bottle, Ancient Alba ‘AON’ 1972, from the first ever Artisan Cask No. 901228, was sold at the Distiller’s One of One 2025 charity auction for £13,750 ($18,767) – more than double Sotheby’s pre-auction estimate. It was graciously donated anonymously to the charity auction by its owner.

On the back of a successful first year the 2026 portfolio – 10 casks in total – includes beautifully matured single malts from world-famous distilleries such as Macallan, Laphroaig and Mortlach. Further showcasing the diverse range and artisanal ability of the whisky-makers, the release also includes a highly characterful 34 year old single grain Scotch whisky from North British distillery in Edinburgh, as well as ‘Speyside Symphony’, a 33 year old ‘teaspooned’ blended malt Scotch whisky.

Artisan Cask Owners join a discerning community of likeminded individuals and privileged access to some of the most desirable distilleries, renowned individuals and exclusive gatherings.

Last year, James hosted a group of Cask Owners at the Distiller’s One of One Auction at Hopetoun House, Edinburgh. In 2026, plans are already afoot for Artisan Cask Owner events in London, New York, Singapore and the Bahamas.

James Mackay, Artisan Casks private client director, said: “When created with the highest levels of care and craft, I believe Scotch whisky is one of the world’s true luxuries – and moreover an inherently sociable luxury – which is why it’s so rewarding to connect each year with whisky lovers internationally, helping them select that unique cask which speaks to them and reflects their personal taste and passion. We’re looking forward to bringing more people together this year for some truly unforgettable whisky experiences.”

Artisan Casks 2026 portfolio:

Bowmore 2004 Artisan Cask No. 161162 (52.6% abv)

Maturation profile: 17 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon barrel, followed by 4 years in a first-fill Pedro Ximenez ex-bodega barrique

Bunnahabhain 1989 161143 Artisan Cask No. 304554 (43.9% abv)

Maturation profile: 28 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon hogshead, 7 years in a re-fill sherry hogshead, 1 year in a second-fill American oak bourbon barrel

Caol Ila 1990 Artisan Cask No. 304554 (49.3% abv)

Maturation profile: 35 years in a re-fill sherry hogshead

Glen Garioch 2003 Artisan Cask No. 161411 (55.3% abv)

Maturation profile: 22 years in a first-fill American oak bourbon barrel

Glen Grant 1993 Artisan Cask No. 304565 (57.0% abv)

Maturation profile: 29 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon barrel, followed by 3 years in a first-fill Spanish oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead

Laphroaig 1995 Artisan Cask No. 151733 (52.9% abv)

Maturation profile: 22 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon barrel, followed by 8 years in a second-fill American oak bourbon barrel

Macallan 1994 Artisan Cask No. 305140 (52.2% abv)

Maturation profile: 28 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon hogshead, followed by 3 years in a first-fill Spanish oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead

Mortlach 1991 Artisan Cask No. 304590 (43.7% abv)

Maturation profile: 32 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon hogshead, followed by 2 years in a second-fill American oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead

North British 1991 Artisan Cask No. 901533 (51.0% abv)

Maturation profile: 33 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon hogshead, followed by 1 year in a first-fill Spanish oak Pedro Ximenez hogshead

‘Speyside Symphony’ 1992 Artisan Cask No. 173545 (54.1% abv)

Maturation profile: 25 years in a re-fill American oak bourbon hogshead, followed by 8 years in a second-fill Pedro Ximenez hogshead

Compass Box “The Spice Tree/The Story of the Spaniard” Combo Pack Blended Malt Scotch Whisky

The Evolution of the Pot Still in Scotland by Iain Russell, Part 2

What happens when tradition meets technology in the stillhouse? In Part 2 of his exploration into the evolution of the pot still, whisky historian Iain Russell reveals the innovations that shaped modern Scotch whisky, from steam heating and purifiers to worm tubs and spirit safes. Plus, a bit of soap!

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ralfy review 1131 – Kilkerran 8yo @57.7%vol: