Eileen Rae from International Beverage in pink with St Andrew’s Hospice staff

International Beverage announces Scottish Charities set to benefit from £25,000 ‘Spirit of Our Community Awards’ fund

One of Scotland’s leading spirits producers, International Beverage, has unveiled the three top recipients of this year’s Spirit of Our Community Awards.

£20,000 has been donated by the Airdrie-based premium spirits business and will be allocated amongst the three deserving charities, which were chosen from a raft of applications. They are:

• Airdrie’s St Andrew’s Hospice, for the charity’s child bereavement services that offer support in Lanarkshire.
• Moray Rape Crisis, an organisation that provides invaluable support for people who have been affected by sexual violence and abuse.
• Pulteneytown People’s Project, a community-led centre that supports the local population in Wick and the wider Caithness area.

A further £5,000 donation will be split amongst the following seven runners up: Lanarkshire Cancer Care Trust, Glenboig Development Trust, James Support Group, Elgin Youth Development Group, Wick Community Hub, Grampian Society for the Blind and Dornoch Beach Wheelchairs.

The International Beverage Spirit of Our Community Awards were launched in 2022 to celebrate and reward the people and organisations working hard to make a difference to others in the community surrounding the company’s head office in Airdrie.

In 2023 the initiative was extended to communities close to the company’s five Scottish distilleries, where separate awards funds were allocated.

Judged by a mix of International Beverage employees and external associates, the competition was open to any charity or not for profit organisation based near the business’s key distilleries.

• Zone 1 the ML5 and ML6 Airdrie and Coatbridge region;

• Zone 2 within a 35-mile radius of Aberdeenshire’s Knockdhu Distillery and Speyside-based Speyburn and Balmenach Distilleries;

• Zone 3 within a 35-mile radius of Pulteney Distillery in Wick and Balblair Distillery in Tain.

Spirit of Our Community Awards organiser, International Beverage Business Support Manager Eileen Rae commented: ‘We received our biggest number of awards entries to date this year and our judges really had a difficult task when it came to selecting our top recipients. The standard of entries was extremely high as so many deserving charities applied with a host of community initiatives that really touched our hearts.

We are delighted to announce our 2025 winners and runners up and look forward to hearing more on how their projects develop over the months ahead.”

The scheme is International Beverage’s biggest charity commitment to date. To learn more about the awards, please click HERE 

International Beverage is the international arm of Thai Beverage Public Limited Company. The premium spirits company’s portfolio is led by a range of high-quality brands including Old Pulteney single malt Scotch whisky, Hankey Bannister blended Scotch whisky, Caorunn and The Source Gins, PRAKAAN single malt whisky and Phraya Rum from Thailand, Larsen Cognac, The Cardrona Single Malt Whisky, The Reid Single Malt Vodka, and Rose Rabbit Liqueur.

A certified Great Place to Work, International Beverage’s success is shaped by its 700-strong team based across the business’ network of nine global sites spanning the UK, France, New Zealand, and Greater China following the company’s recent acquisition of Asiaeuro International Beverage (AIB). For more information, please visit www.interbevgroup.com/.

FEBRUARY 2026 AUCTION ENDS SUNDAY!

It’s that time again — this month’s auction is nearing its end, closing from 8pm GMT on Sunday 22^nd February. Don’t miss your chance to bid on a superb selection of old, rare, and limited releases, like this quartet of Macallan 18. Following earlier 17-year-old releases, the decision was made to settle on 18 years of age — a choice that would define one of the distillery’s most iconic age-stated annual releases.

Over the years, the 18-year-old has evolved in both bottle shape and presentation, most notably in 2018 with the introduction of the wider-shouldered bottle and striking black packaging. This redesign coincided with the opening of the new distillery and a complete reimagining of the brand’s core ranges. While Triple Cask and Double Cask 18-year-olds have since appeared, the Macallan Sherry Oak 18 Year Old remains the benchmark — and a firm favourite among collectors and connoisseurs alike. Don’t miss out on the opportunity to snap up four consecutive bottlings from the range 2018-2021.

Distilled at Tamnavulin in 1973 and released in 2000 as New Century, this striking Glen Stuart Whisky Company bottling was created to celebrate the dawn of the new millennium. A genuine time-capsule release and a must-have for collectors chasing rare, era-defining whiskies!

The dramatic finale of a celebrated three-part series created to honour Clan Mackenzie and their ancestral home, Castle Leod. This Dalmore was released to support the castle’s restoration and the sought-after trilogy was matured in American white oak before a luxurious finish in González Byass Oloroso sherry casks. Beginning with Clan Mackenzie in 2010 and Castle Leod in 2011, the story reaches its powerful conclusion with Cromartie, released in 2012 — a must-have closing chapter for collectors and one of only 7,500 bottles produced.

Distilled at Glenfarclas in 2003, this single malt was matured for over 15 years before being drawn from a single sherry cask (Cask #89) and bottled at full cask strength exclusively for the 2019 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival. Limited to just 647 bottles, this is a powerful, small-batch festival release with serious collector appeal.

Final call. These are just a handful of the old, rare, and highly collectable bottles in our February auction — and time is running out. Head to clickwhiskyauctions.com to explore the full lineup and register to bid now. Don’t miss out — you’ve got to be in it to win it. Auction closes Sunday 22^nd February from 8pm GMT.

A DIAMOND OF A RELEASE

The Macallan Diamonds Are Forever 55^th Anniversary Release reunites The Macallan and James Bond, following our James Bond 60^th Anniversary Release in 2022.

This release celebrates Bond’s connoisseurship of sherry wine through an unexpected selection of sherry and red wine seasoned oak casks, distilled in 2-007. A novel exploration of our pioneering characters, and an expression of the film’s narrative where not everything is as it seems, bespoke hybrid sherry seasoned oak casks add to the complexity to uncover a whisky with glittering depth and character.

We are pleased to share that The Macallan Diamonds Are Forever 55^th Anniversary Release Ballot is now open for entries. To enter, log into your The Macallan Society account, navigate to the Ballot area, watch the short film and complete the multiple choice questions about the release.

JOIN OUR WHISKY CLUB…

A fan of Murray McDavid?

Want to be part of an exclusive whisky community? Join our Murray McDavid Whisky Club for  a look behind the scenes and opportunities to join in with unique tasting sessions.

Mac-Talla Pedro Ximenez Limited Edtion

£72.50

From the rugged shores of Islay this whisky carries the Island’s signature peat smoke, tempered by time in rich Pedro Ximenez Sherry Casks. Notes of dark dried fruit, warm toffee and coastal brine. Rich with intense notes of medjool dates and chocolate caramels. Sweet decadence is complimented with a gentle peat smoke and spice on the finish.

TyndrumWhisky.com
The Green Welly Stop
Tyndrumwhisky, Tyndrum
Crianlarich, Perthshire FK20 8RY
United Kingdom

Talnua Distillery Unveils Olde Saint’s Keep 2026

A unique expression celebrating both gaelic distilling tradition and collaboration within the Colorado craft distilling community.

Arvada, Colorado — Talnua Distillery proudly announces the release of Olde Saint’s Keep 2026, an American Single Pot Still Whiskey special release. This year’s expression was created to honor the high-quality and collaborative spirit of Colorado distilling. Rooted in tradition and elevated by community, this limited-edition whiskey stands as a celebration of shared craft, timed fittingly with the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day, a holiday long defined by gathering and connection. At its core, this release is a tribute to the state’s esteemed distilling community, award winning producers whose commitment to quality continues to elevate Colorado spirits on the world stage.

A True Colorado Finish

The whiskey for this year’s expression was aged for a minimum of three years in Char #2 American White Oak barrels, then finished for 6-9 months in unique casks sourced from six Colorado distilleries, each contributing a distinct layer of character and complexity. These finishing casks include, listed alphabetically by distillery:

Bear Creek Distillery — Rum cask
Deerhammer Distilling Co. — Apple Brandy cask
The Family Jones Distillery — Rye Whiskey cask
Laws Whiskey House — Wheat Whiskey cask
Spirit Hound Distillers — Single Malt Whiskey cask
Storm King Distilling Co. — Bourbon Whiskey cask

Production Details

Mashbill: 50% malted barley / 50% unmalted barley
Distillation: Triple distilled
Age Statement: Minimum 4 years
ABV: 50% | Proof: 100
Bottles Released: 1,200
MSRP: $110.00

“At Talnua, tradition isn’t static, it’s built together,” said Founder/Master Distiller Patrick Miller. “Olde Saint’s Keep 2026 is our way of honoring the people, places, and producers who make Colorado distilling what it is today. St. Patrick’s Day has always been about community, and this release is a reflection of that spirit.”

Olde Saint’s Keep 2026 will be available in limited quantities beginning March 13, 2026 at Talnua’s annual St. Patrick’s Day event and for pre-order here

Talnua Distillery – The American Spirit with an Irish Soul

SPRINGBANK 30YO

The 2026 edition of Springbank 30 Year Old is matured predominantly in Bourbon casks, with a small proportion of Oloroso sherry casks, and will see a global release of roughly 1,600 bottles.

NOSE Soft candle smoke and manuka honey sweetness open this dram, and the complexity builds in notes of cranberries, white pepper, potpourri and orange.

PALATE Notes of honeycomb, icing sugar, crystallised ginger and demerara sugar emerge on the palate, along with a brine, salt note reminiscent of salted caramel.

FINISH Peat smoke continues to the finish, with notes of eucalyptus, mint and gorse bush.

46% ABV

UK RRP £895 – £920

Kanosuke: A Japanese Whisky Dinner
at Jeong yuk Jeom in Los Angeles

Thursday, March 12^th
$100 per ticket
7:00PM — Jeong yuk Jeom, Los Angeles

Join us for a spirited evening exploring the distinctive character of Kanosuke, one of Japan’s rising stars in single malt whisky, hosted at Jeong Yuk Jeom in Koreatown. This exciting dinner will be hosted by Bay Area great Chris Lane of High Road Spirits and Roland Ng from Kanosuke, both Japanese whisky experts.

Located on the lush coast of Kagoshima, Kanosuke Distillery was founded in 2017. Drawing on the coastal climate, diverse barrel aging, and their signature use of a pot still inherited from the Hioki Distillery, Kanosuke whiskies have quickly earned a reputation for their smooth texture, elegant complexity, and gentle seaside character. Each expression in this lineup reflects the distillery’s evolving style.

Our host for the evening, Jeong Yuk Jeom, a Korean barbecue restaurant whose name translates to “butcher shop”, is known in LA for its vibrant dining experience focusing on high-quality dry-aged and prime cuts grilled tableside, offering an interactive and celebratory take on Korean barbecue rooted in both tradition and contemporary flavor exploration. With a menu designed to showcase what the restaurant describes as an interactive and dynamic approach to Korean barbecue, the setting is a compelling complement to Kanosuke’s nuanced whiskies.

Seats are extremely limited—we recommend reserving now, as tickets will go quickly! All alcoholic beverages will be served exclusively by Jeong yuk Jeom in accordance with their licensing. Lineup is subject to change.

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

ralfy review 1116 – GlenWyvis ‘The Drover’ @ 46.5%vol: