BERRY BROS. & RUDD RESTORES A LEGEND WITH THE

  RELEASE OF BLUE HANGER 14TH EDITION 

Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant, Berry Bros. & Rudd, has released the long  awaited 14^th edition of Blue Hanger, one of its most celebrated blended malt whiskies,  following a hiatus of more than ten years.

Over the course of thirteen previous editions, the series has built a dedicated following  among whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike, with earlier releases now highly sought-after  on the secondary market.

Named after William “Blue” Hanger, 3rd Lord Coleraine, an 18th-century patron of Berry  Bros. & Rudd known for his elegant style and signature blue attire, the Blue Hanger  series comprises limited-edition blended malt whiskies crafted from carefully selected  casks. Each batch is produced in small quantities, resulting in releases that are both  individual and collectible.

Originally created for the diplomatic export market in 1934, Blue Hanger disappeared for  decades before being revived in 2003 by Doug McIvor, then Berry Bros. & Rudd’s Spirits  Manager. Now, after more than a decade since the last release, the series has been  resurrected by Felix Dear, the company’s Spirits Curator.

Across its history Blue Hanger has not been defined by a fixed flavour profile but by a  consistent pursuit of complexity and balance. Individual editions have varied in character,  some built around sherried depth, others leaning into coastal smoke, but each has been  united by an emphasis on harmony and finesse.

Blue Hanger 14th Edition is a marriage of aged malt whiskies, the youngest of which is 26  years old. The blend was composed from seven casks: six ex-bourbon hogsheads and one  ex-sherry butt.

Felix Dear, Spirits Curator at Berry Bros. & Rudd, said: 

“Blue Hanger has been part of Berry Bros. & Rudd since 1934, and every edition since its  revival in 2003 has been eagerly anticipated and quickly snapped up. After more than a  decade away, the calls to bring it back never stopped. The 14th Edition is our answer, a  blend of exceptional aged malts that we’re proud to put the Blue Hanger name on once  again.” 

Bottled at 45.6% ABV with a limited run of just 2,500 bottles and priced at £120.00, Blue  Hanger 14th Edition will be available for purchase from 3 March 2026, exclusively through  bbr.com.

From April 2026, Blue Hanger 14th Edition will roll out to selected whisky specialists across  the UK, with further availability in key international markets.

For more information on Berry Bros. & Rudd and Blue Hanger, visit www.bbr.com.  

TASTING NOTES  

Nose: Milk chocolate and soft caramel ease into citrus peel and stewed fruits, the sherry cask  influence adding quiet depth

Palate: Has an unctuous oiliness, carrying barley sweets and orchard fruit, with caramel  wrapping around it all.

Finish: A dusting of baking spice adds lift, leading to a finish which gently trails into mellow  chocolate and sweet fruits notes.

NOTES:

Founded in 1698, Berry Bros. & Rudd is Britain’s oldest wine and spirits merchant. Family-owned and  run, the company still trades from No.3 St James’s Street, with offices in Hong Kong, Tokyo and  Singapore. With longstanding relationships with our producers, and a Royal Warrant, Berry Bros. &  Rudd helps collectors of fine wines and spirits build, manage and enjoy their cellars.

This fall marks SMWS Canada’s 15th anniversary and we’re celebrating by hosting our first-ever distillery tour in Scotland from September 13th – 20th!

Scotland-based luxury travel company MacLean & Bruce has worked with us to put together an exciting itinerary of distillery tours, heritage site visits, a cooperage tour, and gastronomic culinary experiences for 12 people.

Your trip begins in Edinburgh followed by several days spent exploring some of Scotland’s distilleries from the Lowlands to the Highlands. The week culminates with a lunch and tasting hosted by legendary whisky writer Charlie MacLean MBE at the original home of the SMWS, The Vaults in Leith.

SMWS Canada founders Rob and Kelly Carpenter will be accompanying you on this exciting adventure but don’t let that deter you! 😉 This is a must for any member eager to visit the Society’s spiritual home in Leith and enjoy some of Scotland’s best whisky regions.

VIEW FULL ITINERARY HERE

Established by legendary Master Blenders Richard Paterson OBE and Ian MacMillan, Wolfcraig draws on generations of Scottish whisky craftsmanship while looking confidently to the future. Blending revered tradition with modern creativity, Wolfcraig stands as a tribute to Scotland’s rich heritage and enduring character.

VIEW WOLFCRAIG WHISKIES

Every drop of our island whisky is matured here in Harris, just two miles from the distillery where its made. Here, our warehouses stand by the (sometimes) wild Atlantic shores in the small village of Ardhasaig, all in the shadow of the mighty Clisham mountain.
The maritime climate here is steady year round and the elements of Harris are able to work plenty of their mysterious magic as maturation progresses. Surrounded by bobbing boats in the nearby bay, and the ruins of old croft blackhouses, it really is a stunning place to transform our new-make spirit into a single malt…

DISCOVER OUR WHISKIES

ralfy review 1119 – Bunnahabhain 12yo @54.6%vol: (2025 Edition)

Evolving design, enduring craft

Rare Find launches latest single cask collection with refined new visual identity 

Rare Find, the acclaimed independent bottler renowned for its meticulous cask selection and guided maturation, announces the launch of its latest collection of single cask whiskies, alongside the introduction of a refined new visual identity. While Rare Find continues to evolve its presentation, its unwavering commitment to exceptional whisky remains unchanged.

Since its founding, Rare Find has built its reputation on uncovering extraordinary distillates and elevating them through patient, carefully managed maturation and finishing. Each release represents the pinnacle of flavour, character, and maturity, selected from the millions of maturing casks across Scotland – with only a select few ever deemed worthy of becoming Rare Find bottlings.

The introduction of Rare Find’s new visual identity has been developed to enhance accessibility and clarity for retailers, bartenders, and consumers alike. The updated packaging introduces clearer range navigation, colour-coded regional roundels, and expanded provenance and cask information across both front and back labels. The result is a refined and intuitive way to communicate rarity, regional character, and cask influence, while strengthening shelf presence.

Despite the refreshed presentation, Rare Find’s core philosophy remains resolutely unchanged. Every bottling – whether featuring the new label or the previous design – is released as a genuine one-off, bottled only when the whisky reaches its optimal peak of flavour and balance.

The latest Rare Find collection showcases four distinctive single cask, single malt Scotch whiskies, each bottled without compromise at natural cask strength, natural colour, and without chill filtration.

Longmorn 19 Year Old

Amarone barrique finish

Inchmurrin 11 Year Old

Full matured in a 2nd fill sherry hogshead

Sutherland 35 Year Old

Fully matured in a refill hogshead

Aultmore 15 Year Old (Vault Exclusive Release)

 1st fill oloroso hogshead finish 

Speaking on the new releases and visual evolution, John Moffat, Head of Commercial for Rare Find commented: “Rare Find continues to evolve as a brand, but our standards remain absolute. Every release represents our relentless pursuit of exceptional whisky – from careful maturation to thoughtful finishing and presentation. Our new visual identity helps us communicate provenance, rarity, and character more clearly than ever, while the whisky itself remains exactly what Rare Find has always stood for: distinctive, authentic, and intentionally rare.”

The latest Rare Find releases will be available through select specialist retailers (www.rarefindwhisky.co.uk/stockists) from 12th of March, with the Aultmore 15 year old available exclusively for members of the Rare Find Vault.

Rare Find Spring 2026 Releases

Spring 2026 release images

A selection of additional images are available from: https://we.tl/t-LyhFlW3AWD

About Rare Find

Each Rare Find release is an unrepeatable, limited-edition whisky sourced from sought-after distilleries. With every bottle, we celebrate liquid excellence – meticulously selecting, maturing, and finishing in the highest quality casks to deliver whisky that’s rare by design.

From the millions of casks maturing in Scotland, only a small percentage are destined for single malt bottlings, and from those, only the best become a Rare Find.

Tormore 31 Year Old 1992 Milroy’s Vintage Reserve 40.1% 70cl

£240.06

Surely one of Scotland’s most visually striking distilleries, Tormore is a Speyside icon known for its light, fruity yet complex spirit. This expression, aged for over three decades in a hogshead, is overflowing with juicy tropical fruit and white chocolate notes, all set in a luxurious, waxy texture. This truly is a special release – especially as indie Tormore bottlings don’t come around often.

Tasting notes:

Nose: Apple blossom, papaya and desiccated coconut open a gentle yet gloriously detailed nose, with cut grass, tomato leaf, green fruits, melon, papaya, lemon cheesecake and milk chocolate.

Palate: An ethereal palate offers green grapes, iced buns, cinnamon and nutmeg, all set in a creamy palate that is soft but never cloying. Guava, fresh malt and barley water are grounded by black pepper and a subtle leafiness.

Finish: Medium in length with gentle sweet spices and more of those twiggy notes.

Tormore is one of Speyside’s more distinctive and architecturally striking distilleries, known for producing a light, fruity, and approachable style of single malt whisky. Located on the banks of the River Spey, near Grantown-on-Spey, the distillery was established in 1958, making it one of the first new Scottish distilleries to be built in the 20th century, during a period of renewed optimism in the Scotch industry.

Designed by the renowned architect Sir Albert Richardson, Tormore’s white-painted buildings, copper roofs, and landscaped gardens give it the appearance of a grand country estate rather than an industrial facility. It is so notable that the distillery complex is a listed building, recognised for its architectural significance. The clock tower, chiming every quarter hour, and neatly clipped topiary bushes add to its almost storybook charm.

Tormore was originally built by Long John International, later passing through the hands of Seagram, Pernod Ricard, and most recently Elixir Distillers, who purchased the site in 2022. Under new ownership, the distillery is set to gain more prominence as a single malt brand after decades of being primarily used for blending, particularly in Ballantine’s and other blended Scotch brands.

Historically, official Tormore bottlings have been relatively rare, but some have appeared in the Pernod Ricard “Heritage” range, including 12-year-old and 16-year-old expressions. These were typically matured in a mix of American oak ex-bourbon casks for vanilla and honey sweetness, and European oak for gentle spice and dried fruit complexity. Independent bottlers such as Gordon & MacPhail, Cadenhead’s, and Signatory have also released notable single cask expressions, often at higher strengths that reveal more depth and richness in the spirit.

With Elixir Distillers now at the helm, expectations are high for a revival of Tormore as a premium single malt brand. The new owners have signalled intentions to upgrade visitor facilities and develop a core range that highlights the distillery’s elegant, fruit-driven style while exploring creative cask maturations.

Our Tormore selection features a mix of official bottlings and carefully chosen independent releases, giving enthusiasts the opportunity to experience this underappreciated Speyside gem. Whether you enjoy a crisp, refreshing dram or are curious to explore one of the most visually stunning distilleries in Scotland, Tormore offers a whisky that matches its beauty with substance, a refined Speyside malt ready to take its place in the spotlight.

 Gordon & MacPhail Glen Grant Year Of The Fire Horse

59 Year Old · 1966 Vintage · 70cl · 51.1% ABV

£8,599.95

A single malt from Glen Grant bottled by Gordon & MacPhail to celebrate the Year of the Horse, this 59 year old was distilled in 1966 and bottled in 2025 at 51.1% ABV. It spent nearly six decades maturing in a refill sherry hogshead and was released in an extremely limited edition of just 88 bottles.

Vanilla custard aromas lead, layered with toasted hazelnuts and bright cinnamon spice. Notes of cocoa powder and rich sultanas unfold, followed by vibrant autumnal spices. Medium-bodied on the palate with a long, elegant finish, lingering with mixed nuts and hints of citrus peel.

The Glen Grant Distillery is located in Rothes, Speyside, and was established in 1826 by brothers John and James Grant. Known for its light and fruity single malts, Glen Grant is renowned for its use of tall, slender stills and unique wooden washbacks, which contribute to its signature style. The distillery’s name reflects its location in the Glen Grant area of Rothes. Glen Grant has a long history of innovation and has been influential in shaping the character of Speyside whisky.

SHOP ALL GLEN GRANT

Jameson’s Distiller’s Batch Single Pot Still, 46%

THE VIDEO

I’ve been waiting for a 46% Jameson for a while. Then they decided to release it as a Single Pot Still release with five separate cask maturations! Sold, take my money.

Matured in ex-bourbon and ex-sherry, there are then three different virgin oak influences: European, American and Irish. Irish virgin oak has been some of my favourite of Irish releases in the last few years, it’s normally an instant buy from me – plus, as a bourbon fan, this is just me on paper.

It’s a complex, chewy, spicy, subtly sweet style of Midleton Pot Still style, and I must say that I’m finding it incredibly moreish. This was something I had to order through Midleton’s website, as it’s a distillery exclusive, currently. However, if you’re looking for a fun, alternate style of Jameson, this is certainly something to keep your eye on and buy – it won’t disappoint. —

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