The 2026 Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year is Macaloney’s Island Distillery Cath-nah-aven Single Malt Whisky

The ninth edition of national competition showcases the best artisan spirits from across Canada

Vancouver, BC (February 24, 2026) – Following their 2025 Canadian Whisky of the Year award, Macaloney’s Island Distillery has earned the top prize in the 2026 Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC) for their Cath-nah-aven Single Malt Whisky, presented by Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC).

Judges noted this whisky brings “a beautiful, burnished copper appearance, leading to a nose suggesting Oloroso sherry, fruitcake, cocoa powder and candied almond, with a palate of toasted hazelnut, baking spice, toffee and fruitcake, all of which sail off into a long, smooth, caramel-tinged finish.”

The CASC judging panel was comprised of 14 independent judges who evaluated hundreds of artisan spirits, plus bitters, submitted by 56 producers from across Canada and entered into 24 different categories. The Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year is awarded to the top-scoring spirit, regardless of category.

“In spite of serious headwinds in this sector, I’m happy to see that there are still amazing spirits produced across Canada,” stated ADC’s founder and executive director, Alex Hamer. He continued, “Canadians who are interested in supporting their local communities and businesses can look to our artisan spirit producers for just about all their needs, including gins, rums, whiskies, and more. CASC continues to be a great place to find some of Canada’s best spirits.”

About Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC) and the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC)

Artisan Distillers Canada (ADC) operates consumer and industry-focused events and awards programs for Canada’s artisan distilleries and spirits sector. ADC’s goals are to support consumer awareness of artisan distilleries and spirits, to provide education and professional development through conferences focused on best practices in the science and business of distilling, and to foster community. For more information about ADC, visit artisandistillers.ca.

ADC launched the Canadian Artisan Spirit Competition (CASC) in 2018. Spirits submitted to any of the 24 different CASC award categories are sampled blindly and evaluated by an independent panel of judges from across the country, with the top spirit in each category earning a Best in Class Award. Spirits are also awarded Bronze, Silver, and Gold medals, with the top overall scoring spirit being awarded Canadian Artisan Spirit of the Year. CASC is open to any distillery in Canada that meets ADC’s ‘artisan’ classification for distilleries and spirit products. To learn more about Canadian artisan distilleries and spirits, visit artisandistillers.ca/artisan-distillery.

Springbank Da Mhile Single Sherry Cask #231 Whisky 20 Year Old · 1992 Vintage

Welsh distillery and independent bottler Dà Mhìle (pronounced da-vee-lay) was established in 1992, when co-founder John Savage-Onstwedder commissioned the iconic Springbank distillery to make him the first organic whisky of the modern era. The name was inspired by that initial bottling; specially made to celebrate the millennium, Dà Mhìle translates to ‘two thousand’ in Scots-Gaelic.

Allowed to patiently mature for 20 years in a single second-fill sherry cask, only 261 bottles were produced of this exceptional single malt. It is a rare thing to have the opportunity to taste a 20 year old Springbank – this is an opportunity not to be missed.

Killowen Single Malt Irish Whiskey – Pinot & Port

Dublin and Cork Airport Irish Whiskey Collection win again
with Killowen Single Cask Exclusive.

The Irish Whiskey Collection at Dublin and Cork Airport has secured another exceptional release with a new exclusive from Killowen Distillery.

We are delighted to announce the Killowen Single Malt Pinot and Port Cask, 9 Year Old, a rare and remarkable single cask whiskey selected exclusively for the Irish Whiskey Collection.

This cask strength whiskey yielded only 146 bottles, making it one of the most limited airport exclusives to date. The whiskey matured for nine years in a Pinot Noir cask before receiving a short finishing period in a fresh Port cask. The result is a beautifully balanced whiskey with layers of rich fruit, gentle spice, and the distinctive character that Killowen is celebrated for. Each bottle captures the influence of the Pinot Noir cask alongside the vibrant sweetness brought by the Port finish, creating a complex and memorable tasting experience.

We only wish there were more than 146 bottles available because the flavour and character of this whiskey make it truly special. For collectors and whiskey enthusiasts alike, this is a rare opportunity to experience another outstanding collaboration between the Irish Whiskey Collection and Killowen Distillery.

Sláinte

The Killowen Distillery Team

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 596: Ben Nevis 13 Year Old 2012 Hogs & Buds Spirits Festival 2026

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, takes on a heavily sherried Ben Nevis. On Sunday 15 March 2026, the second edition of the Hogs & Buds Spirits Festival will take place in Landen, Belgium. This fun festival is organized by the Whisky Hogs, a Belgian whisky club and the Belgian whisky shop Buds & Barrels. And as is customary, they have a festival bottling ready. It turned out to be a Ben Nevis that spent its entire life in an oloroso sherry cask. ‘Torc Fiadh’ is emblazoned on the label. That’s Celtic for wild boar, nicely depicted on the label. Let’s have a taste!

https://youtu.be/9p8wFRSFS10

The Blending House Opens In Kentucky To Help Distilled Spirits Brands Navigate Turbulent Times

New Kentucky facility provides blending, bottling, and barrel storage infrastructure to help spirits brands scale with confidence amid industry change.

SHELBYVILLE, Ky. – February 23, 2026 – The nature of the distilled spirits industry is changing–there is no question. As brands and craft distilleries consider how to pivot, leading Kentucky-based spirits consulting firm The Spirits Group, in partnership with Indiana-based construction company The Koetter Group, is proud to announce the opening of The Blending House. The newly constructed, 30,000-square-foot blending and bottling facility sits on 108 acres in Shelbyville, Kentucky, and is positioned as essential infrastructure for the next era of disciplined growth. Developed after years of working with third-party bottlers, the operation was designed to incorporate industry best practices while addressing critical gaps. With a dedicated focus on vertically integrating post-distillation needs, The Blending House provides state-of-the-art barrel storage, expert blending, precision bottling, and back-office support — all under one roof and staffed by industry veterans with decades of experience.

CEO Monica Wolf Brown explains: “As the distilled spirits industry evolves, the strategies that built brands over the past decade won’t necessarily sustain them in the decade ahead. We built The Blending House to give brands a reliable base of operations, allowing producers to protect quality, operate efficiently, and grow without the capital burden of building and operating their own facility. Currently, there are no other facilities like it in Kentucky or the United States. We were built to bottle, with no competing priorities. When brands work with us, they know their production isn’t an afterthought; it’s our core mission.”

Bottling services are delivered end-to-end, including filtration, proofing, and packaging. The Blending House features a custom-built bottling line supporting formats from 200 mL to 1.75 L–with both automated and artisanal packaging options–as well as a dedicated secondary line for hand-finished and custom products. The facility has the capacity for up to 250,000 cases annually and operates at speeds of 35–40 bottles per minute.

Director of Operations, Matt King, adds: “Our facility layout, equipment, and overall concept allow us to put our customers first, with flexibility to align our operations around their timelines and standards. Our mission is to be a trusted partner, treating every brand with the same level of care as if it were our own.”

The Blending House meets rigorous QA standards and has the ability to provide expert guidance on labeling and regulatory approval. In addition, clients have the option to select from a menu of back-office support options, such as packaging development, logistics, bookkeeping, graphic design, marketing, and domestic product distribution. Brands including Ten Runner find this, and other aspects of the white-glove service, extremely valuable.

“One of the most important things to have when trying to accomplish something big is to surround yourself with a great team. When I decided to create Ten Runner, I turned to Monica, Ashley, and The Blending House to help craft a truly special blend of the highest quality. They have been excellent to work with and have become a key part of our growing success.” – Ryan Blaney, NASCAR Champion & Founder of Ten Runner Bourbon Whiskey.

For brands interested in blending services, operations are conducted in a dedicated sensory lab and are led by Master Blender Ashley Barnes. Having trained under industry legends, she is recognized for her work developing premium spirits brands. Her expertise includes warehouse profiling, flavor projection, product development, and quality control. Blending services are available to both emerging and established brands seeking precision, consistency, and distinctive flavor development.

The Blending House showcases The Koetter Group’s innovative K-RAX® Premium Barrel Storage system across seven state-of-the-art rickhouses, each with a 20,000-barrel capacity. Engineered to support optimal maturation, the system promotes consistent airflow around every barrel, helping whiskey age more evenly and develop balanced flavor profiles. Integrated 3D barrel mapping and digital tracking ensure accurate inventory management, while enhanced structural stability and access to every barrel allow for efficient sampling and quality monitoring throughout the aging process. All seven rickhouses are complete, with over 120,000 barrels currently on site.

Brands seeking a dependable contract bottling partner for sustained growth are encouraged to contact The Blending House to explore long-term production solutions at theblendinghouse.com.

About The Blending House

Spanning 108 acres, The Blending House serves as a centralized production hub designed specifically to optimize operations for spirits brands of all sizes. It is home to a 30,000 square foot state-of-the-art blending and bottling facility and seven cutting-edge K-RAX® rickhouses. It represents the next chapter for The Spirits Group, a distilled spirits consulting firm founded in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2017 by seasoned industry veterans and co-founders Monica Wolf and Ashley Barnes. Their private, hands-on team offers more than a decade of experience across the industry in the service of helping customers define, hone, and execute their goals.

Campbeltown 8 Year Old 2016 Hogshead Import 48% 70cl

£53.33

A surprisingly vibrant, fruit-forward Campbeltown blended malt from celebrated independent bottler Hogshead Import. Drawn from a first-fill barrel filled back in 2016, it’s understood that this release contains whiskies distilled at both Glen Scotia and Springbank. It’s a fascinating Campbeltown expression that, while still offering all manner of classic regional funk, feels more summery than you might expect. Just 318 bottles have been released at natural colour.

The Act That Changed Scotch Forever?

Few dates loom as large in Scotch whisky history as 1823. The Excise Act of that year is routinely described as the moment whisky became legal, the line in the sand between smuggling chaos and the birth of the modern industry. But, as whisky historian Iain Russell discusses with Dave Broom, that version of events is far too simple.

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The Zodiac Series
Where Stars and Spirit Align

Inspired by the 12 signs of the zodiac, we’ve scoured Scotland in search of casks with the perfect combination of flavours to evoke the character and feel of these ancient archetypes. It’s a striking series, one perfect for adding to your collection, or a birthday gift you won’t find anywhere else.

Our first four bottlings celebrate the star signs of Pisces, Aries, Taurus, and Gemini. Each dram embodies the essence of its zodiac, its character as distinctive and singular as the sign it represents. With The Zodiac Series, there’s a whisky for everyone. Discover yours.

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