Maker’s Mark Whisky Partners with Actor Lucien Laviscount, Calling Brits to Mark Moments that Matter with an Old-Fashioned Cocktail

To celebrate the collaboration, Maker’s Mark has partnered with Hawksmoor to offer its signature Old Fashioned cocktail in the lead up to Father’s Day  

London, 3rd June 2026 – Today, Maker’s Mark Whisky has announced a collaboration with British actor Lucien Laviscount for a new short film encouraging Brits to be uncompromising in moments that matter. Filmed at the new Hawksmoor in St Pancras in London, the short film sees Lucien reflect on the small everyday shortcuts that people take, before raising a signature Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned cocktail to recognise moments that deserve more intention.

“There’s something special about going to a great bar, being with good company and taking a moment to enjoy it properly,” Lucien Laviscount said. “We compromise on little things all day, so when you do get that moment to stop, you want it to feel like it’s all worth it. For me, a Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned is exactly that: simple ingredients, done properly, with real character.”

Inspired by Maker’s Mark’s Perfectly Unreasonable campaign, which celebrates the extraordinary lengths Maker’s Mark goes to in pursuit of uncompromisingly delicious bourbon, the short film will premiere today on Lucien’s Instagram @its_lucien.

“Our family legacy is simple: we don’t compromise on the details. My grandparents set that standard seventy years ago, and we still honor it today by rotating our barrels by hand, aging our whisky strictly to taste, and hand-dipping every single bottle in that red wax,” said Rob Samuels, managing director for Maker’s Mark and eighth-generation whisky maker. “Lucien really understands that mindset. He values things done the right way, without shortcuts—whether that’s making time for the people who matter most or taking the care to craft a proper Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned.”

The collaboration arrives as UK consumers become more selective about nights out but continue to prioritise quality, with 20% spending more per month on eating and drinking out compared to 2024, driven in part by a desire to celebrate and treat themselves.

To complement the collaboration with Lucien Laviscount, Maker’s Mark has partnered with Hawksmoor, one of the UK’s most celebrated cocktail and restaurant destinations, to offer a custom summer-style Old Fashioned cocktail with Maker’s Mark, white cacao, peach and a lemon twist across their eleven London, Liverpool, Manchester and Edinburgh restaurants throughout June.

Alternatively, mark the moment at home with a Maker’s Mark Old Fashioned following Lucien’s video here.

Ingredients: 
50ml Maker’s Mark Kentucky Straight Bourbon 
5ml Sugar Syrup  
2 Dashes Angostura® Bitters 
Orange peel twist, to garnish and a large block-cube of ice

Method: 
Add 50ml of Maker’s Mark to a mixing glass with ice, followed by two dashes of bitters and a touch of sugar syrup. Stir until chilled, then strain into a rocks glass over fresh ice. Finish with an orange peel twist.

You can purchase Maker’s Mark at Amazon, The Whisky Exchange and Tesco, RRP £35.00. To join the Maker’s Mark Ambassadors community and receive exclusive access, product releases and other benefits, visit makersmark.com/ambassadors.

For more information, please visit www.makersmark.com.

WE MAKE OUR BOURBON CAREFULLY. PLEASE ENJOY IT THAT WAY.

About Maker’s Mark

Maker’s Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavour and a better world. In 1953, founders Margie and Bill Samuels, Sr. broke from tradition—burning the family’s 170-year-old recipe to create a bold, balanced bourbon made with soft red winter wheat for signature sweetness and creaminess. From the start, the Samuels went to remarkable lengths to craft uncompromisingly delicious bourbon, a perfectly unreasonable spirit that endures today. Every bottle is still hand-dipped in red wax, every barrel rotated by hand, and every decision guided by the brand’s higher purpose.

Staying true to its founders’ vision, Maker’s Mark has expanded its portfolio with award-winning, super-premium expressions, including Maker’s Mark 46, Cask Strength, and Cellar Aged, as well as Private Selection, the brand’s custom barrel program. In 2025, the distillery debuted Star Hill Farm Whisky, its first-ever wheat whisky. Award-winning and the first to earn Estate Whiskey certification, Star Hill Farm Whisky inspired the Maker’s Mark Regenerative Alliance, a bold commitment to advance regenerative farming beyond its business, inviting farms, bars and restaurants to join the movement.

Maker’s Mark is proud to be both a B Corp and Regenified Certified company – milestones driven by the sustainability leadership at Star Hill Farm, home of the Maker’s Mark Distillery, which strives to be the most endearing, culturally rich, and environmentally responsible homeplace in the world.

About Suntory Global Spirits

As a world leader in premium spirits, Suntory Global Spirits inspires the brilliance of life, by creating rich experiences for people, in harmony with nature. Known for its craftsmanship of premium whiskies, including Jim Beam® and Maker’s Mark®; Japanese whiskies, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Hibiki® and Toki™; and leading Scotch brands including Laphroaig® and Bowmore®, Suntory Global Spirits also produces leading brands such as Tres Generaciones® and El Tesoro® tequila, Roku™ and Sipsmith® gin, and is a world leader in Ready-To-Drink cocktails, with brands like -196 and On The Rocks™ Premium Cocktails. A global company with approximately 6,000 employees in nearly 30 countries, Suntory Global Spirits is driven by its core values of Growing for Good, Yatte Minahare and Giving Back to Society. The company’s Proof Positive sustainability strategy includes ambitious goals and investments to drive sustainable change and have a positive impact on the planet, consumers and communities. Headquartered in New York City, Suntory Global Spirits is a subsidiary of Suntory Holdings Limited of Japan.

Our collection schedule for June 2026 has now been finalised. Please complete the form HERE to  register your interest in our free collection service.

The deadline for collection requests is 12noon on Monday 15th June 2026.

Home collections are available for those customers sending 10+ bottles or bottles to the value of £1000. Lots can be split over the next three auctions.  Unfortunately this service is not available in London. Although we do have four collection points in London. Collections are limited and offered on a first come first served basis.

It is essential that a submission sheet is completed, you can find the link to do so under the selling section on your ‘My SWA’ page. It would be appreciated if bottles could be packed for uplift with your name clearly marked on the front of the box. A winner in our auction? We are now offering a delivery service to customers who are dropping bottles off for a future auction. This service is charged at £12 (inc. VAT), optional loss and breakage cover is available.

Online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

Prefer to study from home? Our online Diploma delivers the same robust qualification, earned remotely and navigated at your own pace. Alongside Vic Cameron’s modules covering production, you can enjoy whisky writer Dave Broom’s recent update to the World Whiskies module, marvelling as you sip your way through the evolving global whisky landscape.

“Purchasing process is super easy but delivery of tasting samples was absolutely perfect. This is my fourth online course from EWA… much better than face to face trainings due to my schedule planning.”
Erinc, Türkiye

Immediate start / self-paced

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This festival season we’re asking the question: Are you into flavour or regionality? Earlier this week, we focused on the regionality side of the debate. Today we’re talking about all things flavour.

One of the benefits of navigating whisky by flavour is that it’s based on your own experience and that experience doesn’t necessarily need to include whisky. It’s in the foods you’ve grown up with, the new dishes you’ve tried while travelling, or scents that are entirely more universal such as flowers in bloom, freshly cut grass or woodsmoke.

Our eight flavour profiles are designed to help you navigate the wide world of whisky the Society offers – whether it’s a new and unfamiliar cask type or a distillery you haven’t tried. And even if you prefer regionality, there’s nothing make you choose one over the other.  In fact, you might even use both!

Explore the lens of flavour through our festival picks below…

READ ABOUT THE REGIONS

WATCH THE VIDEO

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society, The Vaults, 87 Giles Street, Leith EH6 6BZ

Contact: sales@smws.com or call 0131 555 2929 (Mon-Fri 9am-4.45pm). Visit the Society at here for membership information

This is your chance to join and to take advantage of their great offers!

Spot the SMWS bottles in this amusing You Tube video

The Good Dram Show – Episode 637 ‘Woodrow’s of Edinburgh’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be reviewing the Spring 2026 releases from Eastlin Alba in their Woodrow’s of Edinburgh range. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Episode 637 – Behind The Veil Of Sherry…! Filmed in The Study Nottingham.

Featuring

Woodrow’s of Edinburgh ‘Warehouse Reserve’ Cambus 1991 (34 year old) 52%
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh ‘Warehouse Reserve’ Clynelish 2016 (10 year old) 55.3%
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh ‘Warehouse Reserve’ Ben Nevis 2007 (18 year old) 48.9%
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh ‘Warehouse Reserve’ Glendronach 2006 (20 year old) 51.9%
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh ‘Warehouse Reserve’ Allt-A-Bhaninne 1995 (30 year old) 52.5%
Woodrow’s of Edinburgh ‘Warehouse Reserve’ Ardmore 2014 (11 year old) 60.2%

www.woodrowswhisky.com

HISTORIC JAPANESE WHISKY AUCTION TARGETS NEW RECORDS WITH KARUIZAWA 1960 AND YAMAZAKI 55 YEAR OLD

The world’s most iconic and sought-after Japanese whiskies will take centre stage in an exclusive auction this June, celebrating the very best of Japanese whisky.

Whisky Auctioneer, the world-leading online whisky auction platform, is set to make history with an exclusive Japanese whisky auction running from 12–22 June 2026. The company will aim to set new category records following the exceptional £43,000 result for a 1st Edition Hanyu Card bottling sold via Whisky Auctioneer in March 2026, underlining continued global demand for rare Japanese whisky.

Alongside exceptionally rare lots including Yamazaki 55 Year Old –  the world’s oldest Japanese whisky –  headlining the sale is the Karuizawa 1960 “The Poet” (Cask #5627), an extraordinary single cask distilled at the now-closed Karuizawa Distillery and bottled in 2013 at 52 years of age. The release has since achieved near-mythical status among collectors.

The bottle is offered with exceptional provenance, having remained under direct custodianship of its original creator, Marcin Miller, who co-founded the independent bottling company Number One Drinks with David Croll in 2006.

Miller is a widely respected figure in the whisky industry, formerly publisher of Whisky Magazine, a Keeper of the Quaich and also co-founder of The Kyoto Distillery, Japan’s first artisan gin distillery. Through Number One Drinks Company, he played a key role in acquiring and releasing remaining stocks from the closed Karuizawa Distillery, helping to establish its global collector status.

Marcin Miller, co-founder of Number One Drinks, commented:

“Karuizawa has been a deeply significant part of my professional life for many years, and ‘The Poet’ represents something truly special within that journey. From the early days of Number One Drinks, there was a real sense that we were engaging with something extraordinary in these remaining casks and beginning to understand just how important they would become to whisky enthusiasts around the world.

“This particular bottling remains one of the most remarkable examples from that era, from the quality of the liquid to the attention to detail in the breathtakingly beautiful design.”

All 41 bottles of the Karuizawa 1960 Cask #5627 are entirely unique; in-place of traditional numbering, each is individually named and distinguished by a hand-selected netsuke, a traditional Japanese miniature carved sculpture, suspended from its neck.

Dave Broom, Award-winning author and Japanese whisky expert, said:

“Amazingly, after the emotional task of transferring the last remaining Karuizawa from the distillery to their temporary home at Chichibu had been completed, a final tranche of casks materialised. These had been ring-fenced as being potential bottlings for the distillery’s visitor centre, but as that was now closed enquiries were made as to whether this mysterious clutch could also be added to the purchase.

“It was only after the deal was agreed that it was discovered how remarkable this package was, containing as it did, cask #5627, a 250l sherry hogshead. Time had reduced its volume to no more than 41 bottles worth of liquid, though the alcohol remained sprightly at 51.8%, a precious reminder of the early days of the distillery.”

The auction as a whole charts the evolution of Japanese whisky, from the foundational influence of pioneers such as Suntory and Nikka, through the enduring allure of closed distilleries including Karuizawa Distillery and Hanyu Distillery, to the category’s dynamic revival and new generation of distillers, notably Chichibu Distillery.

Joe Wilson, Head Curator and Spirits Specialist at Whisky Auctioneer, said:

“We’re excited to bring together some of the most important Japanese whiskies ever offered at auction, reflecting both the depth and continued strength of this category as we continue to see strong global demand for genuinely rare Japanese whisky.

Headlining the auction is the Karuizawa 1960 ‘The Poet’. What makes this opportunity particularly remarkable is the direct line of custodianship through Marcin Miller. It represents exceptional direct provenance for a bottle of this significance and that level of traceability is incredibly rare in today’s market.”

“The Poet” will appear alongside a host of remarkable lots in the auction. Highlights include:

• Yamazaki 55 Year Old; the world’s oldest Japanese whisky.
• Karuizawa 1998 Harland Miller; a unique collaboration featuring a hand-painted label by internationally renowned British artist Harland Miller. All proceeds from this lot, including Whisky Auctioneer’s buyer’s commission, will be donated to Migrate Art.
• Ichiro’s Malt Hanyu Card Bottlings; one of the most famous and collectible Japanese whisky series of all time, including rare 1st Edition releases from 2005 such as the Jack of Clubs.

To register for the auction, Kisetsu: The Seasons of Japanese Whisky, click here.

About Whisky Auctioneer

Whisky Auctioneer is the leading global platform for buying and selling whisky and spirits at auction. Founded in 2013 by whisky enthusiast Iain McClune, the company has grown into a trusted destination for collectors and enthusiasts worldwide, with offices in Scotland, London and Utrecht.

Whisky Auctioneer’s monthly online auctions feature one of the most extensive selections of rare and collectible spirits available, spanning Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey and world whiskies including iconic American and Japanese releases. The platform is designed to make the secondary market more accessible, connecting buyers and sellers across the globe.

In 2021, Whisky Auctioneer made auction history during the sale of The Perfect Collection, when a bottle of The Macallan 1926 Fine and Rare 60 Year Old achieved a £1 million hammer price – the first bottle of whisky to reach that figure in an online-only auction.

Whisky Auctioneer Japanese Auction bottle highlights:

Karuizawa 1960 The Poet; The Karuizawa 1960 (Cask #5627) is widely regarded as one of the rarest and most significant Japanese whiskies ever released. Distilled in 1960 and bottled in 2013 at 52 years old, it has achieved near-mythical status among collectors.

Only 41 bottles were produced from a single sherry cask. Each bottle is entirely unique – rather than being numbered, every bottle is named and distinguished by its own hand-selected netsuke (a traditional Japanese miniature carved sculpture).

The presentation extends its story beyond the liquid itself. Designed by Scottish-founded creative agency Contagious, the packaging reflects the connection between Scotch tradition and the distinctive style of Karuizawa Distillery. Labels crafted from handmade washi paper feature on each bottle, one hand-pressed and hot metal branded in Scotland, the other finished with fine art calligraphy in Japan, symbolising the fusion of cultures behind the spirit. The presentation is completed with handcrafted wooden cases inspired by traditional Japanese puzzle boxes, incorporating wood from the original cask.

Tasting notes by Dave Broom can be provided on request.

Karuizawa 1998 Harland Miller; A one-of-a-kind collaboration between fine art and fine whisky. This is a charity lot with funds raised, including Whisky Auctioneer’s buyer’s commission, being donated to Migrate Art.

Filled on 23 December 1998, Cask #2347 was privately owned by Marcin Miller, who has donated the only ten bottles ever to be released at natural cask strength (61.8% ABV) to the Migrate Art project. Each bottle features a unique hand-painted artwork by internationally acclaimed artist Harland Miller. Created exclusively for this exceptional series, these one-of-a-kind labels were conceived to raise funds for the pioneering arts charity Migrate Art. Proceeds from the sale of all ten bottles will directly support Migrate Art’s work with some of the world’s most vulnerable communities.

Yamazaki 55 Year Old; The oldest Japanese whisky. Originally released in 2020, it’s a blend of 1960 and 1964 vintage Yamazaki matured in Mizunara and white oak casks. 100 bottles were first released in 2020 exclusive in the Japanese market via a lottery system and a second ‘final’ batch of 100 bottles was released in 2021 to global markets. With just 200 bottles ever produced, it has not appeared at auction at Whisky Auctioneer for over two years.

Ichiro’s Malt Card Series – ‘1st Card bottlings’; Undoubtedly one of the most famous and collectible Japanese whisky series of all time. The full Hanyu Card Series collection boasts a total of 58 releases – 52 playing cards, two jokers, and a second batch of follow up releases for four of the cards: Ace of Spades, Queen of Hearts, King of Diamonds, and Jack of Clubs.

Released in 2005, four of the bottlings in particular were released in very small quantities, followed up with a second release due to its acclaim. These original ‘1st Card bottlings’ are extremely rare and Whisky Auctioneer will offer examples of these including the Jack of Clubs 1st Edition. The most recent example sold via Whisky Auctioneer in March achieved an exceptional hammer price of £43,000, marking the first time since 2019 that these card bottlings have appeared at auction.

About Karuizawa Distillery:

Karuizawa, one of Japan’s smallest distilleries, is a legendary name in Japanese whisky, having achieved near-mythical status among collectors following its closure in 2000. Established in 1955, the distillery was founded to produce traditional-style whisky using imported Scottish ingredients for its owner, Mercian, primarily serving the domestic Japanese market. Its rare stocks include vintages dating back to 1960, among the oldest in its inventory.

Production ceased in 2000 after Mercian’s acquisition by Kirin, whose strategic focus leaned toward wine rather than whisky. The original distillery was dismantled in 2016. However, the Karuizawa legacy has since been revived, with a new distillery constructed approximately seven miles away in the town of Karuizawa, where production resumed in 2023.

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

Visit:  www.whiskyauctioneer.com

SCOTLAND’S FIRST WORLD CUP IN 28 YEARS INSPIRES 11-BOTTLE WHISKY RELEASE

Falkland, Fife, Scotland – June 2026; Scotland’s return to the FIFA World Cup has inspired one of the country’s most unique whisky releases, with Saltire Rare Malt unveiling just 11 bottles of a 24-Year-Old Ben Nevis Single Malt Scotch Whisky distilled in 1998 – the last year the national team graced football’s biggest stage.

Priced at £350 each, the specially designed collection, titled “Ooooohhh, Yes Sir, I can Boogie!”, has been released online in a run of just 11 bottles, paying tribute to Scotland’s starting XI as the nation prepares for its long-awaited World Cup return.

Matured for 24 years in a refill bourbon hogshead, the rare Ben Nevis single malt is one of Saltire Rare Malt’s most exclusive releases to date. Available from 14th June, the bottling brings together Scotland’s rich whisky heritage and a memorable chapter in the nation’s football history.

Commenting on the release, Saltire Rare Malt Co-Founder & Director Keith Rennie said: “Scotland’s return to the World Cup is a moment worth celebrating and we’re delighted to mark it with a truly unique bottling. At Saltire Rare Malt, whisky is all about stories, and opportunities like this don’t come around very often. To release a whisky distilled in 1998 – the last time Scotland reached the World Cup – feels incredibly special. 

“It’s a celebration of Scotland, a celebration of whisky and a celebration of a moment supporters have waited a generation to see. Whether it’s kept as a collector’s item or opened to toast Scotland’s return to football’s biggest stage, we hope it becomes part of a memory that lasts for years to come.” 

Saltire Rare Malt are bottlers of a unique range of limited-run single malt whiskies. The independent bottling company was born from a longstanding partnership between friends and founders Nigel Heywood and Keith Rennie – the pair have collected fine and rare single malts for more than three decades.

Launching just days before Father’s Day, the release is expected to prove popular with whisky and football fans alike as well as those looking for a truly memorable gift. Whether destined for a collector’s cabinet, gifted to a lifelong Scotland fan or opened as Scotland kicks off its World Cup campaign, the bottling offers a rare opportunity to raise a dram to one of the most anticipated moments in modern Scottish football history.

Founded in Falkland, Fife, Saltire Rare Malt specialises in rare and limited-run Scotch whiskies sourced from some of Scotland’s most revered distilleries. The company has built a growing reputation for highly curated single cask releases and historically significant bottlings, with whisky lovers and collectors purchasing releases across the UK and internationally.

Working in collaboration with internationally acclaimed whisky experts Hans and Becky Offringa – known globally as ‘The Whisky Couple’ – Saltire Rare Malt carefully curates a collection of rare, limited-edition Scotch whiskies for enthusiasts and collectors around the world.

The Saltire Rare Malt World Cup Release is available exclusively online at: www.saltireraremalt.com

About Saltire Rare Malt Whisky

Saltire Rare Malt are bottlers of a unique range of limited-run single malt whiskies. The independent bottling company was born from a longstanding partnership between friends & founders Nigel Heywood and Keith Rennie – the pair have collected fine and rare single malts over three decades. A shared passion for the ‘water of life’ led to the creation of Saltire Rare Malt – a global vehicle to share their outstanding collection of Single Malt Whiskies.

W: https://www.saltireraremalt.com/

Dumbarton 25 Year Old 2000 Unicorn for TWB

£79.00 GBP

Dumbarton 25 Year Old 2000 Unicorn is a rare and characterful Lowland single grain Scotch whisky, distilled at the now-closed Dumbarton Distillery and bottled exclusively for The Whisky Barrel as part of the highly collectible Unicorn Series. Distilled in 2000 and matured in a first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead (#TWB1043), this exceptional single cask was bottled in 2026 at a natural 56.6% ABV, yielding just 259 bottles.

As stocks from Dumbarton continue to diminish, releases like this offer a unique opportunity to experience whisky from one of Scotland’s lost distilleries. The first fill Oloroso cask brings depth and richness, layering the whisky with notes of dried fruits, chocolate, and warming spice, while the long maturation enhances the smooth, creamy character typical of well-aged grain whisky.

The Unicorn Series label pays tribute to Dumbarton’s most famous guardians—the legendary “Scotch Watch” geese. These Chinese white geese famously protected the distillery’s bonded warehouses from 1959 until 2012, becoming an enduring symbol of Dumbarton’s history and folklore.

• 25 year old Lowland single grain Scotch whisky from the closed Dumbarton Distillery
• Matured in a first fill Oloroso sherry hogshead (#TWB1043)
• Distilled 2000, bottled 2026 at 56.6% ABV (cask strength)
• Limited to 259 bottles
• Exclusive to The Whisky Barrel Unicorn Series
• Label celebrates the iconic “Scotch Watch” geese
• Sister cask to a previous Unicorn Series Dumbarton release

The Dumbarton 25 Year Old 2000 Unicorn is a beautifully matured and highly collectible single grain whisky, combining rich sherry cask influence with the smooth elegance of long-aged grain spirit. With its fascinating backstory and exceptional flavour, it’s a standout release for collectors and whisky enthusiasts alike

Diploma in Single Malt Whisky

Our flagship Diploma continues to grow, bringing immersive whisky education to iconic venues in the United States and London this autumn, in addition to our Scotland home, Arniston House. With growing global demand for credible whisky expertise, these in-person Diplomas taught by Vic Cameron are designed for enthusiasts and industry professionals alike.

“Vic as a trainer is in a class of its own. It’s fun to have him in front of you and he delivers profound industry knowledge and life experience in a manner that sticks and takes pressure and anxiety in the build-up to the exam away.”
Desmond, Netherlands

Upcoming dates:

14 & 15 September 2026 – Arniston House
26 & 27 October 2026 – 7 WTC, New York
29 & 30 October 2026 – Moonshine University, Kentucky
3 & 4 November 2026 – WSET School London
18 & 19 February 2027 – Arniston House
6 & 7 May 2027 – Arniston House
23 & 24 September 2027 — Arniston House

Earlybird pricing (£200 off) is available for US & London dates until midnight on 19 June, so now is the perfect time to secure your place.

Book Now