Lancaster Spirits Co. Ventures into Peated Single Malt Whisky with an Experimental 2026 Series

Lancaster Spirits Co. is thrilled to announce another landmark step in its journey as a distillery: the launch of a limited experimental peated single malt whisky programme, marking the first time the distillery has ventured into the world of smoky, phenolic spirit.

Still in its early years and with its first aged single malt not expected to reach the market until 2027 at the earliest, Lancaster Spirits Co is already looking to the future. The distillery will embark on a four-week peated whisky trial in 2026, producing an exclusive series of peated spirits at varying levels of peat influence, a bold move that demonstrates the ambition and forward-thinking approach at the heart of the Lancaster Spirits Co story. The programme is designed to explore the full spectrum of smoke-driven flavour and expand the distillery’s creative range before its first whisky even reaches the shelf.

Peated malt is measured in parts per million (PPM), a unit that quantifies the level of phenol, or smoke flavour, present in the barley following the peat-smoking process. For this trial, Lancaster Spirits Co will work with peated malt sourced from Crisp Maltings, starting at 50 PPM, producing a spirit with a notably robust and characterful smoky profile.

Over the course of the four-week trial, the distillery will fill five first-fill bourbon barrels per week, yielding a total of just 20 barrels of peated single malt for 2026. Each 200-litre bourbon barrel will be filled at 63.5% ABV, consistent with Lancaster Spirits Co’s existing unpeated spirit, and will be laid down for a minimum of three years before it can be legally considered single malt whisky. The new-make spirit will not be released for bottling at this stage.

Should the trial prove successful, the distillery intends to introduce peated production as an annual fixture, potentially extending to a four or six-week run in future years.

The move into peated spirit is driven by a desire to push the boundaries of what Lancaster Spirits Co can offer its customers and the wider whisky community. Not only that, but the move also widens the spectrum of flavour profiles available to the distillery’s master blender, Max McFarlane, enabling him to experiment with a wide variety of aromas, textures and tastes when creating future expressions.

By introducing peated spirit into the distillery’s inventory, Lancaster Spirits Co gains an entirely new dimension of character to work with, from subtle earthy and smoky notes to richer, more intense peat influences. This added versatility provides greater creative freedom in both blending and maturation, allowing the team to craft more complex and distinctive whiskies that appeal to a broader range of whisky drinkers.

It also opens the door to innovative cask combinations and limited-edition releases, giving the distillery further opportunities to showcase its craftsmanship while continuing to evolve its house style. Ultimately, the introduction of peated spirit strengthens Lancaster Spirits Co’s ability to create unique, flavour-led whiskies that stand out in an increasingly diverse and competitive market.

“This is a genuinely exciting milestone for us as a distillery. Producing a peated spirit opens up a whole new world of flavour, allowing us to create a wider spectrum of depth and character within our single malt range. We’ve been careful and deliberate in our approach, which is why we’re starting with an experimental series rather than diving headfirst into full-scale production. We want to do this properly, learn from each barrel, and ultimately create something we, and our customers, are truly proud of.” Chris Pateman, Commercial Manager, Lancaster Spirits Co.

A small allocation of the 20 barrels will be made available for purchase, with casks priced at £4,200 each, consistent with the distillery’s existing first-fill bourbon barrel offering. Interest has already been significant: several casks have been pre-sold ahead of this announcement, and availability is expected to be limited.

Those interested in securing one of the remaining casks are encouraged to get in touch with the distillery directly as soon as possible.

Lancaster Spirits Co is an independent distillery based in Lancaster, England, dedicated to producing high-quality single malt spirit with a focus on craft, character, and transparency. The distillery’s unpeated single malt has built a loyal following, and the 2026 peated trial represents an exciting new chapter in its ongoing story.

To secure a cask, explore Lancaster Spirits Co’s spirits, or book a distillery tour, visit lancasterspirits.co.uk

Our collection schedule for July 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 13th July 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.

Ardbeg “Dolce” 2026 Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky (700ml)

$99.99

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

If last month was about the less traditional, this month it’s all about the unconventional. This July we’re getting into the experimental stuff exploring different cask types, maturation journeys and unusual flavours. Sit back and enjoy the journey – whether it’s on holiday or simply in your back garden on a sunny afternoon. Our July Outturn is live – enjoy it!

TAKE ME TO THE BOTTLES

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

Independent bottler Whisky 1901 reveals new whisky range:

“The Ledger Series”

Independent bottler Whisky 1901 today announces the launch of its new whisky range: The Ledger Series – a collection of carefully chosen casks that celebrate the provenance, individuality and flavour of some of Scotland’s most acclaimed distilleries.

Founded as a modern independent bottler with a classic, luxury ethos, Whisky 1901 is dedicated to sourcing exceptional casks from highly respected distilleries, presenting each whisky in a way that honours its distillery heritage, story and character.

The first release in The Ledger Series, a Miltonduff Aged 18 Years, was bottled at the end of 2025, with an additional five expressions bottled in April 2026, joining it to offer an exceptional variety within the Series this month.

The Ledger Series takes its name from the tradition of record-keeping, giving a nod to the importance of documenting and showcasing each cask’s journey. Every release in the series is selected for its distinct profile and sense of place, offering whisky enthusiasts and collectors a curated snapshot of flavour, maturation and distillery ‘house style’. All of the bottlings carry age statements, currently ranging from 11 to 21 years.

The debut release, Miltonduff Aged 18 Years, set the tone for the range, bringing notable depth, richness and balance. It is followed by five further bottlings under The Ledger Series:

• Dailuaine Aged 12 Years
• Tamnavulin Aged 13 Years
• Ardmore Aged 12 Years
• Glen Garioch Aged 11 Years
• Invergordon Aged 21 Years

In addition to The Ledger Series, Whisky 1901 previously released its first bottling in 2024 of The Collection: a luxury annual release of an extremely rare cask carefully chosen by Matt Chambers, Whisky 1901’s Master of Whisky. Just two casks have been released under The Collection to date: *multi award-winning Edition One: Glenburgie Aged 35 Years (Best Single Cask Single Malt: Speyside, at The World Whisky Awards 2025) and Edition Two: Jura Aged 25 Years – setting the tone for future ultra-premium bottlings, available in very limited quantities.

Matt Chambers, Master of Whisky at Whisky 1901, commented: “The Ledger Series gives us the opportunity to focus entirely on the cask and the liquid’s personality. With the range, we’ve handpicked every whisky not just for its age, but for how it expresses its own distillery character. From the richness and depth of the Miltonduff Aged 18 Years to the vibrancy and structure found in the Ardmore Aged 12 Years, each cask tells its own story. Our aim has been to ensure that every bottling is balanced, distinctive and genuinely compelling in the glass. And because each cask bottling is different, once that cask has gone, it’s gone – offering a little piece of each distillery and cask history.”

Aaron Damiano Sparkes, CEO of Whisky 1901, said: “Whisky 1901 was founded to shine a light on exceptional casks, alongside the people and stories behind them. As a niche independent bottler, we believe in giving whisky lovers a careful selection of drams to enjoy, alongside genuine transparency,  letting each whisky speak for itself. Our new collection represents the beginning of that journey, and we’re proud to introduce whiskies that reflect the heritage and character of each distillery we’ve selected from.”

The Miltonduff Aged 18 Years was launched in March 2025, with the remaining expressions from The Ledger Series now available in limited quantities through specialist retailers and partners including Master of Malt and directly at  Whisky 1901 RRPs range from £125 – £160.

The Collection releases are available via registering to purchase at www.whisky1901.co.uk/the-collection.  Edition One: Glenburgie Aged 35 Years RRP: £1,325. The Collection Edition Two: Jura Aged 25 Years RRP: £500.

Whisky 1901 plans to continue expanding both ranges with future releases that explore a diverse range of distilleries, cask types and flavour profiles, building a portfolio that appeals to both seasoned collectors and curious enthusiasts.

Explore more about the new Whisky 1901 independent bottlings at www.whisky1901.co.uk

*Award-winning Edition One: Glenburgie Aged 35 Years has previously won Gold at The Luxury Masters 2024 (Spirits Business), Silver at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and Bronze at the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). It was most recently award was Best Single Cask Single Malt in the Speyside category at The World Whisky Awards 2025. 

About Whisky 1901:

Whisky 1901 was originally founded as a cask investment business, giving the team extensive experience in sourcing, evaluating and managing high-quality Scotch whisky casks. This foundation naturally led to the creation of its independent bottling arm, allowing the company to explore and bottle its own casks in collaboration with some of Scotland’s finest distilleries.

This evolution provides Whisky 1901 with exceptional access to rare and high-quality casks, underpinning its commitment to releasing distinctive and characterful whiskies.

The Whisky 1901 brand is now the dedicated independent bottling business with the investment business rebranding as The 1901 Group.

The company will release between five and ten casks per year under The Ledger Series, alongside just one cask per year under its ultra-premium range, The Collection.

Whisky 1901 has already received industry recognition, with its whiskies earning awards at leading international spirits competitions, reinforcing its position as an emerging name in the independent bottling category.

Nestled in the Herefordshire countryside, Rosemaund Distillery produces small-batch English single malt whisky that reflects the character of its rural surroundings. Crafted with a focus on provenance, quality and patience, its whiskies are known for their fresh orchard fruit character, elegant balance and distinctive sense of place.

ORCHARD CUT
ENGLISH SINGLE MALT WHISKY

10 YEAR OLD · 70CL · 47.5% ABV

This 10 year old English Single Malt from Rosemaund Farm was matured exclusively in ex-bourbon oak casks, creating a whisky of remarkable freshness and vibrancy. Distinctive and characterful, it captures the essence of Herefordshire in every sip.

£124.95

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NOSE

Fresh green apple and orchard blossom lead the way, complemented by cool cucumber skin and delicate hints of melon. Soft vanilla notes from the Heaven Hill and Jim Beam casks add subtle sweetness, while the overall aromatic profile remains lifted, clean and distinctly orchard-driven.

PALATE

Energetic and vibrant from the outset, with a buttery mouth-feel carrying flavours of green citrus oils and fresh herbs, reminiscent of thyme and perhaps even wild sorrel. As the whisky opens up, layers of white pepper spice emerge alongside a touch of savoury green pea, supported by a gentle oak structure that never dominates.

FINISH

Fresh and slightly savoury, with lingering notes of green fruit and soft spice.

Ledaig Castaway: A Tropical Twist

Ledaig (pronounced Led-chig) make an unapologetically smoky whisky, one that speaks of the Isle of Mull’s rugged coastline. Into this comes an exciting bottling that speaks of warmer climes, with a rare dual maturation in Mexican tequila and Caribbean rum casks.

Classic maritime peat meets grilled pineapple, lime zest and herbal agave in this vibrant single malt, a unique twist on the Ledaig you know.

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A Deep Dive into Johnnie Walker

From its beginnings in a small Scottish grocery to the household name it is today, Johnnie Walker has shaped the whisky landscape for more than two centuries. This guide to the top-selling scotch label dives into its history and unique portfolio, stretching from the approachable Red Label to coveted limited releases.

ralfy review 1135 Extras – My History with Talisker Single Malt.