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Two Masters, One Bottle, One Game: Charles Leclerc And Hikaru Nakamura Went Head-To-Head An A First-Of-Its-Kind Chivas Regal Showdown At Monza – Scotch Whisky News

Two Masters, One Bottle, One Game: Charles Leclerc And Hikaru Nakamura Went Head-To-Head An A First-Of-Its-Kind Chivas Regal Showdown At Monza

Ahead of the Italian Grand Prix in Monza, Charles Leclerc and Chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura met in a high-stakes, first-of-its-kind showdown. Brought together by Chivas Regal, the two masters faced off before a live crowd in one of the year’s most unexpected matchups.

The head-to-head marked the ultimate expression of two creations born from the same mindset: Chivas Regal 16 Year Old, Leclerc’s debut co-created whisky, and SE!ZE, his bespoke chess-inspired game. Inspired by the belief that success comes from deliberate choices, both were designed around the same principle: every move matters.

On one side, Leclerc, whose vision shaped both the whisky and the game, and whose pursuit of mastery has never been confined to one world. On the other, Nakamura: one of the most formidable minds in chess. Two elite competitors, one board, the ultimate test.

From the bottle to the board, Chivas Regal 16 Year Old and SE!ZE share the same DNA. Drawing on sixteen carefully selected whiskies, each aged at least sixteen years, Chivas Regal 16 is built from deliberate choices, including Charles’ selection of Longmorn Single Malt, matured in sherry casks, as the whisky’s signature component. SE!ZE applies this same thinking to gameplay, where every decision carries weight and nothing is left to chance. Both are a living tribute to the same belief: true mastery is never accidental.

The Chivas Regal Arena of Mastery buzzed with energy. Fans packed in to witness the live one-time-only showdown as two elite competitors from different disciplines challenged each other across a single board. Every move drew a reaction. Every decision landed with weight. This wasn’t just a game. It was a live, charged demonstration of what mastery looks like when it has everything to prove.

The showdown demonstrated that the spirit behind Chivas Regal 16 Year Old extends far beyond the bottle. Co-created by Charles Leclerc and Master Blender Sandy Hyslop around the number that has defined him, the whisky reflects Leclerc’s drive to constantly push further.

“I’ve faced plenty of challenges in my career, but stepping into the Chivas Regal Arena of Mastery was something entirely different,” said Charles Leclerc, Global Brand Ambassador, Chivas Regal. “The crowd, the arena, facing Hikaru, the energy was electric. SE!ZE and Chivas Regal 16 are built on the same idea: that every choice matters and nothing happens by accident. Facing one of the greatest strategic minds in the world at my own game brought that to life in a way I hadn’t anticipated. That’s what Chivas Regal and I are always pushing towards: moments that test you in ways you don’t expect.”

Livestreamed via Chivas Regal’s YouTube, the showdown offered a rare glimpse of mastery beyond its usual arena – a contest where the real aim was to prove what it means to push into the unknown.

“I’ve competed in front of big crowds before, but nothing quite like that,” said Chess Grandmaster Hikaru Nakamura. “Charles and Chivas Regal built a game that keeps you on edge from the first move: fast, precise, with no margin for error and where every decision matters. That’s the kind of challenge that reveals what you’re really made of. True mastery isn’t just about knowing the game, it’s about how you handle the pressure when it counts.”

Raise a glass to the pursuit of better. Chivas Regal 16 Year Old is available on Amazon with an RRP of £64.00/$69.99. SE!ZE will be available to play digitally later this year. Sign up here.

The Spirit of Laggan Bay Begins – Scotch Whisky News

     The First Cask Has Been Filled

A new chapter has begun at Laggan Bay. In April of 2026, the first cask was filled at our new distillery on Islay. What was once a vision is now reality, with spirit laid down to mature on the island that inspires everything we do.

The milestone was marked by Distillery Manager, Malcolm Rennie, an Islay native whose experience and passion for whisky have helped bring the distillery to life.

Witness the First Cask Filling

Be Part of the Beginning

While the first cask has now been filled, only a limited number of founding casks remain in The Hundred – Laggan Bay’s Founding Casks.This rare opportunity allows you to own a cask from the earliest days of Laggan Bay and follow its journey from new make spirit to fully matured Islay whisky. As a founding cask owner, you’ll become part of a community connected to the distillery’s future. The first cask has been filled. Yours could be next.

 Built on Experience. Created for the Future.

Laggan Bay is the vision of Leonard Russell and Tom Russell. As part of family owned Ian Macleod Distillers, the team behind renowned Scotch whisky brands including Glengoyne, Tamdhu and Rosebank, they bring decades of whisky making expertise to this new chapter on Islay. Now, that same long term commitment is being poured into a new whisky story.

Slàinte mhath,
Laggan Bay Distillery

Laggan Bay Distillery

Glenegedale, Isle of Islay, PA42 7AS

  WEBSITE   |   THE HUNDRED – LAGGAN BAY’S FOUNDING CASKS   

Scotch Whisky Auctions ‘The 183rd auction is now live!’ – Auction Whisky News

A very warm welcome everyone to our now live 183rd auction!  We have a truly tremendous selection of bottles available this month from every corner of the whisky-producing world, so no matter where your tastes lie we are sure to have something to pique your interest.  And with literally thousands upon thousands of bottles to choose from we thought it prudent to pick out a few that have caught our eye to help you build your watchlist.

Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2025 Release

This terrific bottling hails from Kentucky, the undisputed heartland of American distilling, and is described by the distiller as “a symphony decades in the making”, this is the Michter’s Celebration Sour Mash 2025 Release.  A marriage of seven barrels, four rye and three bourbon to be precise, the youngest whiskey being 12 years old and the oldest a staggering 30 years old this release is about as prestigious as American whiskey gets.  One of only 315 bottles released this delicious-looking dram weighs in at a hefty 57.6% ABV and will surely make one lucky bidder very happy indeed.

Macallan Fine and Rare 1949 52 Year Old

Launched in 2002, Macallan’s flagship Fine & Rare range showcases nearly eight decades of the distillery’s history. Comprised of expressions created using some of their oldest stocks, this particular bottling is the Macallan Fine & Rare 1949 52 Year Old.  Distilled in late spring 1949 this distinguished old dram has spent a remarkable five decades ageing in a single 1st fill Sherry hogshead before finally being bottled in 2002.  Despite its heavily sherried looks Macallan describe it as “peaty in character” making this the very embodiment of the sweet peat flavour profile so popular in today’s market.

Suntory Hakushu 1984 Distillery Treasured Pure Malt

From Suntory’s mountain distillery which is found deep within the forests of Mount Kaikomagatake, this is the Suntory Hakushu 1984 Distillery Treasured Pure Malt.  Distilled at Hakushu Higashi in 1984 and then aged exclusively in sherry casks in warehouse no.2 of the famed Yatsugatake Ageing Cellar, this is an example of Japanese whisky at its finest, sweet, smooth and luxurious.  A treasured malt indeed and surely of interest to the ever-swelling number of Japanese whisky collectors across the globe.

Glenlivet 1938 Gordon & MacPhail 26 2/3 Fl Ozs

And finally, we have a pre-war gem from one of Scotland’s heavyweight distilleries, this is the Glenlivet 1938 Gordon & MacPhail 26 2/3 Fl Ozs.  Gordon & MacPhail have been bottling whisky for over 120 years and have garnered an enviable reputation for quality releases, and this is most certainly one of them.  There is something uniquely attractive about the understated branding on this one, harking back to time when the whisky did the talking, not the ever more ornately decorated packaging.  A time capsule of a whisky, given it’s been 88 years since it was initially distilled.

As always, we have an enormous selection of drams to suit every budget on offer this month, so now is the time to delve into this month’s offerings and start building that watchlist.

Best of luck to everyone in the auction, and as always………..don’t lose your bottle.

What is a Horizontal Whisky Tasting? – Edinburgh Whisky Academy News

What is a Horizontal Whisky Tasting?

Put four whiskies in front of someone and ask them what makes each one different…that’s where the fun begins! A horizontal tasting lets you compare different whiskies side by side, helping you discover the unique character and style of each one. No right or wrong answers. No need to be an expert. Just curiosity, conversation and the chance to discover something new.

🎬. Watch the Video | 📖 Read the Post

Study whisky: explore your passion, kickstart your career. We are the leading provider of certified Scotch whisky education. 14,000+ candidates globally enjoy our QS-Approved courses. Learn directly from the experts when you study online or in-person.

Bruichladdich Octomore Series 17 at The Whisky Exchange – Scotch Whisky News

Scotch Malt Whisky Society ‘September Outturn now live’ – Scotch Whisky News

The Society started with three things: a big idea, a cask of the good stuff and friendship. As we turn 43 years young this month, we mark our birthday and the start of many other new moments made for celebrating together – preferably with a glass of the good stuff in hand. September Outturn is live – let’s get into 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

SMWS LOGO 2017 NEW

15-YEAR-OLD ARDBEG TRUDERNISH BRINGS A NEW CHARM TO DISTILLERY’S CORE RANGE – Islay Scotch Whisky News

 

WITH SOFT SMOKE AND CREAMY HARMONY, 15-YEAR-OLD ARDBEG TRUDERNISH BRINGS A NEW CHARM TO DISTILLERY’S CORE RANGE

 < Islay Distillery reveals eye-catching new look for all its permanent whiskies >

Ardbeg Islay single malt Scotch whisky today unveils a dram of soft smoke and creamy harmony – its first permanent 15-year-old, Ardbeg Trudernish. Inspired by the ancient settlement of Trudernish on Islay’s “Enchanted Cape”, this beguilingly silky whisky is aged in bourbon, new charred oak and Oloroso sherry casks for an indulgent charm. Its release, which has already been recognised with a Double Gold award at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2026, comes as Ardbeg reveals a new look for its entire core range, to be rolled out globally from autumn 2026. The bold designs playfully bring to life the unique stories and flavours of each dram.

According to the legends of the Enchanted Cape, the pure water of the well at Trudernish (which is notoriously hard to find) never freezes over. Like the quest in search of the Trudernish well, this 15-year-old Ardbeg transports drinkers to Islay, revealing delicious, creamy flavours hidden beneath its smoky exterior.

Seeking a rich new dimension to Ardbeg’s peaty paradox, Ardbeg’s whisky makers matured their smoky, balanced spirit in bourbon, new charred oak and Oloroso sherry casks over 15 years, for mellow creaminess and softer smoke. A trace of earthy peat flits from the glass, as aromas of woodsmoke drift across dried herbs and chocolate lime. Tastes of vanilla and nuts are folded into decadent notes of creamy fudge sauce. The whisky’s harmony of flavours is enhanced by its ABV of 48.8%.

The packaging for Ardbeg Trudernish showcases a distinctive new look for the Distillery’s bottlings – to be rolled out across the brand’s entire core range. The presentation boxes and labels stand out in Ardbeg’s classic black, with each expression now differentiated by its own earthy accent colour. In a nod to Ardbeg’s Celtic heritage, whimsical woodcut-style illustrations depict every whisky’s individual story, alongside its cask recipe and an evocative flavour snapshot.

Ardbeg’s Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden MBE said: “A new whisky is always a momentous occasion at Ardbeg – and our first permanent 15-year-old, Ardbeg Trudernish, is truly one to celebrate. Aged in a combination of bourbon, new charred oak and Oloroso sherry casks, our spirit’s signature smokiness is brilliantly mellowed by rich, creamy flavours, softened with age. You’ll find aromas of peat and woodsmoke engulfed in melted vanilla ice cream. There are tastes of peat, dark liquorice and nuts wrapped in milk chocolate and a long smoky finish. A silky thread of vanilla runs throughout. I guarantee this whisky’s take on Ardbeg’s peaty paradox will charm smoky malt lovers everywhere.”

Ardbeg Distillery Manager Bryony McNiven said: “Ardbeg Trudernish is the perfect dram to toast Ardbeg’s new look. Our core range is brimming with the stories and flavours of Islay – from our classic Ardbeg Ten, to the dark and mysterious depths of Ardbeg Uigeadail. These striking new designs will make it easier than ever to explore each one – and perhaps discover new favourites… such as Ardbeg Trudernish!”

Ardbeg Trudernish (48.8% ABV) RRP £80  is available to purchase from Ardbeg.com, in Ardbeg Embassies, the Distillery Visitor Centre, and specialist retailers from 15th September 2026. 

Ardbeg Trudernish Tasting Notes:

ABV: 48.8%

Colour:             Straw gold

Aroma:              A soft wave of earthy peat and gentle woodsmoke is wrapped in rich vanilla cream, evoking the scent of melted vanilla ice cream with fudge sauce. Sweetness blends with floral notes and subtle hints of pine resin and heather honey. Orchard fruits like green apple and pear add freshness, while a hint of cracked black pepper and dried herbs lend complexity. A splash of water reveals ripe melon, kiwi, and soft berry notes layered over fragrant vanilla and heather-sweet peat.

Taste: Creamy and full-bodied, with bold Ardbeg peat merging into a smooth wave of sweet vanilla cream. Classic notes of soft pine, woodsmoke and damp forest floor lead into dark liquorice, chocolate lime, and a touch of herbal mint. More soft orchard fruits and floral sweetness are paired with nuts wrapped into milk chocolate. The texture silky, with the vanilla running like a thread through each layer.

Finish:           Long and soothing, with peat embers, vanilla pod and toasted nuts lead into a long and smoky finish.

RRP:                  £80

Ardbeg Trudernish’s namesake

The ancient settlement of Trudernish can be found in the south-east of Islay, up the coast from the Ardbeg Distillery. Trudernish is known as part of Islay’s so-called Enchanted Cape – an area rich in myth and legend. Some say, that if a person takes home a pebble from the nearby Claggain Bay, they are destined to return to Islay one day. And there are further fables about the Trudernish Well. Hidden in dense woodland, it is believed to begin its journey high in the hills at Loch Uigeadail (Ardbeg’s water source). Legend has it that the soft, pure water of the well never freezes over (much like whisky!). 

Packaging transformation

The packaging for Ardbeg’s entire core range has been transformed to better share the whiskies’ stories and flavours with smoky malt drinkers.

Key changes include:

Presentation box

    • Woodcut-style illustrations by artist Johnny Greenteeth, which tell the whiskies individual stories, each with a playful depiction of Ardbeg’s canine mascot Shortie (detail on each whisky’s illustration is below).
    • Ardbeg’s classic dark hues and traditional, Celtic-style ‘A’ and knotwork are still celebrated – now enhanced by different earthy colour accents on each pack, to aid range navigation.
    • The boxes include enhanced storytelling and tasting notes, a new flavour snapshot description, and details of the whiskies’ cask recipes.
    • Ardbeg Wee Beastie remains as a naked bottle, as it has been since its release in 2020.

Labels

    • More detailed tasting notes, the flavour snapshot and cask recipe now included.
    • A background image of the woodcut-style illustrations features on the back label.

Bottle

    • Now manufactured in the UK and a slightly lighter shade of green.
    • Capsule made of polylam, more easily recycled than PVC.

The individual whiskies’ stories are illustrated in the following ways:

  • Ardbeg Wee Beastie: In a naked bottle (as it has been since its release in 2020), with claw marks on the label to show its feisty personality. Bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Described as ‘A Monster of a Dram’.
  • Ardbeg Ten: Amid rolling clouds and waves, are dotted the Distillery’s classic codes: the 8th-century Kildalton Cross, Ardbeg’s pagoda roofs, its iconic Warehouse 3 (with ARDBEG written in huge black letters for all approaching from the Atlantic to see) and the familiar shape of an Ardbeg still. Shortie looks on from a rocky outcrop. Aged in American oak bourbon casks. Described as ‘The Giant of Smoky Complexity’.
  • Ardbeg An Oa: The Gathering Vat in which Ardbeg An Oa’s whiskies are married is depicted among mountains, tumultuous seas and swirling storm clouds, which Shortie rears up to view. Aged in new charred oak, Pedro Ximénez sherry and bourbon casks among others. Described as ‘Where Smoke Meets Sweet’.
  • Ardbeg Uigeadail: Against a mountainous backdrop, Ardbeg’s water source Loch Uigeadail looms. A tumbledown building and a boat add to the intrigue, while Shortie digs in a peatbog. Aged in bourbon and Oloroso sherry casks. Described as ‘Dark and Mysterious Depths of Flavour’.
  • Ardbeg Trudernish: Landmarks from the “Enchanted Cape” are illustrated, including the Trudernish well, a standing stone and the nearby beach (from which, legend has it, if you take a pebble, you are destined to return to Islay), as well as the Distillery. Shortie peers over a nearby wall. Aged in bourbon, new charred oak and Oloroso Sherry casks. Described as ‘A Smoky Dram of Creamy Harmony’.
  • Ardbeg Corryvreckan: The whisky’s namesake, the Corryvreckan Whirlpool is at the centre of the packaging – whisky barrels caught in its vortex. In homage to the legend of the Corryvreckan (in which Norse Prince Breacan is challenged to moor his ship in the whirlpool for three days – but is sucked into its watery depths) is brought to life with a depiction of his ship teetering on the edge of the whirlpool – mooring ropes flying. Shortie watches safely from the shore. Matured in American oak bourbon and new French oak casks. Described as ‘A Whirlpool of Turbulent Flavours’.

Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well-established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. 

The Ardbeg Committee

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 200,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 140 countries.  Committee Members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Master Blender Gillian Macdonald and Distillery Manager Bryony McNiven, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Awards

Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, then Distillery Manager Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg Ten Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition. In 2022, at the International Whisky Competition, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the Year Award, while Ardbeg Ardcore won first place in Best New Scotch Release, Best Peated Single Malt and Best Islay Single Malt. In 2023, Ardbeg was awarded four Gold and eight Silver medals at the International Spirits Competition, Silver in the International Wine & Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 25 Years Old was named the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2023 New York Wine Spirits Competition, and received a Platinum medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. In 2025, Ardbeg was named Scotch Whisky Producer of the Year at the International Wine and Spirits Competition, while Ardbeg Wee Beastie was crowned Best Overall Scotch at the New York World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg’s boutique hotel on Islay, Ardbeg House, was named Hotel of the Year 2026 by The Times newspaper.

Sustainability

Ardbeg is dedicated to sustaining its island home and community. With a vision of enhancing Islay for future generations, Ardbeg has devoted itself to restoring parts of the island’s precious peatland – a vital habitat for wildlife and a key carbon store. Working with the landowner, Ardbeg has begun transforming Kintour peat moor near the Distillery, cut for use in Ardbeg’s maltings decades ago. Ardbeg has also committed to a landmark conservation partnership with RSPB Scotland, Suntory Global Spirits and Diageo to restore 1,000 hectares of peatland in The Oa nature reserve. Over time, these projects aim to return Islay’s peatland to its native state, increasing biodiversity, helping mitigate against the effects of climate change and safeguarding the island’s natural heritage.

Meanwhile, Ardbeg has established the £1million Ardbeg All Islay Fund, which supports enterprising projects and organisations on the island. This five-year fund gives contributions to local sports clubs, musical and cultural organisations, helping to make Islay a better place to work and live. 

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Whisky & Whiskey | Featuring The Wax Top Collection – Sotheby’s Auciton News

Whisky & Whiskey | Featuring The Wax Top Collection

Live Auction, 3 – 18 September

From left to right: Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon #8 “Chocolate Monster” 25 Year Old 90.2 Proof 1981 (1 Bottle, 75cl) (est. $13,000–18,000), A.H. Hirsch Reserve 18 Year Old 46.5% ABV 1974 (1 Bottle, 75cl) (est. $20,000–30,000) & Bowmore ARC-54 Year Old 44.3% ABV 1968 (1 Bottle, 75cl) (est. $40,000–60,000)

The Wax Top Collection, a meticulously curated offering of 328 bottles, represents the single largest collection of Willett Family Estate ever to come to auction at one time. It offers collectors an exceptional opportunity to acquire some of the rarest and most sought-after bottles from one of America’s most revered whiskey labels.

The wider sale features more than 250 additional bottles, spanning a comprehensive selection of Pre-Prohibition (pre-1900s) and Prohibition-era whiskeys, rare and collectible Scotch, and an impressive array of sought-after Japanese single malts.

Among the highlights of The Wax Top Collection are rare Willett Family Estate Single Barrels and the ever-sought-after “Epic Ryes,” including Doug’s Green Ink (est. $10,000–15,000 each) and Iron Fist and Velvet Glove (est. $10,000–15,000 each).

Also featured are the cherished 4/6/1993 vintage Willett Family Estate barrels, a mythical run of high-age-statement bottlings that are exceptionally well known among Willett collectors. Highlights include the Willett Family Estate Single Barrel Bourbon “The Wheated Patriot” 21 Year Old (est. $7,000–9,000), as well as several exceptional Wheated A, B and C Barrels that have never previously appeared at auction, including the highly sought-after C70A (est. $7,000–10,000).

Another standout is the exceptional array of A.H. Hirsch offered in the sale, including an A.H. Hirsch Reserve 18 Year Old 46.5% ABV 1974 (1 Bottle, 75cl) (est. $20,000–30,000). A.H. Hirsch occupies a uniquely revered position among American whiskeys, prized not only for its rarity and exceptional provenance, but also for its place in the history of American distilling. All aged Hirsch was distilled in 1974, a pivotal year in the history of American whiskey and a landmark vintage for collectors.

The sale features a remarkable 21-bottle single-owner collection, titled “Acquired from The National Distillers Museum Collection”, with all proceeds benefiting World Central Kitchen. Among its highlights is a Mount Vernon Rye 1874 (est. $4,000–6,000), acquired by the consignor in 1993. The bottle’s label offers a fascinating connection to William Henry Fearing (circa 1844–1904), a prominent New York wine merchant and broker active in the late 19th century. Fearing’s name has also been identified on bottles of Madeira dating from the same period.

The wider sale includes two charity lots. The Very Olde St. Nick Estate Reserve Vintage Collection A is a one-of-a-kind collection of three large-format bottles of Very Olde St. Nick 17 Year Old. Presented in a 1-litre format for the first and only time, the three bottles are housed in a reclaimed chestnut wooden case created especially for this auction. Proceeds from this lot will benefit The Big Wave Project, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Half Moon Bay, California, which provides lifelong housing, day programmes, and a supportive community for adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

The Bowmore ARC-54 Year Old 44.3% ABV 1968 (1 Bottle, 75cl) (est. $40,000–60,000) will also be offered, with proceeds benefiting The Foundation of Hope. Aged for more than half a century in exceptional casks within Bowmore’s legendary No. 1 Vaults, ARC-54 is an extraordinarily rare expression reflecting generations of distilling expertise. Housed in a visionary design that looks boldly to the future, ARC-54 brings together exceptional provenance, craftsmanship and rarity in a multidimensional expression of remarkable depth and intensity.

Living Souls Carsebridge (silent) 50 Year Old – Scotch Whisky News

Carsebridge (silent)

50 Year Old

70cl · 40.3% ABV

£279.95

This magnificent bottling offers a rare opportunity to experience a 50yo whisky from another one of Scotland’s now silent distilleries – Carsebridge. This release is perfect for marking life’s rarest occasions.

Nose This delicate yet complex release opens on the nose with orange blossom, lemon sherbet and butter shortbread.

Palate On the palate, mandarin, vanilla fudge and cardamom buns unfold, lifted by a touch of coconut.

Carsebridge (silent)

(KARS-bridge) Carsebridge was founded near Alloa in 1799 by John Bald and began life as a malt distillery before John Bald II converted it into a grain distillery in 1852. From there it grew into one of the major Lowland grain sites of the 19th century, became one of the founding members of Distillers Company Ltd in 1877, and by the time it passed into Scottish Grain Distillers in 1966 it was one of the biggest grain distilleries in Scotland.

Living Souls is a Scottish independent bottler dedicated to crafting limited edition, small-batch spirit masterpieces that redefine the norm. Their carefully curated portfolio captures the mysterious art of whisky making through an offering of exquisite single malt, blended malt and blended scotch whiskies.

Isle of Harris Distillery 2026 Private Cask Program – Scotch Whisky News

Our 2026 Private Cask Offer has a limited number of freshly filled Kentucky ex-bourbon casks available for purchase. Each cask includes ten years of storage and insurance, with owners receiving samples at 4, 7 and 10 years of maturation before deciding when the whisky is ready to bottle.

When that time comes, your whisky will be bottled at the distillery with a personalised label unique to your cask. Each cask is priced at £6,000, with a £3,000 deposit securing your allocation before filling. It’s a rare opportunity to own and shape a part of the Isle of Harris story in a very personal way. For the full offer brochure and all the details, please email yourprivatecask@harrisdistillery.com


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