Loch Lomond Whiskies Unveils Prestigious 31 Year Old Single Malt in the Waypoint Series

The expression is the oldest peated whisky ever released by the distiller

Loch Lomond Whiskies has unveiled Waypoint 31 Year Old, the latest and most prestigious expression in its coveted Waypoint Series – a collection of single malt whiskies inspired by the distillery’s iconic setting on the banks of Loch Lomond and its enduring spirit of exploration.

Available globally from 1 September, Waypoint 31 Year Old is the third and oldest single malt in the series, and the oldest peated expression ever released by Loch Lomond Distillery. This highly exclusive release is limited to just 2,600 bottles worldwide and has an RRP of £750.

Waypoint 31 Year Old joins Waypoint 16 Year Old and Waypoint 17 Year Old in the collection.

The latest release celebrates the rugged and rewarding trail between Inversnaid and Inverarnan on the north-east shores of Loch Lomond. One of the most challenging sections of the West Highland Way, the route follows the lochside through a landscape of serene beauty, iconic landmarks and abundant wildlife.

Crafted using Loch Lomond Whiskies’ signature straight neck stills, the single malt was matured in three types of ex-Bourbon American Oak casks before being finished for 12 months in Tawny Port pipes. While its maturation journey is significant, the character of the distillate remains at its heart, creating a superbly balanced peated single malt with notes of dark chocolate, raspberry and cedarwood. The whisky has already received international acclaim, earning an outstanding 99/100 score at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a Gold medal at the International Spirits Challenge.

The exceptional whisky is presented in an etched, handcrafted wooden case featuring an internal copper tube and artwork by illustrator Brett Breckon. His fantastical interpretation follows the route from Inversnaid to Inverarnan, capturing its serene beauty, iconic landmarks and wildlife, with subtle nods to Loch Lomond’s whisky making and the flavour profile of the 31 Year Old woven throughout the scene.

Michael Henry, Master Blender at Loch Lomond Whiskies, said:

“As you follow this extraordinary trail from Inversnaid to Inverarnan, every mile becomes more challenging, but the sense of achievement and reward grows with it. The route takes you through one of Scotland’s most breathtaking landscapes and encourages you to keep exploring and discovering the wonders that surround you.

“That same spirit of exploration lies at the heart of our single malts. Through the Waypoint Series, we seek to bring the landscape and stories of Loch Lomond to life through whisky making, creating expressions that capture the excitement of discovering something truly exceptional.

“The Waypoint Series is a celebration of our namesake, Loch Lomond. It has been one of my favourite collections to work on, and it is a privilege to introduce this highly exclusive and prestigious 31 Year Old expression to the series.”

Loch Lomond is the only distillery in Scotland to house both traditional swan neck stills and its unique straight neck stills, making it one of the most innovative and inventive distilleries in the world. To create the Waypoint Series, Master Blender Michael Henry embarked on his own journey of discovery, bringing the stories of Loch Lomond to life through whisky making. The result is a collection of distinct single malts that capture the distillery’s signature style and its imaginative approach to flavour creation.

Michael continued: “Our unique whisky-making capability, led by our straight neck stills, allows us to create distinctly fruity spirit with our signature character of fruit, honey and soft smoke. Heavily peated whiskies are rare within our collection, so bringing our oldest ever peated single malt to bottle is a huge honour.

“After 31 years of maturation, the whisky has developed a deep, rich rose colour and remarkable layers of dark chocolate, raspberry, cedarwood and woodsmoke. What makes it particularly special is how clearly the character of the original distillate still shines through, despite its significant maturation journey. It is a whisky of real depth and complexity, while remaining unmistakably Loch Lomond.”

Loch Lomond Waypoint 31 Year Old is non-chill filtered, natural in colour and bottled at 44.1% ABV.

Loch Lomond Waypoint 31 Year Old will be available globally from selected specialist retailers from 1 September, with an RRP of £750.

To find out more about Loch Lomond Whiskies, visit: www.lochlomondwhiskies.com

• Nose: Blackberry and honey.
• Palate: Dark chocolate, raspberry and cedarwood.
• Finish: Woodsmoke and dark fruits.

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

Loch Lomond Whiskies is an award-winning, independent Scotch whisky distiller which has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.  As a Highland malt, it is part of the largest and most diverse whisky-making region in Scotland.

The original site of the Loch Lomond Distillery was established near Tarbert, towards the northwest end of Loch Lomond. In the 1960s, under the leadership of American entrepreneur and chemist, Duncan Thomas (who was instrumental in the ongoing success of Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill), a new site was created in Alexandria, which began a move to a more innovative philosophy and style of whisky-making that is still used today.

Located only a few miles from the famous loch, the distillery has a whisky-making capability like no other, using a combination of traditional swan-neck stills and its signature straight-neck-stills, which are unique to Loch Lomond Whiskies.

The straight-neck stills give Master Blender Michael Henry greater control over the distillation process, allowing him to carefully manipulate the flavour profile of each whisky, and providing a signature fruit, honey and soft smoke flavour profile.

Loch Lomond Whiskies is one of only four distillers in Scotland to have its own onsite cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard, so every cask is perfect for maturing whisky.

The distillery’s multi-award-winning range includes Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 21 Year Old and Loch Lomond 30 Year Old, as well as Loch Lomond Single Grain (peated and unpeated) and the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature.

In 2023, it was recognised as the ‘Most Awarded Distillery’ at the globally renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition, achieving multiple Double Gold and Gold Awards for its collection of malt whisky brands.

In 2024, Loch Lomond 18 Year Old was revealed as The Whisky Exchange’s coveted ‘Whisky of the Year 2024’, achieving superior scores from the judging panel for its full-bodied and fruity character.

In 2026, 37 of its malts received internationally acclaimed awards, including four double gold and platinum awards and two category winners.

Batch 41: Incognito It is a Scotch grain whisky, using grains and casks that are commonly used in the USA for whiskey production. This is an homage to that style of whisky, but with its feet firmly in Scotland. To summarise in the words of our whisky quality manager Julien: “This is not bourbon, it is most definitely Scotch grain whisky, but drawing its ingredients, methods and maturation style from a good bit of fun transatlantic inspiration.” Keep reading to learn more about this experimental release.

As we celebrate the experimental side of things this month, here are three ways this release is something a wee bit different:

Experimental factor No. 1: The Pot Still
Batch 41 was double distilled in a pot still in Western Scotland rather than in the usual column still used for most Scottish grain whiskies. This results in a fattier and more complex spirit.

Experimental factor No. 2: The Toasted heads
Batch 41 was matured in heavily charred heavily charred 24-month air seasoned new oak barrels from Kelvin Cooperage in the US with toasted heads. Bourbon producers are bound by law and must use charred new oak to mature their whiskey.

Experimental factor No. 3: The Mashbill*
The whisky team took a bit of trans-Atlantic inspiration for this one creating a mashbill of 58 per cent corn, 21 per cent malted barley and 21 per cent un-malted rye.

*The cereal mix that went into the mash used to create this whisky.

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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

Two New Expressions from Kanosuke

Kanosuke Single Malt 2026 Limited Edition

A limited edition from Kanosuke that seeks to evoke springtime in Fukiagehama park. This single malt is vatted together with whiskies that have spent time in apple brandy, bourbon, shochu, sherry and white wine casks for layers of complexity, echoed by a hint of peated whisky.

Aromas of orange blossom and beach vitex, white grape and apple lead to a soft and welcoming palate with notes of yuzu bean paste, vanilla, honey and calvados, before grapefruit and sea air join on the finish.

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Kanosuke Single Malt Sherry Casks Vatted

For something richer, this limited release emphasises the influence of oloroso and cream sherry on the distillery’s vatting process for its single malt, without losing the nuances that make Kanosuke so exciting. Black cherry, vanilla, raspberry and Japanese cinnamon lead into a full palate of soft raisins, light fruitcake, cloves and dark chocolate, with subtle dryness and mangosteen emerging on the finish.

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Cameronbridge

42 Year Old

1984 Vintage · 70cl · 50% ABV

Distilled at Cameronbridge in 1984, this exceptional single grain Scotch whisky was matured for 42 years in a single bourbon cask before being selected and bottled by Fragrant Drops in 2026. Drawn from cask number 3028692 and released at 50% ABV, it offers a concentrated expression of long-aged grain whisky shaped by more than four decades in oak.

£199.95

ralfy review 1143 – Clynelish 12yo @54.5%vol: (Lady of the Glen)

Maker’s Mark Introduces Cellar Aged 2026

The annual release delivers one of the most mature whiskies blended by the distillery

LORETTO, Ky., — Maker’s Mark®, the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon, today announced the 2026 release of Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged. Now in its fourth year, the annual release showcases one of the distillery’s most mature blends to date, combining 11-, 12- and 14-year-old Maker’s Mark bourbons. Aged to taste, not time, this year’s release builds on the hallmark character of Cellar Aged, revealing new layers of depth, complexity and flavor through extended maturation.

“The limestone shelf that surrounds Star Hill Farm has shaped our bourbon from the very beginning, thanks to the innovative spirit of my grandparents, Margie and Bill Samuels Sr., who chose this land in 1953 for its exceptional water source and natural watershed,” said Rob Samuels, Maker’s Mark managing director and eighth-generation whisky maker.

“Decades later, we made what some considered an unreasonable decision to build a LEED-certified cellar into that same limestone shelf, allowing us to extend maturation while preserving the balance that defines Maker’s Mark. This year’s Cellar Aged release is a testament to how our environment continues to shape the whisky’s final profile.”

Meticulously blended and bottled at cask strength (112.1 proof / 56.05% ABV), Cellar Aged 2026 brings together 49% 11-year-old, 33% 12-year-old and 18% 14-year-old bourbons to deliver a bourbon with remarkable richness.

“Cellar Aged represents our pursuit of flavor through patience, precision and a deep understanding of how bourbon evolves over time,” said Dr. Blake Layfield, master distiller for Maker’s Mark. “After aging in our traditional warehouses, the bourbon spends additional time in our limestone cellar, where cooler maturation allows the fruit to shine while keeping the oak in balance.” 

The whisky is unmistakably Maker’s Mark—rich and layered, opening with aromas of dark cherry, clove, vanilla bean and soft orchard fruit. On the palate, notes of honey, brown sugar and ripe plum give way to a warming, silky finish accented by almond, nutmeg and crisp green apple.

Maker’s Mark Cellar Aged 2026 will be available beginning September 1 at select U.S. retailers nationwide for a suggested retail price of $175 USD, followed by availability in the U.K., Germany, Korea, Japan, Australia, and Global Travel Retail later this year into 2027.

The Maker’s Mark Distillery will host a celebratory launch event ahead of the Kentucky Bourbon Festival for ticketed guests ages 21 and older on September 10. Beginning September 14, visitors can also experience an exclusive distillery tour that offers behind-the-scenes access to the Cellar Aged process.  For tours and tickets, visit https://www.makersmark.com/distillery/visit-us. To join the Maker’s Mark Ambassadors community and receive exclusive distillery access, news about product releases and other benefits, visit makersmark.com/ambassadors.

For more information, visit www.makersmark.com.

ABOUT MAKER’S MARK

Maker’s Mark® is the iconic handmade Kentucky bourbon driven by a vision for better flavor 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. Named World’s Best Wheat Whisky 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.

Maker’s Mark is proud to be both B Corp and Regenified Certified – 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.

Vive La France

Across the Channel, the French are among the world’s most passionate and committed drinkers of whisky. Perhaps it is an echo of the Auld Alliance which sees such a healthy trade and appreciation of drams from Scotland to France. It can be no shock, if perhaps a little surprising, to find a group of distillers working under the tricolour creating whisky.

This year we are delighted to host a collection of these producers in a dedicated zone celebrating the brilliant, surprising, beguiling whiskies they create.

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Armorik

Made at the Warenghem distillery in Brittany, Armorik was the first French single malt reaching the market in 1998. The distillery itself is older with a history stretching back to 1900, but it was only in the later stages of the 20th century that whisky began to flow from the pot stills.

Now with decades of experience, and stock, we are seeing the cementing of a core range which makes thoughtful use of new oak, ex-bourbon and sherry casks. There is even a peated expression full of iodine and herbal smoke.

Domaine des Hautes Glaces

Familiar to visitors to the show, Domaine des Hautes Glaces was founded by Frédéric Revol in 2009 in the French Alps. The intention was for a grain to glass farm distillery with a focus on terroir and sustainable practice. That’s reflected in a commitment to organic production, regenerative agriculture, locally sourced renewable energy and eco-friendly decisions around lighter and recycled packaging.

For all that admirable green agenda, perhaps of greater interest to whisky drinkers is how these whiskies taste. Serge Valentin of Whisky.Fun gave their Epistémè R18P23 a score of 91, saying it “demonstrated extraordinary qualities and truly innovative ideas.”

La Piautre

In a story that’s faintly familiar, La Piautre began as a brewery in 2004 in deepest, darkest wine country in the middle Loire near Angers. While barley was grown and available locally, there weren’t any maltsters and so inevitably, the team turned their hand to transforming humble barley into the miracle that is malt.

They do this in the traditional way of floor malting and, a nice touch this, dry the malt using wood chips sourced from local forests. Once they had a malt house up and running, the team turned their mind to distilling and to whisky, with their first whisky released in 2017.

Maison Lineti

Based in the epicentre of French winemaking, Bordeaux, Maison Lineti’s approach to whisky making makes full use of all the knowledge and techniques, expertise and equipment that the region’s oenologists have. This sees Dr Magali use seven concrete eggs to ferment the wort. These are a relatively common sight now in wineries, with ambitious winemakers using these dramatic pieces of equipment to encourage the most dynamic ferments possible. Nor does the winemaking influence stop there, Magali isn’t afraid to use malolactic fermentation, lees stirring and other techniques to bring out even more flavour in the wort.

The long-term aim is for vintage releases, following single years on a journey through the cask, charting its maturation and development through the years.

Laphroaig 15 Returns

Laphroaig’s much-missed 15 Year Old expression returns as an official bottling for the first time in over a decade and as a permanent part of their range, too.

Aged in American oak bourbon barrels and bottled at 46% without chill-filtering, this is as characterful as you would hope for from Laphroaig. Citrus, hay, vanilla and toffee sit alongside big peaty, oily and briny notes on the nose.

The palate has a creaminess that provides a platform for all of those classic Laphroaig markers, while providing a rounder, fuller experience than the 10-year-old.

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Edradour 18 Year Old 2007 Amarone Small Batch

£108.95 GBP

Edradour 18 Year Old 2007 Amarone Small Batch is a rich and luxurious Highland single malt Scotch whisky, combining the distinctive character of Edradour with the sumptuous influence of Italian red wine oak. Nose Ripe black cherries, blackberries, and dark chocolate with hints of dried figs, vanilla, polished oak, and aromatic spice. Palate Rich and velvety, revealing flavours of dark berry compote, juicy plums, sweet malt, cocoa, dried fruits, toasted oak, and warming wine spice. Finish Long and luxurious, with lingering black cherry, dark chocolate, gentle tannins, dried fruit sweetness, and warming spice.