WOVEN ACCELERATES INTERNATIONAL EXPANSION FOLLOWING AWARD-WINNING START TO 2026 

Independent blender doubles down on its commitment to flavour as refreshed core range expands into four new markets

Edinburgh-based whisky maker Woven has secured four new international distribution partnerships across France, Italy, Spain and New Zealand, marking a significant step in the brand’s global expansion.

The announcement marks a major breakthrough in Woven’s international growth strategy, underpinned by rising global demand for flavour-driven, accessible whisky. Each market has been selected based on clear indicators of this demand, alongside a shift toward flavour and value, and an openness to new whisky propositions.

The announcement is bolstered by recent recognition at the World Whiskies Awards, where WXC – a collaborative spirit drink created with London’s Assembly Coffee – was named World’s Best Flavoured Whisky 2026, providing further validation of Woven’s focus on flavour-led innovation as it enters new territories.

Nick Ravenhall, Managing Director of Woven, said:  “We’re new into these markets, but the drinker we’re built for is already there. They get it instantly, and right now they’re hugely under served by the category. That’s the opportunity.

“The whisky industry has traditionally been led by heritage and prestige. That still matters in the right context, but it’s no longer enough on its own. We’re not seeing people walk away from whisky, we’re seeing them get more selective. Propositions that stack up on flavour and value are finding their audience. Those that don’t are sitting on shelves. Right now, the whiskies delivering on flavour and value – often blends – are the ones winning that race.”

Recent figures from the Scotch Whisky Association reflect that shift. While single malt exports fell 6% to £1.6bn in 2025, blends remained stable – a sign that value and drinkability are holding firm as priorities change.

Woven’s approach is deliberately less traditional, treating whisky as a creative category rather than a fixed set of rules. Its core range spans four categories of blended Scotch, world blends, blended malt and flavoured whisky, allowing the brand to compete across multiple segments as it expands internationally. The portfolio is designed to let drinkers move freely across styles, without gatekeeping or the fear of doing it wrong.

Pete Allison, Co-Founder and Whisky Maker, said: “At one of our recent events, someone told me they loved our premium whisky Superblend, but couldn’t have it as their go-to because of the price. From that conversation, we spent three months sourcing components from around the world to meet that drinker exactly where they are. Whisky is great at selling just-out-of-reach aspirations, but we wanted to meet people right now. That was the moment our new house pour, Woven Whisky, was born.”

France and Italy represent large, established markets where Woven is now scaling beyond early specialist listings. Spain is one of the few European markets in growth, with export values up 6% in 2025, while New Zealand offers a highly engaged consumer base open to challenging traditional whisky norms.

L’Explorateur du Goût will handle France, where Woven has spent two years building awareness through La Maison du Whisky, before expanding into the premium on-trade and independent retail. Compagnia dei Caraibi will represent the brand in Italy, Wkyregal in Spain and Highland Fern in New Zealand respectively.

Woven’s full range is now available across France, Italy, Spain, and New Zealand. For more information please visit www.wovenwhisky.com.

ABOUT WOVEN

Woven are independent whisky makers based in Leith — the town where blending was built. Rather than build a distillery, they treat the world’s 2,000 distilleries as a palette, sourcing from makers who share their obsession with flavour. What makes Woven different is what happens between sourcing and blending — they intervene, cultivate, and raise flavour in the cask before a drop goes into the blend. The result is an evolving collection of whiskies that couldn’t exist anywhere else. 

June 2026 Releases from Chorlton Whisky

Greetings from a cold and miserable Chorlton! Flaming June? Flaming Nora more like. (What a terrible intro!). Maybe we’ll find more sense and a bit of sunshine in a few new bottlings though:

Right, here I go wandering around the underbelly of the Industrial Revolution for the occasion of this 10-year-old Clynelish! This is the first (named) Chorlton Clynelish, and not the last. Happy days.

On the nose this starts off beautifully fresh, coastal and very gently waxy, with funky fruits popping through.I get beach sand, pineapple cubes, tangerine peel, orange Chewits, condensed milk and some herby olive oil. In the background there’s this little thread of menthol and something phenolic. Lovely stuff.

On the palate: waxy citrus, sea water, rose petals, mango – very Clynelish. I also find light herbal touches, and again a slightly phenolic and peppery feeling – almost like someone teaspooned the cask with a bit of Talisker. (They didn’t.) The development is on more citrus, caramel, soot, salt and touches of stone fruit in the finish. It takes a bit of water beautifully.

It’s genuinely heartening that Clynelish’s current production is so good. This is top-notch stuff, with great texture and character, and both the fruity and coastal aspects of the spirit in full flow.

(Rumours that the chap on the label is a cousin of Hector McDram cannot be substantiated at this point.)

This first-fill bourbon hogshead produced 317 bottles at 59.0%, and they are available for £65 each.

Next up we have a 27-year-old Glen Garioch. I wouldn’t like to speculate about the tussle on the label here, but it seemed appropriate for a big old boisterous dram!

So, on the nose: baled hay, shredded wheat, milk chocolate, gloopy olive oil, hazelnuts, dried up honey, lemon jelly – really quite complex! There are little bits of something sooty and oily in the background, and some awesome flashes of tropical fruit if you give it a few minutes in the glass.

On the palate: powerful, waxy and slightly tarry, with lemon drops, cough mix, eucalyptus, peach crumble and resin. The development is on dark chocolate buttons, rosemary and green fruits, before a gently mineralic finish. With some water added – lemons and oranges, earth and soft honey.

I don’t know if this makes any sense, but this feels to me like an old peated whisky, just stripped of the smoke. All the tertiary stuff is there. In any case, it’s fascinating, complicated in a Old Highlandsy sort of way, and just great fun to drink.

This second-fill barrel produced 167 bottles at 58.2%, and they are available for £165 each.

Lastly we have a 15-year-old Aultmore, bottled just days shy of 16yo due to a leaky cask. Aultmore tends to be sherried, but it can work a treat in bourbon, viz:

So it’s bright and fruity on the nose – honeydew melon, lime & honey, dandelions, vanilla slice, pine bark and branches, and peach tea. Nice! With a bit of water – soft and custardy, with a few sultanas popping up.

The palate is malty and sweet, with maple syrup and shortbread cut through with lemongrass, lime leaves and spearmint. It develops on muffins and brioche, still balanced by lime, with lovely little touches of red fruits in the aftertaste (dried cranberry muffins perhaps).

This is just super-tasty. I love the leafy citrus balancing out the sweetness. Happily we got some of it into bottles before it all ended up on the floor!

This refill barrel produced only 160 bottles at 58.1%, and they are available for £75 each.

Admin

There’s been a big spike in shipping prices lately (mostly fuel surcharges due to the situation in Iran) so I have had to increase rates slightly. Apologies. I’ve absorbed as much of the increase as I can, and I hope to reduce charges again when/if normality resumes.

If you ever want me to hold onto bottles to combine with future orders to save on delivery, then just let me know. Such things can be arranged.

And…

…that’s it for now. I hope you find a bottle from this trio has tickled your fancy, and I remain available via all the usual channels if I can be of any assistance.

Cheers!

David

We all have it – that one Tasting Note that’s just a bit out there, but also perfectly encapsulates your experience of the whisky: “A splash of white vermouth and strawberry bonbons bobbing in chai tea,” “Thick tannins marched in carrying liquorice torpedoes and old saddles,” or even: “Sooty, grassy and enticingly dank on the nose, this came across like a great barbecue accompaniment.” Intrigued? All of these Tasting Notes are from our June Outturn, which is live NOW.

On that less traditional note, this month we’re encouraging you to try your whisky in a cocktail. Add some soda water and ice to your whisky for a highball, batch something up for a barbecue, or head to our Members’ Rooms for the team’s own take on summer cocktails. It’s just one more way to experience the good stuff and the power of flavour.

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

Allt A Bhainne 17 Year Old 2008 Milroy’s Vintage Reserve 62.3% 70cl

Allt-A-Bhainne whiskies can be hard to find, and this Vintage Reserve bottling is the cream of the crop. Aged in a third-fill sherry butt for its full 17-year maturation period, it is succulent and luxurious, while retaining its estery yet spicy distillery character. Elegant, rich and oh so decadent, we love the dessert sweetness and intricate spices that weave their way throughout.

Tasting notes:

Nose: The definition of decadence with all manner of dessert notes dancing on the nose: cinnamon doughnuts, tiramisu, honeycomb, sticky toffee pudding, milk chocolate, and gingerbread. With time, a grounding earthiness emerges, alongside tomato leaf and dried fruits. Delicious.

Palate: The sweet theme continues with freshly-baked pastry notes covered in strawberries and raspberries, with more of that milk chocolate. Vanilla sponge cake emerges later, along with cream icing and boiled sweets. Cola cubes and festive spices contribute a mouthwatering depth.

Finish: Orchard fruits and toasted oak lengthen into an aromatic earthiness.

£135.00

ralfy review 1133 – Benrinnes 23yo @52.6%vol: (Sig Single Cask)

Loch Lomond Group’s Gary Mills Named Best Scotch Whisky Ambassador at World Whisky Awards

This latest accolade adds to a growing suite of awards that highlight Loch Lomond Group’s rising prominence in the spirits category.

Independent distiller Loch Lomond Group is celebrating a landmark achievement as its Global Brand Ambassador, Gary Mills, has been named the Icons of Whisky – Best Scotch Whisky Ambassador at the internationally renowned World Whisky Awards.

After winning the regional award in December, Gary was shortlisted alongside five brand ambassadors who represent some of the biggest names in Scotch. He received the accolade in honour of his exceptional contribution to Scotch whisky advocacy.

Gary joined Loch Lomond Group in 2014, at a formative stage in the company’s journey. With a background in marketing combined with a clear and enduring passion for whisky, he quickly established himself as a driving force within a small, ambitious team. In those early days, he helped build a portfolio of just four single malts and one blend, laying the foundations for what would become one of Scotland’s most dynamic whisky ranges.

A decade later, both the business and Gary’s influence have grown significantly. Now part of a 25-strong marketing team, he has been instrumental in developing an award-winning collection, and shaping the global reputation of Loch Lomond Group’s portfolio, which includes Loch Lomond Whiskies, Glen Scotia, Littlemill, Noble Rebel, Spearhead and High Commissioner.

The Icon Award adds to a string of recent accolades for Loch Lomond Group, which is rapidly establishing itself as one of the leading distillers on the global whisky stage. The Group’s success is driven not only by its exceptional whiskies but also by the talent and expertise of its people. Gary becomes the second individual from the business to be named on the global stage, with Andy Moore picking up Cooper of the Year in 2023.

Renowned as one of the most creative distillers in the sector, Loch Lomond Group has a reputation for blending traditional craftsmanship with bold experimentation to produce whiskies that are entirely unique. Its use of Straight Neck Stills at the Loch Lomond Distillery places the company at the forefront of innovation, contributing to a portfolio that consistently earns international acclaim.

Today, Loch Lomond Whiskies ranks among the fastest-growing top 25 single malt brands in the world  – a success that helped secure the title of Distiller of the Year 2025 at the prestigious San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Meanwhile, Glen Scotia continued its award-winning streak, capturing platinum for both its 15- and 25-Year-Old expressions at the same competition.

Andrew Jack, Head of Whisky Marketing at Loch Lomond Group, said: “I am incredibly proud of the team we have built, and this latest award reflects the strength of our fantastic people. At Loch Lomond Group we are purposeful in our decision to nurture expertise, passion and craftsmanship in all parts of the business, from whisky makers to brand managers.

“At the heart of Gary’s work is a genuine commitment to advocacy. He has a rare ability to translate the complexities of Scotch whisky into experiences that resonate with all audiences, with his tastings and tours defined by energy and authentic storytelling. He consistently receives praise for being one of the most engaging ambassadors in the category. This award is a testament to the impact he has made not only for our brands, but for Scotch as a whole.”

Gary represents Loch Lomond Group’s brands on the world stage, while also leading the visitor experience across its distilleries, including at the recently opened Luss Distillery – a dynamic, multi-million-pound spirits destination on the banks of Loch Lomond.

Widely regarded for his depth of knowledge across whisky history, production, and flavour, Gary has become a trusted and influential voice within the industry. He is a regular presence across podcasts, television and specialist publications, consistently championing the craftsmanship, heritage and innovation behind the whiskies he represents.

Gary Mills, Global Brand Ambassador at Loch Lomond Group, said: “Winning the Icons of Whisky – Best Scotch Whisky Ambassador is an incredible honour. I’ve been fortunate to be part of the Loch Lomond Group journey from the early days and have had the privilege to work alongside a passionate team dedicated to creating exceptional whiskies. Sharing those stories and connecting people to Scotch is what drives me every day, so this recognition means a great deal.”

For more information about The Loch Lomond Group, visit www.lochlomondgroup.com

About the Loch Lomond Group

Loch Lomond Group is an independent distiller based in Alexandria, Scotland and is home to many multi-award-winning brands that are sold in more than 125 countries worldwide.

Loch Lomond distillery has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.

Iron Gate June 2026 Whisky Auction Closes Tonight

The timed auction closes tonight,  Monday, June 22, 2026, at 8:00 p.m. EDT. Featured highlights include the Ardbeg Double Barrel Single Cask Set, Yamazaki Hospitality 25 Year Old, Bowmore Hart Brothers Dynasty Decanter, and Benromach 68 Classic Speyside Aged 55 Years—bottlings recognized for rarity, age, provenance, and collector appeal.

“This auction brings together bottles that speak to true spirit collectors in Canada,” said Ajay Bhardwaj, Vice-President of Spirits at Iron Gate. “From bespoke Scotch whisky releases to exceptional Japanese whisky and “The Pappy Family”, the June sale offers whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike an opportunity to acquire bottles rarely seen in the Canadian market.”

Iron Gate is Canada’s dedicated fine spirits auction house, serving collectors with a focus on provenance. Bidders may register in advance and view the auction catalogue through Iron Gate’s online auction platform.

Please note that a buyer’s premium of 19.5% applies to this sale. The auction is operated under license by Alberta Gaming, Liquor and Cannabis and under the applicable Alberta auction license.

Auction Details
Event: Iron Gate Fine Whisky Auction
Start: June 15, 2026, 10:00 a.m. EDT
End: June 22, 2026, 8:00 p.m. EDT
Format: Timed online auction

About Iron Gate
Iron Gate provides fine wine and spirits auction services for collectors across Canada, combining specialist expertise with a commitment to provenance, trusted handling, and a seamless online bidding experience.

Spirits Contact
Ajay Bhardwaj, VP Spirits Iron Gate Auctions
Email: ajay@irongate.wine

Jericho 10 Year Old

Celebrating 10 years of Inverurie Whisky Shop

Buy Now

For those that know us, you’ll be aware that we are passionate about our local history. Tie that together with history of local whiskies and we’re definitely on to a winner! That’s why, when the opportunity to work with the Lost Distillery Co came along, we had to take it.

“As an Aberdeenshire distillery lost to history, Jericho’s story is one that resonates particularly strongly with us. Working alongside The Lost Distillery Company to bring this 10 Year Old release to life has allowed us to celebrate a forgotten chapter of the region’s whisky-making past while creating something entirely new for today’s whisky enthusiasts, serving the same community that was once enjoying the Jericho whisky in the past” – Mike

The Story of Jericho Distillery 1822-1913

Long before modern whisky production transformed Scotland, Jericho Distillery stood beneath the shadow of Bennachie in rural Aberdeenshire. Founded in 1822 by farmer William Smith, Jericho was one of the early legal distilleries established following the Excise Act of 1823, a landmark piece of legislation that brought much of Scotland’s whisky production out of the illicit era and into legitimate trade.

Smith, a deeply religious man, named the distillery “Jericho” after the biblical city. The nearby Jordan Burn, which supplied the distillery’s water, is said to have inspired the name. Production began in earnest by 1824, and Jericho whisky quickly earned a reputation throughout Aberdeenshire for its rich, characterful spirit.

In its early years, Jericho operated on a modest scale using remarkably small stills, producing a heavy, oily whisky that reflected the traditional methods of the time. Peat from the surrounding countryside was used extensively in production, while maturation often took place in sherry casks, a practice that would become one of the distillery’s defining characteristics.

Under the stewardship of John Maitland, who inherited the distillery in 1864, Jericho underwent significant modernisation. The site expanded, equipment was upgraded, and in 1883 the distillery was renamed Benachie Distillery, taking its name from the famous local hill. Despite the change, the whisky continued to be known as Jericho for many years.

Sadly, like many historic Scottish distilleries, Jericho’s story came to an end in 1913 when the distillery closed its doors for good. Legend has it that the final surviving cask was enjoyed at a wedding celebration held in the old malt barns during the early years of the Second World War, marking the last taste of the original whisky.

Today, thanks to the work of The Lost Distillery Company, the spirit and character of Jericho live on. Through meticulous historical research and blending expertise, they have recreated what this lost Highland whisky may have tasted like, allowing whisky lovers to experience a remarkable piece of Scotland’s distilling heritage once again.

We’re bottling American whiskies again!

INDIANA BOURBON 2015
AGED 10 YEARS
50% ABV/100 PROOF

This bourbon hails from Indiana and was distilled back in 2015 then aged (as per regulations) in a single new American oak barrel. Bottled at 10 years old, it showcases the rich, sweetness that Indiana liquid is famous for with, of course, that underlying spice!

Nose: Caramel and vanilla Sweetcorn

Palate: Light cinnamon and baking spices Black Pepper

Finish: Toasted Oak Maple Syrup

AMERICAN SOURMASH 2011
AGED 14 YEARS
50% ABV/100 PROOF

Our latest release is a Sour Mash (a term directly linked to the quality control of the distillation process, not the flavour) which was aged in a single American oak barrel for a healthy fourteen years. Despite the term/name, it’s much akin to a bourbon in flavour taking on layers of sweetness over it’s maturation period whilst maintaining that grainy flavour associated with American whiskey.

Nose: Sweet syrup Burnt sugar
Palate: Oakey tannins Light cereal/grain flavour
Finish: Short and crisp