There are many ways to shape a whisky. At Tamdhu, we’ve chosen one, and we see it through without compromise. Every drop we make is matured exclusively in Oloroso sherry casks. For Cigar Malt, we take that commitment further still.

This is a whisky drawn entirely from first-fill European oak. Nothing else. It forms the first chapter in our Points of Distinction, a closer look at the decisions that shape the character of Tamdhu.

THE CIGAR MALT SERIES

European oak brings a certain authority to maturation. It’s richer, more structured, and unapologetically full in character. From these casks come notes of dried fruits, dark chocolate, and warming spice, layers that build slowly, and stay with you long after the first sip. First fill casks, in particular, offer the oak at its most articulate. They haven’t yet softened. They speak clearly, and they speak with intent. For Cigar Malt, that clarity matters.

Whisky and cigars have long shared the same moment – unhurried, and quietly indulgent.

The Cigar Malt series was created in recognition of that tradition. Not to stand apart from it, but to play its part with precision.

Such a pairing calls for a whisky with presence. One that neither fades nor overwhelms, but holds its place with quiet confidence.

By drawing entirely from first-fill European oak, we achieve that balance – depth without excess, structure without sharpness. A dram that complements the moment, and the company it keeps.

Across each edition, the principle remains unchanged: first-fill European oak, selected with care. What evolves is the way that character is expressed.

Cigar Malt I – A bold beginning. Rich with dark fruits and layered spice, it set the foundation for the series- demonstrating the depth and structure European oak can bring when left uncompromised. Now sold out, it remains a defining first step.

Cigar Malt II – Greater composure emerges. The influence of the oak becomes more measured, with notes of dried fig, orange peel, and soft spice carried on a more rounded, balanced palate.

Cigar Malt III – Complexity deepens. A darker register comes to the fore, think treacle, polished oak, and warming spice, yet with a precision that brings clarity to each layer.

Cigar Malt IV – The most assured expression to date. Here, richness and refinement find their stride together. Notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, and gentle spice unfold with control and poise, offering a whisky that is both structured and elegantly composed.

There is a temptation, at times, to do more. We prefer to go deeper. By focusing entirely on first-fill European oak, Cigar Malt reveals just how much character can be drawn from a single, well-chosen path. That’s our first point of distinction. And it’s one we’re proud to stand by.

SHOP NOW

SHOP NOW

Certificate in Sensory Appreciation Returns

Who needs to add the yellow EWA pin badge to their collection? We’re chuffed to be offering the one-day Sensory course at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society Queen Street venue again with new dates for May and September 2027 available now. Led by the inimitable Vic Cameron, you can expect lively discussion peppered with plenty of fun exercises to challenge your senses. An example? The same smoky whisky fresh from the freezer, sampled in stages right through to room temperature… yum!

📖 Book Now

Old Particular

Paradise in Smoke Collection

ralfy review 1139 Extras – Narrowing our search for the next buy !

SCOTLAND’S LARGEST MULTI-CITY WHISKY FESTIVAL RETURNS

Scotland, August 2026; Scotland’s whisky scene will take centre stage from 20th August as Whisky Week returns, transforming Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh into Scotland’s largest whisky trail through a rolling programme of tastings, tours and exclusive experiences.

Running until 13th September, the festival invites whisky lovers to discover Scotland’s thriving whisky culture through specially curated menus, exclusive drams and unique experiences, while celebrating the country’s world-renowned whisky bars, distilleries and producers.

Whisky Week Dates

• Whisky Week Aberdeen: 20th-30th August 2026
• Whisky Week Glasgow: 27th August-6th September 2026
• Whisky Week Edinburgh: 3rd-13th September 2026

Unlike traditional whisky festivals, Whisky Week doesn’t take place in a single venue. Instead, visitors explore a trail of participating bars, with each one partnering with a different distillery or whisky brand to offer its own exclusive festival menu.

Participating venues include renowned whisky destinations such as The Pot Still, Teuchters Bar, Teuchters Landing, Port of Leith Distillery, The Black Cat, The Grill, The Tippling House and Aberdeen Whisky Shop, with a packed programme of tastings, events and exclusive experiences taking place throughout the festival.

Festival partners include Glenfiddich, Springbank, Glengoyne, Glen Moray, Kingsbarns, Kilchoman, Wemyss Malts, Caol Ila and Tamnavulin, alongside a growing line-up of independent Scotch whisky producers showcasing the diversity of Scotland’s whisky industry.

Gregor Sey, Co-Founder of Whisky Week, said: “Whisky has always been about more than what’s in the glass. It’s about the people you share it with, the stories behind every dram and the venues that bring Scotland’s whisky culture to life. Whisky Week was built around a simple idea: people we like, in places we like, with a drink we love.

“Whether you’re a lifelong whisky enthusiast or trying your first dram, Whisky Week is about discovering something new, supporting brilliant venues and enjoying great whisky in great company. We hope people leave having found a new favourite dram, a new favourite venue and a few great stories to take home with them.”

Every participating venue will offer at least one dram for £5 or less, while Whisky Week wristband holders unlock exclusive festival menus, tastings, tours and whisky experiences throughout the festival.

Whisky Week takes place in Aberdeen (20th-30th August), Glasgow (27th August-6th September) and Edinburgh (3rd-13th September). Advance wristbands are priced at £9 (£12 during each festival) and include access to every participating venue, exclusive festival menus, a printed Whisky Week guidebook and festival wristband.

Tickets for Whisky Week are available now at www.whiskyweek.co.uk.

Whisky Week is a multi-city whisky festival celebrating Scotland’s whisky culture through its bars, distilleries and people. Bringing together whisky lovers, venues and producers across Aberdeen, Glasgow and Edinburgh, the festival offers exclusive drams, curated menus, tastings and experiences designed to encourage discovery and connection.

W: https://whiskyweek.co.uk/
I: https://www.instagram.com/whiskyweekhq
F: facebook.com/whiskyweekhq
L: https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/whiskyweek/

The House of Suntory’s Hibiki Whisky Debuts First Global Campaign: “The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry”

The campaign features award–winning actress Anna Sawai and the historic Chiso kimono house to honor modern Japanese artistry across whisky, nature and kimono art

NEW YORK, NY, — The House of Suntory, the founding house of Japanese whisky, announces Hibiki Whisky’s first global campaign, “The Masterpiece of Japanese Artistry,” inviting consumers worldwide to experience key elements of Japanese culture through whisky, nature and contemporary artistry. Featuring internationally acclaimed and award–winning actress Anna Sawai in her debut as Hibiki’s first Global Ambassador, the campaign bridges tradition and modernity through a rare collaboration with one of Japan’s oldest-run kimono houses and pinnacle of luxury, Chiso kimono house.

At the heart of the campaign is a cinematic hero film that draws parallels between kimono-making and whisky blending, two crafts shaped by time and precision. Sawai appears as Hibiki’s Global Ambassador, wearing a kimono from the historic Chiso kimono house, crafted using traditional yuzen dyeing techniques and seasonal motifs inspired by Japan’s landscapes. Within the hero film, a butterfly rests on Anna’s hand, echoing the patterns of the Chiso kimono. Subtle yet symbolic, it becomes a thread throughout the campaign. The butterfly, a kokimurasaki (purple) motif, echoes Hibiki’s signature kokimurasaki hue, which is found on the neck of the bottle, and is one of Japan’s most noble colors.

Embodying both global influence and a deep appreciation for Japanese heritage, Sawai serves as a bridge between tradition and modernity, interpreting the quiet strength of Japanese culture for an international audience.

“Becoming Hibiki’s first Global Ambassador feels natural because we share the same reverence for Japanese artistry and the beauty found in patience, balance and detail,” says Sawai. “Hibiki represents a quiet kind of mastery, something refined over time with care and intention. As an actor, I’m drawn to that same philosophy of craft, where every choice is deliberate, and every moment matters. To represent a brand that embodies the harmony between nature, time and human artistry is incredibly meaningful to me.”

Complementing the hero film are two behind-the-scenes features exploring Sawai’s discovery of the beauty behind Hibiki and kimono-making, and how elements like water and time shape both.

The film follows Sawai to the Kyoto studio of renowned washi paper artist Eriko Horiki, who has handcrafted the washi labels adorning every Hibiki bottle since 1989. A hallmark of the brand’s visual identity, these labels give Hibiki its “face,” transforming water, fiber and time into something quietly beautiful and enduring. The other offers an intimate glimpse inside the historic Kyoto atelier of Chiso kimono house, where Sawai is shown an intricate kimono which she wears in the hero film and key campaign visuals.

Celebrated for its refined, complex flavor, Hibiki Whisky is a meticulous blend from Suntory’s Yamazaki, Hakushu and Chita distilleries, reflecting the Japanese concept of ‘wa’, balance and harmony, through careful blending.

The campaign will run throughout 2026 and includes a kimono installation at John F. Kennedy Airport in New York timed to the opening of the new terminal. Campaign content will launch across key markets including the United States, Germany, the United Kingdom, France, Italy, Northern Europe, China, Australia, Singapore, Taiwan, South Korea, Spain, India, Canada, Brazil and Mexico.

For more information on the new campaign and to watch the hero film, please visit us online here.  

Instagram @suntorywhisky_hibiki | #TheMasterpieceOfJapaneseArtistry

About The House of Suntory  

Suntory is renowned as the founding house of Japanese Whisky, beginning with Shinjiro Torii’s creation of Japan’s first malt whisky distillery in Yamazaki in 1923 and carried forward by his son, Keizo Saji, founder of the Hakushu and Chita Distillery. As the generations of Suntory’s master blenders carry on, Suntory Whisky remains committed to heritage and innovation.

Today, the House of Suntory continues to craft award-winning spirits, including Yamazaki®, Hakushu®, Chita®, Kakubin®, Hibiki®, and Suntory Whisky Toki™. All 100% distilled, matured, and bottled in Japan, in full compliance with the Japan Spirits & Liqueurs Makers Association (JSLMA) standards. The House of Suntory also includes Roku™ Japanese Gin, Haku™ Japanese Vodka, and Kanáde Japanese Liqueur, reflecting the same dedication to craftsmanship, quality, and innovation that have defined Suntory for over a century.

In 2025, Yamazaki® made history at the International Spirits Challenge as the first brand to win Supreme Champion Spirit three years in a row, and in 2024, Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo was named Master Blender of the Year. Furthering this legacy of excellence, the Osaka Spirits & Liqueurs Craft Distillery, home to Roku Gin, Haku Vodka and Kanáde Japanese Liqueur was awarded the 2025 Liqueur Producer Trophy by the International Wine & Spirit Competition (IWSC). The House of Suntory will open the Osaka Craft Distillery to the public for the first time in 2026.

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™ (minus one-nine-six) 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. For more information, visit www.suntoryglobalspirits.com

About Anna Sawai

Anna Sawai is an internationally acclaimed Japanese actress, recognized for her work at the intersection of cultural heritage and global storytelling. In 2024, she became the first Japanese actress to win a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress for her performance in Shōgun, alongside a Golden Globe Award and two Screen Actors Guild Awards.

Her filmography and credits include Giri/Haji, Justin Lin’s blockbuster F9, Monarch: Legacy of Monsters and Pachinko, with upcoming projects including her portrayal of Yoko Ono in The Beatles biopic series.

As Hibiki’s first-ever Global Brand Ambassador, Sawai brings contemporary resonance to a brand defined by time, balance, and Japanese artistry.

About Chiso kimono house

Founded in Kyoto in 1555, Chiso is one of Japan’s oldest family-run kimono houses and a leading example of Japanese artistry. Renowned for its mastery of Kyo-Yuzen, a hand-dyeing technique producing garments that resemble hand-painted works of art, Chiso creates meticulously crafted kimonos with precision and elegance.

While rooted in tradition, Chiso engages with contemporary culture through collaborations with artists, designers, and cultural institutions. Its Institute for Chiso Arts and Culture, flagship store, and creative subsidiary ensure the preservation and evolution of its craft.

In 2026, Chiso partners with the House of Suntory’s Hibiki whisky to create a monumental kimono installation and custom piece, uniting two legacies of Japanese artistry through a shared dedication to nature, time, and artistry.

AUGUST 2026 AUCTION NOW LIVE!

August has arrived, bringing with it an intriguing selection of rare and collectible whiskies. This month’s auction showcases bottles that capture noteworthy moments in whisky history, from legendary closed distilleries to sought-after limited editions, inlcluding this outstanding release from the long-silent Convalmore Distillery. Distilled in 1984 and matured exclusively in refill American oak hogsheads, this remarkable single malt spent an impressive 32 years developing its character before being bottled in 2017 at natural cask strength as part of Diageo’s acclaimed Special Releases. Produced by a distillery whose stills have long since fallen silent, this is an increasingly scarce opportunity to acquire a whisky that beautifully reflects the elegance and complexity for which Convalmore has become so highly regarded.

First released in 1983, the Macallan Anniversary Malt series was created to mark life’s special occasions, with early bottlings carrying vintage dates from 1957 onwards. This 25 Year Old, distilled in 1970, was produced during what many regard as one of Macallan’s finest periods. These releases have become enduring classics, celebrated for the exceptional quality and character that defined the distillery in the latter half of the 20th century.

Originally reserved for employees across what is now Diageo’s portfolio of distilleries, the annual Manager’s Dram series was bottled in limited numbers at natural cask strength. Each release was selected by the distillery manager from a small number of exceptional casks, making every bottling unique to its year and distillery. Distilled at Clynelish, a Highland distillery renowned for its elegant, waxy character, this expression was matured for 17 years before being bottled at natural cask strength in 1998.

While single malt often takes the spotlight, well-aged single grain whisky offers a character all of its own, with decades in oak bringing remarkable depth and elegance. Distilled at Invergordon in 1974, this exceptional single grain spent 47 years maturing in a single cask (Cask #14) before being bottled at natural cask strength by Cask 88 in 2021.

These featured lots are just a glimpse of what’s on offer in our August Auction. Visit clickwhiskyauctions.com to browse the full auction and discover many more remarkable bottles. Bidding closes from 8pm BST on Sunday, 16th August. Remember, you have to be in it to win it! Register today to bid on your favourite drams.

The Rebirth of Australian Whisky

Australian whisky has managed that rare trick of having both two centuries of whisky history and of being an exciting arrival in the global whisky scene. Blessed with excellent grain and long traditions of brewing and winemaking, whisky is a natural fit for Australia.

Learn More                               ​Shop Now

Ardnamurchan AD/Madeira Cask Release 2025 52% 70cl

£67.96

Celebrated Scotch distillery Ardnamurchan returns with its first single malt of 2025! And it’s just as delicious and sought-after as its previous bottlings. This expression was distilled in 2018 and initially aged in ex-bourbon casks. It was reracked into Madeira just over two years ago, with a total maturation period of just under seven years. Interestingly, the batch is made from roughly 60:40 unpeated to peated spirit, so there’s real complexity in with the sweetness. The 2025 version is the distillery’s second Madeira release, following the success of autumn 2022’s outing. There are around 19,000 bottles in the batch, so while it’s not as scarce as some Ardnamurchans, we still expect it to fly.

Official tasting notes:

Nose: Cocoa powder, stewed plums, sugared almonds, bread and butter pudding, nutmeg, sandalwood, bracken, fruit scone, red currants.

Palate: Cinnamon sweets, cedar bark, salted trail mix with chocolate chips, rosemary stalks, toffee apple, pine needles, strawberries with black pepper.

Finish: Medium weight, dusty, long and slightly drying finish.