ARBIKIE BRINGS SCOTLAND’S TOP DISTILLERIES TOGETHER FOR WHISKY FESTIVAL

Angus, Scotland; May 2026; Scotland’s leading distilleries will gather on the Angus coast this June as Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery hosts ‘A Dram Good Whisky Festival’, bringing together more than 10 distilleries for a day of tastings, masterclasses and distillery experiences.

Taking place on Saturday 6th June 2026, the festival will welcome whisky enthusiasts, trade professionals and visitors to the Arbikie Estate for two ticketed sessions featuring drams from participating exhibitors, guided tours, talks from whisky makers and curated masterclasses throughout the day.

Distilleries already confirmed for the festival include Bladnoch Distillery, Glencadam Distillery, InchDairnie Distillery, Kingsbarns Distillery and Nc’nean Distillery, alongside international names including Bivrost — the world’s northernmost distillery based in Arctic Norway – as well as a mix of emerging producers and independent whisky makers from across the industry.

Hosted at the award-winning Arbikie Distillery, the event follows the estate being named Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the 2026 Icons of Whisky Scotland Awards, further cementing Arbikie’s reputation as one of Scotland’s most progressive and sustainable independent distilleries.

Set against the backdrop of the Arbikie Highland Estate on Scotland’s east coast, the festival will celebrate both the heritage and future of Scotch whisky, bringing together established producers alongside emerging and internationally recognised distilleries for what is expected to be one of the region’s standout whisky events of the summer.

“This is about bringing people together through whisky,” said Iain Stirling, Co-Founder of Arbikie Distillery. “We wanted to create something that reflects the character of Arbikie – rooted in history, but always looking forward. The festival is an opportunity for people to discover new distilleries, meet the makers and experience the estate in a completely different way.

“Whisky tourism continues to play an increasingly important role in Scotland’s food and drink story, and we’re proud to be hosting an event that brings people to Angus while showcasing the diversity and creativity happening across the industry today.”

Founded on a fourth-generation family farm overlooking the North Sea, Arbikie has become internationally recognised for its field-to-bottle approach to distilling, producing whisky, gin and vodka entirely on the estate using crops grown on the farm.

Alongside tastings from every exhibitor, visitors will have access to talks and masterclasses led by distillers and industry figures, as well as guided tours through the Arbikie Distillery Experience.

The festival will run across two sessions from 11:00-15:00 and 16:00-20:00, with a dedicated shuttle service operating from Montrose Train Station for ticket holders.

Tickets are priced from £40 and include drams from participating distilleries, access to talks and masterclasses, a guided distillery tour and a complimentary tasting glass.

Further information and tickets are available HERE

Arbikie Distillery Experience
https://arbikie.com/pages/visit
For further information contact: Iain Stirling, Co-Owner at Arbikie Distillery at iain.stirling@arbikie.com , or on WhatsApp at 07967754169

About Arbikie Distillery:

The Arbikie Distillery is 100% owned by the Stirling brothers whose family have been farming for over 400 years, four generations at Lunan Bay just north of Dundee on Scotland’s sunny east coast. The brothers opened the Arbikie Distillery in 2014 and Arbikie is recognised as being one of the world’s most sustainable distilleries. Arbikie recently won the Most Sustainable Whisky Distillery in Scotland Award at the World Whiskies Awards. Its customers include many of the world’s best resorts, hotels, bars, restaurants and retailers including Aman Resorts, Noma, Jean Georges, Fat Duck, Zuma, Hilton, Marriott, Four Seasons, Wholefoods, Harrods, Atlas and the Connaught.

www.arbikie.com

About A Dram Good Whisky Festival:

10+ Remarkable Distilleries. 400 Years of History. One Epic Day. Arbikie Highland Estate – a farm, a landmark, a place where Scottish whisky history was made – opens its doors for A Dram Good Whisky Festival. One day. Two sessions. Over 10 distilleries pouring drams, sharing stories, and running masterclasses you won’t forget.

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Our new Spring Menu has arrived, featuring fresh seasonal dishes inspired by the best Scottish ingredients. New highlights include chargrilled lamb cutlets served with creamy parmesan polenta, honey-glazed baby carrots, pomegranate, and a rich red wine jus. To finish, indulge in our decadent chocolate & clementine torte with raspberry coulis – alongside many more delicious new additions. Book now and discover your new favourite dish at Whiski Rooms.

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AN ICONIC PORTFOLIO BUILT OVER A CENTURY OF

CRAFTSMANSHIP, PATIENCE, AND FAMILY STEWARDSHIP

This week’s Spotlight falls on one of the most iconic collections of American Whiskies under the umbrella of Bardstown-based Heaven Hill Distillery. In 1935, as America emerged from the shadows of Prohibition, a group of visionary entrepreneurs led by the Shapira family planted the seeds of this enterprise with the simple but ambitious mission to create bourbon that honored tradition, reflected the rich agricultural heritage of the region, and would stand the test of time. Today, nearly a century later, Heaven Hill has grown into the largest family-owned and operated distillery in the United States, with a legacy built on craftsmanship, patience, and a deep connection to Kentucky soil and spirit.

From its earliest days, Heaven Hill distinguished itself through dedication to quality and consistency. Master distillers meticulously selected grains, refined fermentation and distillation processes, and adhered to the highest standards of aging, creating spirits that quickly gained a reputation for depth, richness, and balance. Over time, the company expanded beyond bourbon, producing rye, corn whiskey, and other spirits, all while maintaining the hallmark integrity of its craft.

Heaven Hill is home to some of the most recognized and celebrated bourbon brands in the world including Evan Williams, Elijah Craig, Larceny, and Henry McKenna, each offering a unique flavor profile and aging style that speaks to both tradition and innovation. The distillery’s vast rickhouses, stretching across Kentucky, hold millions of barrels of aging whiskey, forming one of the largest and most carefully curated inventories in the world. Every barrel is a living story, absorbing the character of Kentucky’s climate, oak influence, and generational patience.

We invite you to explore current whiskey offerings from the Heaven Hill portfolio below, including both Bourbons and Ryes, as well as a few limited releases and special Single Private Barrel offerings. Click on through to learn more and to order, or simply swing on by to chat with our knowledgeable staff.

VIEW HEAVEN HILL PRODUCTS

ralfy review 1129 Extras – It’s a Laphroaig Thing !

Edinburgh Whisky Academy Announces International Autumn 2026 Diploma Roadshow Across New York, Kentucky & London

Early Bird booking now open with a guaranteed £200 saving until 19 June 2026

Edinburgh Whisky Academy has announced an ambitious international series of in-person Diploma in Single Malt Whisky classes for Autumn 2026, with back-to-back courses taking place in New York, Kentucky and London.

The roadshow represents a major step forward for the Academy’s flagship QS-Certified qualification and reflects Edinburgh Whisky Academy’s growing international network of respected educational and industry partnerships.

The three-course series will take place at:

• 26 & 27 October 2026
  7 World Trade Center, New York, hosted in partnership with Moët Hennessy USA
• 29 & 30 October 2026
  Moonshine University, Kentucky, USA
• 3 & 4 November 2026 
  WSET School, London, UK

Early Bird places are available until 19 June 2026, offering candidates a guaranteed £200 saving on the standard course price of £1,015.

Designed for enthusiasts and trade professionals alike, the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky is Edinburgh Whisky Academy’s globally recognised flagship qualification.

The course combines essential online pre-study with an intensive two-day classroom experience led by EWA teacher and whisky expert Vic Cameron. Candidates complete two online modules before joining immersive in-person sessions featuring advanced whisky education, discussion and guided tastings.  Rigorous yet engaging, the curriculum gives candidates a deep understanding of the single malt whisky production process, building the knowledge and confidence to better appreciate, evaluate and enjoy Scotch whisky in both professional and everyday settings.

The New York course builds on Edinburgh Whisky Academy’s long-standing relationship with Moët Hennessy USA. Together, the organisations previously developed “MH Whisky School”, a bespoke educational platform featuring a brand-focused version of the Certificate in Scotch Whisky, used internally for staff, trade partners and distributors.

Edinburgh Whisky Academy is also proud to announce that Dan Crowell, Glenmorangie Ambassador, US, has recently been approved by Qualifications Scotland to teach the Diploma in Single Malt Whisky. Crowell completed the EWA Advanced Diploma in 2025 and will support Vic Cameron during the New York delivery.

The Kentucky course marks the continuation of a relationship years in the making between Edinburgh Whisky Academy and Moonshine University. Located in the heart of Bourbon country, Moonshine University has become one of America’s most respected centres for distilling education and community-building.

Meanwhile, the London class at WSET School represents a significant milestone for the Academy. Long regarded as global leaders in wine and spirits education, WSET’s invitation to host the Diploma at its flagship London school reflects the growing recognition of Edinburgh Whisky Academy’s specialist approach to whisky education over the past decade.

The announcement follows a series of recent international partnerships and developments for the Academy, including collaboration with Napa Valley Wine Academy to offer the Certificate in Scotch Whisky, and a partnership with The Scotch Malt Whisky Society America, which now provides EWA candidates with a complimentary year’s membership to SMWS USA.

Edinburgh Whisky Academy has also continued to evolve the Diploma programme itself, most recently with the addition of whisky writer and expert Dave Broom’s new World Whiskies module, launched earlier this year within the Online Diploma in Single Malt Whisky.

The Academy has previously delivered successful Diploma programmes across the United States, including online courses in partnership with Lush Life Productions and Moët Hennessy USA for bartenders and hospitality professionals, alongside in-person classes at Kings County Distillery, the New Hampshire Highland Games, and Wizard Academy.

Kirsty McKerrow, Founder & Managing Director of Edinburgh Whisky Academy, said: “Over the last ten years, we’ve worked incredibly hard to build meaningful relationships across the whisky world and wider drinks industry, so announcing these three courses feels genuinely special for us.

“To teach at Moët Hennessy USA, Moonshine University and WSET School London in such quick succession is not only exciting, but also a real reflection of the trust, respect and shared passion that exists within the global whisky community.

“What matters most to us is creating whisky education that is engaging, credible and accessible, whether you’re discovering Scotch for the first time or working in the industry every day. Whisky is constantly changing and we believe whisky education should evolve alongside it.”

Places for all three Diploma in Single Malt Whisky dates are now available to book online.

COURSE DATES & VENUES

26 & 27 October 2026 [7 WTC, New York]
7 World Trade Center, 250 Greenwich St, New York, NY 10007, United States

29 & 30 October 2026 [Moonshine University, Kentucky]

801 S 8th St, Louisville, KY 40203, United States

3 & 4 November [WSET School, London]

39-45 Bermondsey St, London SE1 3XF

BOOKING INFORMATION

Early Bird booking is available until 19 June 2026, offering a guaranteed £200 saving on the standard course fee of £1,015.

BOOKING LINK

ABOUT EDINBURGH WHISKY ACADEMY

Edinburgh Whisky Academy is a leading provider of structured whisky education, delivering globally recognised and QS-certified qualifications to enthusiasts and drinks professionals around the world.

Founded in Edinburgh in 2015, the Academy specialises in accessible, engaging and academically robust whisky education, with courses covering Scotch whisky, Irish whiskey, American Single Malt, gin and sensory appreciation.

Edinburgh Whisky Academy works with Approved Course Providers and industry partners internationally, supporting whisky education across hospitality, retail, distribution and enthusiast communities.

Celebrating 10 years of Inverurie Whisky Shop

Burnside 15 Year Old

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We spent 10 years as a business in our old address of Burnside, Inverurie. It seems a fitting tribute, therefore, to have bottled this exciting new release as an homage to our former home.

Burnside, as we all might know, comes from one of Speysides finest whisky distilleries. This release is officially a Blended Malt, ‘teaspooned’ at birth in warehouses just outside Dufftown.

What is Teaspooning, I hear you ask.

Teaspooning is a fond term for adding a teaspoonful of one malt into the cask of another malt, effectively turning a single malt into a blended malt. It’s a method used for brand protection, meaning we can’t call this a bottle of Balvenie (or whatever…..)

We have just 70 bottles of this exceptional whisky, finished for three years in a Cognac Cask and bottled for us by one of our local Independent Bottlers, Skene Whisky.

The iconic Charles Maclean got his hands on our bottle and produced these tasting notes…

On the nose, notes of honeycomb, cinder toffee and soft chocolate emerge. The palate is creamy and warming, developing into a gently spiced, elegant finish – reflecting both the richness of the cask and the quiet influence of long maturation.

Our Skene Reserve release was distilled in 2011 and bottled for us this year, 2026 from cask #90017.

Harmony Collection V

Cherrywood Lapsang Tea
Single Malt Scotch Whisky

70cl · 44.9% ABV

£199.95

The Macallan Harmony #5 is a refined single malt inspired by the rich, smoky character of JING Tea’s organic cherrywood-smoked Lapsang tea. Matured in a combination of sherry seasoned European and American oak casks, the whisky delivers layers of dark fruit, creamy toffee, warming spice, and delicate oak smoke.

This whisky reflects the deeply complex flavours of the tea, providing an aroma reminiscent of incense for a deeply rewarding sensorial experience.

European Oak delivers a bold and deep rounded character, providing a rich dark fruitiness, toffee and warming tannins on the palate, with a smooth malty sweetness. With sweet oak notes that come from our sherry seasoned American oak casks, this whisky is exquisitely rounded off with a whisp of smoke delivered from hand selected casks to reflect the innovative addition of cherrywood smoke to the tea leaves that inspires this single malt.

Aber Falls 3 Year Old “Distinctive Spirits – The Fantasty Series II” Single Cask New American Oak Cask Strength Welsh Rye Whiskey

(750ml)

$99.99

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