THE COUNCIL OF WHISKEY MASTERS Announces Its 2026 Master Examinations in Scotland, New Board Leadership, and Expanded Candidate Support

Pitlochry, Scottish Highlands — The Council of Whiskey Masters has announced that its annual Master Examinations will take place from 6–9 October 2026 at the Atholl Palace Hotel in Pitlochry, Scotland. Approximately 30 advanced candidates will be evaluated for the designations of Master of Scotch, Master of Bourbon, or the globally oriented Master of Whiskey.

The Master Examinations represent the highest level of professional whiskey certification, combining blind sensory evaluation with advanced knowledge of whiskey production, history, and analysis. Candidates participate from around the world after completing structured prerequisite study programs delivered remotely prior to the Master level.

The Council also announced a planned leadership transition. Monique Huston will assume the role of Chairman of the Board, succeeding former Chairmen Bernhard Schäfer, Steve Beal, and Martin Duffy, who all remain actively involved as Chairmen Emeritus and examiners. Huston, a Keeper of the Quaich, is Vice President of Spirits at Winebow, a leading global fine wine and spirits importer.

“I am thrilled and humbled to assume the role of Chairman of the program, raising standards across the whiskey industry through rigorous and credible education,” said Huston. “The opportunity to work with the Council at this level is a unique vantage to drive additional visibility and passion in the global whiskey community.”

The Council of Whiskey Masters comprises an international body of industry leaders, authors, master distillers, and master blenders, also including Rachel Barrie, Dave Broom, Lew Bryson, John Campbell, Alasdair Day, Michael D’Souza, Patricia Dillon, Stefan van Eycken, Andrew Faulkner, Serghios Florides, Nancy Fraley, Michael Fraser Milne, Sébastien Gavillet, Tobias Gorn, Davin deKergommeaux, Charles MacLean, Stephanie Macleod, Joseph Micallef, Ian Millar, Arthur Nägele, Eddie Nara, Fionnán O’Connor, Hans and Becky Offringa, Paul Pacult, Susan Reigler, Clay Risen, Ingvar Ronde, Marcy Rudershausen, Gavin Smith, Matt Strickland, Peggy Noe Stevens, Michael Veach, Andy Watts, and Ian Wisniewski, along with all 40 Master program graduates produced by the Council. These members play an active role in the development of the Council and its candidates.

A significant number of these Council members will serve as examiners and judges during the 2026 examination residency in Pitlochry, with Richard Paterson joining as an additional examiner.

Candidates preparing for the examinations receive structured support, with individualized mentoring by current Masters, and cohort-based tasting and theory preparation led by Adam Edmonsond, plus special intensive sessions delivered by industry legends Paul Pacult, Matt Strickland and Ian Wisniewski.

Edmonsond, a Master of Whiskey, noted: “The level of preparation now available to candidates is exceptional. Practically all past program graduates are involved in the process and are now taking responsibility for the next generation. It is a unique strength of our organization.”

“The Master credential is intended to signify genuine depth of knowledge, advancing the careers of our students based on true merit” said Jörn Kleinhans, Founder of the Council of Whiskey Masters. “All program participants commit to objective mastery across the full scope of whiskey.”

More information on certification pathways and enrollment is available at www.WhiskeyMasters.org.

 MORE ON BATCH 35

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

Ardnamurchan 8 Years Old

ABV: 56.4% 70 cL

SMWS Canada will be at the Nanaimo Whisky Festival!

On Saturday, February 7th the Grand Hotel Nanaimo will play host to the Nanaimo Whisky Festival, and our Victoria ambassador Adam Bradshaw will be there with a great line-up of drams to sample.

Enjoy an evening of great whiskies, scrumptious snacks, live music, and the camaraderie of fellow whisky lovers, all while supporting a great cause – the Nanaimo District Hospital Foundation.

Tickets are available at the front desk of the Grand Hotel Nanaimo (4898 Rutherford Rd.) or call 250-758-3000. Hope to see you there!

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society Canada
Suite 160
104 – 1240 Kensington Road NW
Calgary, AB T2N 3P7
403-969-8225
curious@smws.ca
www.smws.ca

ralfy review 1113 – Edradour 10yo @46%vol: (2026)

KBCA reveals King of Kentucky and Old Forester Birthday Bourbon lot as the next installment in its “12 Lots of Bourbon” series

• “The 13 Colonies” revealed as the next installment in KBCA’s “12 Lots of Bourbon,” honoring America’s 250th anniversary and 13 historic bottles.
• Lot features 12 bottles of King of Kentucky from the highly anticipated 2026 release, paired with a signed bottle of the original 2002 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon.
• Auction proceeds benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation, supporting veterans and service members, while celebrating America’s 250th anniversary year and the enduring values that shaped the nation.

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (Jan. 13, 2026) — The Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction & Celebration (KBCA) today announced another extraordinary luxury lot to be offered during its inaugural event over Presidents Day Weekend, Feb. 13–15, 2026. Appropriately titled “The 13 Colonies,” the lot pays tribute to the 13 original colonies that gave rise to the United States, commemorating the nation’s 250th anniversary with 13 once-in-a-lifetime bottles from Brown-Forman’s historic portfolio.

The lot is comprised of 12 bottles of King of Kentucky from the highly anticipated 2026 release, paired with a donated, signed bottle of the original 2002 Old Forester Birthday Bourbon, forming a symbolic union of bourbons that is representative of how the 13 original colonies united under a single banner for a common cause.

“Just as the 13 colonies laid the foundation for a new nation, these 13 bottles represent the historic roots, evolution and enduring legacy of our nation’s native spirit,” said Andrew Varga, founder of the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction & Celebration. “This lot captures the spirit of the founding era, rare, resilient and crafted with careful intention.”​

​A Reflection of the Founding of America

The 12 bottles of King of Kentucky reflect unity through individuality, much like the original colonies themselves. Established in 1881 and revived by Brown-Forman in 2018, King of Kentucky offers a rare glimpse into the company’s historic barrel archives, with every bottle filled, wax-dipped, numbered and detailed by hand under the guidance of Master Distiller Chris Morris.

As an annual, limited small-batch release with no defined production volume, King of Kentucky mirrors the colonies’ shared purpose paired with distinct character. Each bottle, like each colony, tells its own story while contributing to a greater whole.

“As America marks its 250th anniversary, we’re honored to see these bottles included in the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction,” said Chris Morris, Master Distiller Emeritus from Brown-Forman Corporation. “The story of King of Kentucky and these individual bottles united by purpose, mirrors the founding principles of our nation, and we’re proud to be part of an event that celebrates bourbon heritage and honors such an important cause.”

Completing the 13-bottle collection is a singular piece of bourbon history, a signed bottle of Old Forester Birthday Bourbon 2002, the inaugural release of the storied annual series from Old Forester. Distilled in 1989 and bottled in 2002 to mark the birthday of founder George Garvin Brown, the bottle represents both a beginning and a benchmark in American whiskey.

Donated by Larry Profancik and Henrietta Pepper, the bottle is believed to be the only known example signed by George Garvin Brown IV, the founder’s great-great-grandson. With rich notes of dark chocolate, dried fruit, oak spice and aged depth, the 2002 release stands as a cornerstone of modern bourbon collecting. Its inclusion elevates “The 13 Colonies” from a rare assemblage to a historic statement.

Previously Announced Bourbon Lots

The Old Forester lot joins these previously announced lots:

• Elijah Craig Single Barrel experience at Heaven Hill Distillery
• Four Roses private selection barrel pick
• Old Forester Single Barrel, Barrel Strength selection experience

Proceeds from the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction & Celebration will benefit the Bob Woodruff Foundation, supporting veterans, service members and their families, and reinforcing the event’s commitment to honoring those who have defended the freedoms born from America’s revolution.

For updates, auction lot announcements and ticket information, visit www.KYBCA.com and follow the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and LinkedIn.

About the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction

The Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction and Celebration is a first-of-its-kind gathering honoring Kentucky’s bourbon legacy while giving back to the heroes who protect our nation. Founded in Louisville by Andrew Varga, a longtime spirits industry executive, the inaugural KBCA committee includes bourbon industry luminaries, authors and executives such as America’s CEO- Chief Entertaining Officer Tim Laird and Lori Laird, former PriceWeber VP, Executive Creative Director Larry Profancik and brand strategist Henrietta Pepper. KBCA unites distilleries, chefs and bourbon enthusiasts for three unforgettable days of tastings, events and philanthropy, all “for the greater great.”

Mars Komagatake 7 Year Old K&L Exclusive 1st Fill Ex-Bourbon Barrel #3740 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (700ml) $179.99 View

The wonderful Tsunuki distillery is truly a pilgrimage worth taking for any lover of great whisky. I’ve made the trek twice, and along with Kanosuke, it stands as one of the crown jewels of the recently anointed Kagoshima whisky trail. Visiting this historic property can be deceiving, as you might expect a new distillery to feel new, but it’s actually the longtime home base of Hombo Shuzo’s historic operations. The reception center is literally Hombo-san’s family home where he grew up, and the site also includes the old, now defunct grain stills that were crucial to the success of Hombo Shuzo’s shochu business. The beautiful property also features World War II era dunnage warehouses, where this special cask was aged. The selection of this barrel represents one of my favorite cask-picking experiences in nearly twenty years of doing this. After a beautiful tour with chief distilling manager and blender Tatsuro Kusano, we retired to an elegant tatami-adorned washitsu tucked behind the visitor center. There was an impressive lineup of casks waiting for us, and every single one was a joy to taste. We initially selected a beautiful medium-peated Komagatake, but the others were almost impossible to separate. After plenty of hemming and hawing, I mentioned to Kusano-san that many of our customers are obsessed with heavily peated, heavily sherried malts, a style we see less and less out of Scotland, and wondered if Tsunuki had ever gone in that direction. His eyes lit up, he raised a finger, and said, “I’ll be right back.” He sprinted across the campus to his blending room and returned with two samples dark as night. It felt like I’d spoken and the whisky gods had answered. The cask was everything we hoped for, a big, bold, unapologetic beast with deep barbecue intensity. Fittingly, Kusano-san is a huge fan of American-style barbecue, so if you ever visit the distillery, that’s the perfect omiyage. I just about started crying and was so honored and grateful that this generous colleague had gone the extra mile to find something so special for us. It’s not only these experiences that put Tsunuki at the top of my list, it’s the incredible whisky the continue to produce ever single day. We bought 2 more barrels this October and hopefully many more to come. The barrel rested for another year after selection and only grew more compelling over time. During bottling, the distillery even sent us a photo showing thick, opaque fatty oils suspended throughout the whisky and asked if we wanted it filtered. The answer was an emphatic no. Keep every bit of that cloudy magic. I won’t bother with a formal tasting note here, because if you haven’t already grabbed a bottle, you’ve probably already missed the boat. But if you love the great sherried beasts of Islay, this magical cask will absolutely knock you out for the count. David Othenin-Girard K&L Buyer

Mars Tsunuki 8 Year Old K&L Exclusive 1st Fill Sherry Cask #T326 Japanese Single Malt Whiskey (700ml) $189.99 View

Seeing an official release of an “infinity bottle” is still a fairly new concept in the bourbon world. The practice, much like a personal solera, involves a never-ending bottle or barrel that is partially emptied and then topped back up with new whiskey. The spirit is constantly evolving while always retaining some portion of the original liquid. Pour some out, top it off, lather, rinse, repeat. I have one at home, I started one at a former bar I lead that is still going strong eight or nine years later, and I encourage any whisk(e)y fan to try it as a fun experiment and a living ledger of your liquid legacy. Here we have the second edition of the legendary Noe family’s take on the concept. This blend brings together some of grandfather Booker’s bourbon, some of father Fred’s, and some of current master distiller Freddie’s. The combination differs from the first edition and offers a tasting of both the Noe family’s lineage and the history of the Jim Beam company in a single, stellar bottle. Blending young and mature whiskies can be tricky. Older liquid can overwhelm with woody tannins, while younger, brighter spirit can overpower the more rounded notes of age. This one comes together beautifully. It is deep, robust, and far spicier than expected, especially considering Booker’s typically high-corn mashbill. Cinnamon leads the nose, followed by dense wet oak, burnt caramel, stewed peaches, and a potpourri-like bouquet. On the palate, it moves gracefully between sweet and dry, opening with rich blackstrap molasses and dried plum before shifting into weathered mahogany and leather. The finish brings black cherry compote and dense barrel char, with baking spices weaving from start to finish. A small splash of water unlocks fresh roasted peanuts and blackberry jam, along with softer spices and a note of toasted pumpernickel, a welcome settling of the 120.4 proof. Overall, this is a dense, spicy, and complex bourbon that celebrates the infinite legacy of three generations from one of Kentucky’s most important bourbon families. David Othenin-Girard K&L Buyer

Email: wine@klwines.com
Phone: (877) KL-WINES (Toll Free 877.559.4637)
K&L Wine Merchants 3005 El Camino Real Redwood City, CA 94061 USA
San Francisco, Redwood City, Hollywood CA

Penderyn Distillery is a Welsh whisky producer located in the Beacons National Park. Established in 2000, Penderyn is known for its innovative single malt whiskies, crafted using a unique copper pot still and maturation process. The distillery uses a combination of ex-bourbon and Madeira casks, which contribute to its distinctive and complex flavour profiles. Penderyn’s name is derived from the village of Penderyn, reflecting its deep connection to Welsh heritage and its role in reviving whisky production in Wales.

SHOP ALL PENDERYN

The Whisky Shop Uncorked – Single Malt Scotch

You’ve heard of Spotify Wrapped, Apple Music Replay, and YouTube Year in Review, now get ready for The Whisky Shop Uncorked! The best selling Single Malt of 2025 was The Macallan 12 Year Old 110 Proof European Exclusive. Moving into the next year, our team of brilliant managers, industry experts, and whisky connoisseurs have put their heads together to make predictions for the rising stars of 2026. The below bottles began their ascent up the charts last year but we think that they’ll prove even more popular this year!

Enjoy!

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Free Next Day Delivery for 12 Months For just £14.95 you can enjoy free next day delivery on all your orders for a whole year! Geographic restrictions apply, see full T&Cs. Find out more ❯

The Good Dram Show – Episode 620 ‘Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery’

THE VIDEO

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be doing a comparative tasting of the old STR and Moscatel Finishes witht he new Moscatel and STR matured releases. It’s a fascinating tasting. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum Episode 620 – More Cask Required..! Filmed in The Study Nottingham

 Featuring

Filey Bay STR Cask Finish Batch 4 46%
Filey Bay STR Red Wine Cask 47.3%
Filey Bay Moscatel Cask Finish 46%
Filey Bay Moscatel Cask 47.3%
Filey Bay Special Release Porter Cask 50%
Filey Bay Sherry Reserve #6 46%

spiritofyorkshire.com