Mac-Talla unveils Cognac cask expression to mark 40 years of Fèis Ile

Islay single malt brand Mac-Talla has launched a limited edition Cognac cask-finished whisky to commemorate the 40th edition of Fèis Ìle.

Owned by Perth-based Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, Mac-Talla draws on four generations of Islay heritage, sourcing single malts matured exclusively from various distilleries on the island.

Created to mark the milestone edition of Islay’s renowned festival, the new expression combines the brand’s signature coastal peat smoke with a rich, fruit-forward influence from Cognac cask finishing. The whisky began its maturation in first-fill Bourbon barrels before undergoing a further two years in Cognac casks.

The resulting liquid offers a balance of tropical sweetness and gentle smoke, reflecting both Islay tradition and a more experimental cask approach.

Now in its 40th year, Fèis Ìle is one of Scotland’s most prominent whisky festivals. The 2026 edition will run from 22–31 May, featuring an extended 10-day programme of distillery open days, tastings, music and cultural events across the island.

Graeme Mackeddie, Production Director at Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers, said: “Fèis Ìle is a moment of real significance in the whisky calendar, and for its 40th anniversary, we wanted to create something that both honours Islay tradition and showcases a more progressive side of Mac-Talla. The Cognac cask finish brings a vibrant, fruit-led character that works beautifully alongside the whisky’s natural peat smoke and sweetness, resulting in a dram that is both distinctive and celebratory.”

Tasting notes: 

• Nose: sweet almond croissants with a hint of sweet orchard fruits
• Palate: Freshly baked pastries with poached pears, warm pineapples and toasted coconut. On the finish, there’s a hint of peat smoke and winter spices.
• Non-Chill Filtered, no added colour
• ABV: 52.4%
• RRP: £78

Mac-Talla Cognac Fèis Ile 2026 is exclusively available from May 14th across the UK and EU. https://mactallawhisky.com/stockists

ABOUT MSWD

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers (MSWD) is an independent, family-owned company based in Perth, Scotland. Rebranded in 2020, MSWD represents five generations of Morrison whisky heritage under one name, with a focus on single-malt production, brand development, blending, and bottling. Its flagship brands include Aberargie, Old Perth, Mac-Talla, Càrn Mòr and Bruadar.

Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers is solely owned and operated by one of Scotland’s oldest and most prominent whisky families, Jamie and Brian Morrison. There have been over five generations of the Morrison family involved in the whisky business, including grocers, brokers, blenders, bottlers and distillers, making them one of Scotland’s oldest whisky families.

Their heritage gives them access to a wide variety of unique casks from pedigree distilleries across Scotland. Their family’s values run through everything they do, and they proudly showcase them beneath each of their bottles, reiterating their commitment to Patience, Intuition and Integrity.

In every whisky they release, they are committed to continue to impart the knowledge that has been passed down from generations of family whisky makers. Our chairman’s great-grandfather, William Walker, one of the pre-eminent whisky brokers of his era, worked closely with various distilleries on the island, even advocating on behalf of the Islay whisky trade to American businesses on the repeal of US prohibition in 1933.

Walker grew very fond of Islay, where he eventually purchased a home, and played an integral part in developing transport, trade and marketing of the Island’s produce.  His philanthropic nature was deeply appreciated by Islay residents – with the Glasgow Islay Association (of which he was a life member and chairman) noting in 1934 “In the Island itself, he has closely identified himself with every cause worthy of support”.

In 1963 a chance lunchtime encounter at a Glasgow restaurant led to Stanley P Morrison, the son-in-law of William Walker, purchasing Islay’s oldest distillery — Bowmore (established in 1779) — that evening. Morrison Bowmore Distillers was created and emerged as a globally recognised brand of quality Single Malt Scotch

Whisky, producing a characterful spirit with some legendary bottlings. Morrison Bowmore Distillers was acquired by Suntory in 1994.

To find out more about Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers visit www.morrisondistillers.com or for MacTalla visit www.mactallawhisky.com

Thompson Bros.

Tullibardine 19 Years Old 2006

ABV: 52.5% 70 cL

Ichiro’s Malt Chichibu “The U.S. Edition 2025” Cask Strength Single Malt Japanese Whisky (700ml) $249.99 View

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

The Epicurean

Three Wood Edition

The Epicurean has always been the life of the party – versatile, charming and full of surprises.

Now, he’s showing off his most daring side yet with the new Three Wood Finish. This limited-edition Lowland Malt is matured in a trio of casks: Virgin Oak for bold spice, ex-Bourbon for smooth vanilla and honey, and Sherry for a rich, fruity depth.

The result? A lively, layered Whisky bursting with bright citrus, silky vanilla cream, and a gentle oak warmth.

Enjoy it neat, on the rocks, or in a cocktail. We don’t judge.

LEARN MORE

The Good Dram Show – Episode 630 ‘Alistair Walker Whisky’

Welcome to this week’s episode of the show in which I’ll be taking a look at the latest releases from Alistair Walker Whisky in his Infrequent Flyers range. The Good Dram Show with Chris Goodrum. Filmed in The Study Nottingham

Episode 630 The Allt-A-Bhannie Incident…!

Featuring

Infrequent Flyers Glen Keith 1993 (32 year old) 51.5%
Infrequent Flyers Mannochmore 2008 (17 year old) 50.4%
Infrequent Flyers Allt-A-Bhannie 2005 (20 year old) 59.1%
Infrequent Flyers Glenrothes 2009 (16 year old) 58.1%
Infrequent Flyers Glenrothes 2009 (16 year old) 58.1%
Infrequent Flyers Loch Lomond (Inchfad) 2016 (9 year old) 58.4%
alistairwalkerwhisky.com/products/

Glenmorangie The Thirty is a rare celebration of age and imagination

 — Distillery’s oldest core range whisky is a deep and compelling single malt —

Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky today releases the deep and compelling Glenmorangie The Thirty – now the oldest whisky in the Distillery’s core range. Nurtured to its best by imagination and skill, this spicy, berried single malt is a celebration of the art of cask finishing and long maturation. In stunning contrast to the Distillery’s signature style, The Thirty combines a parcel of rare whisky which has been long finished in Burgundy red wine casks with classic bourbon-cask matured Glenmorangie, for notes of dark fruits, cumin and clove.

For more than 180 years, Glenmorangie’s whisky creators have been relentlessly imaginative in their pursuit of excellence. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden MBE, they distil their spirit in uniquely tall stills to create Glenmorangie’s hallmark elegance. Their mission is to elevate their favourites and bring new possibilities to whisky. Aged to perfection, The Thirty is testament to their vision and expertise.

To build The Thirty’s character over three decades, Dr Bill draws on his unparallelled knowledge and expertise in wood finishing and cask selection. At this whisky’s heart is a parcel of rich, berried single malt, finished in Burgundy red wine casks for more than 15 years. Comprising two-thirds of the recipe, it reflects Dr Bill’s love of this French wine region – and his renowned experiments with Burgundy casks. Dr Bill balances the wine casks’ richness with another parcel of Glenmorangie wholly aged in classic bourbon barrels, to create a rich and spicy whisky with hints of the Distillery’s house style. The Thirty’s flavour profile is full of cherries, berries, cumin and clove, subtly threaded with more familiar notes of orange and peach.

Glenmorangie The Thirty is contained in a presentation box of rich, purple tones, which reflect the luxurious hues of Burgundy red wine. This colour is complemented by copper accents – a nod to the distillery’s uniquely tall stills – and hints of Glenmorangie’s signature orange.

Dr Bill said: “When time and the alchemy of whisky are brought together in exactly the right way, incredible single malts like Glenmorangie The Thirty are born. It takes three decades to nurture this whisky to its full potential – and we select only the casks which can stand the test of time. Showcasing a whisky long finished in Burgundy casks, The Thirty balances richer, fruity flavours with hints of our signature, elegant style. Unexpected aromas of raspberries and cherries lead into tastes of ripe peach and candied orange cut through by leather and spice. This single malt is our celebration of age and imagination, 30 years in the making.”

Glenmorangie The Thirty will be available to purchase from the end of March at glenmorangie.com, the Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain and Glenmorangie’s London Heathrow Boutique, with other markets launching throughout the year, RRP: £740/ €850.

https://www.glenmorangie.com/

Follow Glenmorangie on: Instagram and Facebook: @Glenmorangie

For exclusive access to new releases, news and events, join Glenmorangie’s community

RRP: €850

TASTING NOTES

Glenmorangie The Thirty is bottled at 43% ABV

Colour: Russet tones

Aroma:  Aromatic, deep and mysterious. Think chocolate truffles, honeycomb, cherry and raspberry, joined by baking bread, linseed oil and toffee apple. A splash of water releases more herbaceous top-notes of orange blossom, heather honey and hand-rolled tobacco.

Taste: A burst of fruits such as ripe peaches and apricot, honeydew melon, toffee apples, blackberries, and candied orange. Tannins are silky and well-integrated, mingling with hints of fudge, eucalyptus and leather.

Finish: Bold but mellow, revealing some gentle spices like aniseed, cumin and clove.

About Glenmorangie:

Glenmorangie’s whisky makers use endless imagination and five key ingredients – wood, water, barley, yeast and time – to dream up delicious single malt whiskies. They’ve been honing their craft for 180 years. They create a delicate and fruity spirit in unusually tall stills to allow for more taste and aroma. Led by Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden, this pioneering crew are on a mission to bring new flavours and possibilities to the world of single malt.

In 2025, Glenmorangie unveiled a new brand campaign, Once Upon a Time in Scotland, fronted by Harrison Ford. Taking the form of 12 episodes, the series explores Glenmorangie’s authentic truths, from its stunning Highland surroundings to the real people who create its complex and elegant whiskies.

About Glenmorangie’s whisky creators:

Glenmorangie’s Whisky Creation Team’s favourite phrase is “What if?”. And they are constantly challenging themselves to take whatever captures their imaginations and turn it into whisky – be that their memories of a favourite place (A Tale of Tokyo), the beguiling flavours of freshly brewed coffee (Glenmorangie Signet) and more.

At the helm of the team is Dr Bill Lumsden, Director of Whisky Creation, MBE. With a PhD in biochemistry and decades of experience, Dr Bill has all the skills needed to bring these ideas to life. Already, he has earned the admiration of his peers many times over. For instance, he has taken his place in the Icons of Whisky Hall of Fame. He has won the International Whisky Competition’s award for Master Distiller of the Year more times than anyone else. And he has been named Master Blender/Distiller of the Year by the International Spirits Challenge twice. In 2025, Dr Bill was made an MBE (Member of the British Empire) for services to the Scotch whisky industry. This prestigious British honour is awarded by His Majesty The King.

Working hand-in-hand with Dr Bill is Gillian Macdonald, The Glenmorangie Company’s Master Blender. Gillian combines art and science in her role, with her main responsibilities including the daily sensory analysis of the new-make spirit, core range recipes and the co-ordination of the Company’s sensory panel. Both Bill and Gillian manage the new whisky creation for Glenmorangie which involves nosing hundreds of casks a year for final recipe selection.

The art of creating aged whiskies such as The Thirty:

It takes experience, skill and perseverance to recognise which casks of whisky will benefit from a particularly long maturation. In the case of Glenmorangie The Thirty, this involves building character over time with techniques such as wood finishing, as well as marrying different casks together before bottling, to create a balanced flavour profile.

Responsible Drinking:

The Glenmorangie Company advocates responsible drinking and suggests that drinkers savour Glenmorangie whiskies in moderation and in line with recommended daily guidelines for alcohol consumption.

Ruth Mulcare

Over Three Distinguished Decades
of Single Malt Mastery!

Rounding out our celebration of Women’s History Month for 2026, today we shine our Spotlight on Dr. Rachel Barrie who, since 2017, has presided as Master Blender for the Brown-Forman portfolio, which includes three prestigious and distinctly different brands. In a profession that has historically been, and remains, male dominant, she has distinguished herself through her ever-ascendant, 30+ year career in Scotch whisky research, development and production.

From the luscious fruit-forward flavors of Benriach in the heart of Speyside, to the coastal influence of Glenglassauch in Sandend Bay, to the sherry cask mastery of The  GlenDronach in the valley of Forgue, each of these distillery’s location uniquely influences its resulting spirits. With each of these, Dr. Barrie’s mission is to continue to develop outstanding single malt whiskies that reflect those unique attributes while also leveraging the immense creative potential afforded her by Brown-Forman’s extensive resources and reach, which notably includes a huge diversity of cask profiles to incorporate in aging and blending.

We are excited to have on hand an extensive collection reflective of Dr. Barrie’s mastery and invite you to explore them, grab a bottle or two, and raise a dram to this distinctly talented woman.

Cheers!

2200 Fillmore St.
SF, CA 94115
415.346.1325

www.dandm.com

We invite you to explore a curated selection of distinguished single malt whiskies available at The Macallan Online Boutique.

Discover a range of exceptional expressions – the robust flavour of Sherry Oak 18 Years Old, the balanced sweetness of Double Cask 18 Years Old or explore The Macallan Harmony Collection, a limited annual release series that has been inspired by our deep-rooted connection to the natural world.

Each expression is a celebration of character, craft and mastery.

EXPLORE

Gavin D Smith on Coleburn & Dallas Dhu

These two long-silent Speyside distilleries were the topic of a blog post written for us a little while ago now by Gavin D Smith. Born in the whisky boom of the 1890s and shuttered during the 1980s’ supply glut, both Coleburn and Dallas Dhu are now being carefully restored. From Victorian pot stills to plans for innovative visitor centres, these revivals are ones to watch.

📖 Read the Post

ralfy review 1123 Extras – How to peat-up a tired old peat geriatric.