If you have been following us for a while, you will know how much has gone into getting our distillery to this point — two years of construction and a 200-year-old building that demanded nothing but the very best. But once the distillery was built, the next challenge was commissioning our copper pot stills!

Martin, and the team, have worked tirelessly over the past weeks, running through final checks, and making sure every single piece of equipment was performing exactly as it should.

And then — it happened. The first distillations ran at Stannergill Distillery. New make spirit, born in Caithness, made from local barley and pure Highland water. We cannot quite put into words what it felt like to watch that spirit flow for the first time. Years of dreaming, planning, and building — and there it was.

Fancy your own cask?

We are very excited now to be welcoming all of our Cask Owners to come along to fill their cask! If you would like to be part of the excitement with your very own cask then please get in touch for details or find out more on our website.

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Why You Should Try a Blind Whisky Tasting

Picture this: it’s just you and the liquid. No labels, age statements, flavour notes or price tag. That’s why our teachers and contributing experts love blind tastings. They strip away expectations and let you experience every dram for what it really is. You might even discover a new favourite you’d never have picked off the shelf.

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Loch Lomond Whiskies Raises £14,230 for The R&A Foundation Through Golden Ticket Campaign

Loch Lomond Whiskies, The Spirit of The Open, has raised £14,230 for The R&A Foundation through its Golden Ticket campaign, following a hugely successful activation across The 154th Open and the AIG Women’s Open.

A total of 1,423 Golden Tickets were purchased by golf fans across the two championships, with 100% of the £10 ticket price donated to The R&A Foundation, helping to support its work to deliver positive impact for golf and through golf.

The funds raised will contribute to The R&A Foundation’s work to improve lives and strengthen communities through the game, supporting initiatives that make golf more accessible, improve wellbeing and create opportunities for aspiring talent around the world.

The Golden Ticket activation launched at The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale before continuing at the AIG Women’s Open at Royal Lytham & St Annes, giving spectators the opportunity to support The R&A Foundation while entering a draw to win one of Loch Lomond Whiskies’ rarest releases. Tickets were available exclusively to spectators at the two championships, with all proceeds donated to The R&A Foundation.

Following the conclusion of the campaign, Andrew from Liverpool was selected as the lucky winner, taking home one of only 100 bottles worldwide of Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old single malt whisky, valued at £25,000. With both

championships staged in the North West, it was a fitting end to the campaign to see the prize won by someone from the local region.

The Loch Lomond 50-Year-Old was distilled using Loch Lomond Distillery’s distinctive Straight Neck Stills and matured for half a century. One of just 100 individually numbered bottles released worldwide, it was matured in first-fill Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks.

Andrew Jack, Group Marketing Director at Loch Lomond Group, said: “We have been delighted by the response to The Golden Ticket and the generosity shown by golf fans across both The Open and AIG Women’s Open. Selling 1,423 tickets and raising £14,230 for The R&A Foundation is a fantastic result and demonstrates what can be achieved when we bring together our passion for whisky with our long-standing commitment to golf.

“As The Spirit of The Open, we wanted The Golden Ticket to add something special to the spectator experience while making a positive contribution to the future of the game. We’re incredibly proud that the funds raised will support The R&A Foundation’s important work, helping to create opportunities and make a lasting difference through golf.”

The Golden Ticket campaign builds on Loch Lomond Whiskies’ long-standing relationship with golf and its partnership with The R&A, bringing together its whisky-making heritage with its commitment to supporting the game and its communities.

Following the conclusion of the campaign, all entries were uploaded to an independent third-party random draw platform using unique order reference numbers. One winner and five reserve winners were selected using a computer-generated random draw, ensuring the process was fair, transparent and based entirely on chance, with all eligible entries having an equal opportunity to be selected. The selected order reference numbers were then matched to customer records to identify the winner and reserve winners.  

About Loch Lomond Whiskies

Loch Lomond Whiskies is an award-winning, independent Scotch whisky distiller which has been producing the finest single malt whiskies since 1814.  As a Highland malt, it is part of the largest and most diverse whisky-making region in Scotland.

The original site of the Loch Lomond Distillery was established near Tarbert, towards the northwest end of Loch Lomond. In the 1960s, under the leadership of American entrepreneur and chemist, Duncan Scott (who was instrumental in the ongoing success of Scotland’s oldest licensed distillery, Littlemill), a new site was created in Alexandria, which began a move to a more innovative philosophy and style of whisky-making that is still used today.

Located only a few miles from the famous loch, the distillery has a whisky-making capability like no other, using a combination of traditional swan-neck and its signature straight-neck-stills, which are unique to Loch Lomond Whiskies.

The straight-neck stills give Master Blender Michael Henry greater control over the distillation process, allowing him to carefully manipulate the flavour profile of each whisky, and providing a signature fruit, honey and soft smoke flavour profile.

Loch Lomond Whiskies is one of only four distillers in Scotland to have its own onsite cooperage, ensuring that barrel repairs and charring are carried out to an exacting standard, so every cask is perfect for maturing whisky.

The distillery’s multi-award-winning range includes Loch Lomond Original; Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmoan 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond Inchmurrin 12 Year Old; Loch Lomond 18 Year Old; Loch Lomond 21 Year Old and Loch Lomond 30 Year Old, as well as Loch Lomond Single Grain (peated and unpeated) and the deluxe blend Loch Lomond Signature.

In 2023, it was recognised as the ‘Most Awarded Distillery’ at the globally renowned San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023, achieving multiple Double Gold and Gold Awards for its collection of malt whisky brands.

Last year, Loch Lomond 18 Year Old was revealed as The Whisky Exchange’s coveted ‘Whisky of the Year 2024’, achieving superior scores from the judging panel for its full-bodied and fruity character.

Loch Lomond Whiskies was also named among Drinks International’s ‘The World’s Most Admired Whiskies 2025’, where it was noted as one of the most capable distilleries in Scotland.

A Place in Our Story

Laggan Bay is more than a new Islay distillery. It’s the beginning of a legacy. A limited number of cask ownership opportunities remain, giving you the chance to become one of the founding supporters of Laggan Bay from the very beginning.

Hear from fellow cask owners who have already begun their journey and share in the excitement of seeing their cask filled for the very first time, the moment their own Laggan Bay story began.

What You’ll Receive as a Founder

As a cask owner, you’ll have the rare opportunity to follow your whisky’s journey from new make spirit to mature Islay whisky, while enjoying exclusive experiences and privileges unavailable to the public.

Your Name on Our Founders Board

Become a permanent part of Laggan Bay’s history with your name proudly displayed on the distillery’s Founders Board.

Privileges Across Our Family of Brands

Enjoy special offers and exclusive opportunities on releases from Glengoyne, Tamdhu, Rosebank and Edinburgh Gin, alongside access to selected distillery visits and experiences.

Witness Your Cask’s Beginning

Join us at Laggan Bay and experience the filling of your cask first-hand. Taste the new make spirit, see the moment your cask is filled, and be there from the very start of its story.

Exclusive Distillery Access

Enjoy access to Laggan Bay before the distillery opens to the public, giving you a behind-the-scenes look at Islay’s newest whisky distillery.

Invitations to Exclusive Founder Events

Receive invitations to a calendar of exclusive cask owner experiences at Laggan Bay and across the Ian Macleod Distillers family, including special events, unique tastings and behind-the-scenes access at iconic destinations such as Rosebank Distillery.

A Rare Opportunity

There will only ever be one group of founders. By securing a cask today, you’ll be part of the story from the very beginning, joining a community of whisky enthusiasts helping shape the future of Laggan Bay.We look forward to welcoming you to Islay and sharing this journey together.

SECURE YOUR CASK

Glenegedale, Isle of Islay, PA42 7AS

After more than a decade of distilling, the Isle of Harris Distillery has launched a new core expression encapsulating the Island’s Hebridean spirit. The Isle of Harris single malt, priced at £50, is made to be enjoyed by both seasoned whisky drinkers, and those who are entirely new to the whisky world. The malt offers an intentionally approachable flavour profile, encouraging owners to extend some of that island hospitality with your nearest and dearest through sharing a dram, or cocktail*.

Tasting notes from Shona Macleod, distillery blender at Isle of Harris: “On the nose, there is an immediate warmth: butterscotch and iced cherry Bakewell tart, like a pastry shop on a cold morning. As it opens, brighter fruit and delicate floral notes appear, with a gentle hint of spice. The palate brings rich, buttery caramels and sweet cloves and ginger balanced by the dry, flinty character that’s so typical of Isle of Harris spirit. The finish is light and creamy, with a soft echo of Outer Hebridean peat smoke.”

Explore the new single malt
£50

In 2015, the distillery was founded with the overarching aim of providing multi-generational local employment and creating a catalyst for positive change for the island community. Since then, the distillery has produced arguably one of the most recognisable Scottish gins over the last decade, and their more recent Hearach single malt, which has earned over 25 rewards since its initial release.

Every aspect of the distillery’s products are deliberate – from the iconic bottle design inspired by the cross-hatched lines of the island’s famous handwoven Harris Tweed, to the copper flecks in the bottle’s label, a nod to the copper stills used at the distillery. We can guarantee you’ll feel connected to the Outer Hebrides through every drop poured.

North British 33 Year Old

1991 Vintage · 70cl · 41% ABV

This remarkable expression from the North British Distillery was distilled in 1991 and matured for over three decades bourbon oak. Soft yet complex in character, this Scotch is a prime example of what a long aged single grain can achieve; notes of pear and golden apple weave through a smooth, pastry-sweet centre.

£79.95

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Fragrant Drops is a range of independently bottled Scotch Whiskies and other ambrosial libations, brought to you by George & Rachel of Keeble Cask Company Ltd.​ Based in Leith, Fragrant Drops source casks from across Scotland and beyond, sometimes finish them and eventually bottle them when they’re ready for you to enjoy.

Why Does This Whisky Taste Like That?

Peat is responsible for some of Scotch whisky’s most distinctive flavours. But if two whiskies are both heavily peated (Ardbeg 🤝 Laphroaig), how come they can taste completely different? This post explores how peat influences flavour and why peaty whiskies can have remarkably different personalities.

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Springbank 12 Cask Strength 56.6% 2026

The REVIEW

There isn’t much else to say, is there. Somehow I was able to get hold of this bottle for the first time in my life. I felt so honoured to have it that it only felt right to share it with other people at a tasting I ran in Manchester, and as you’d expect, it went down a storm. As a believer in the ‘bourbon casks are best’ policy when it comes to ageing spirits, I was so happy that this release was also 100% ex-bourbon cask matured. I wanted to taste that oily, funky, unusual thing that has made Springbank so famous all over the world, whilst getting the nuances of the style, too. No heavy fortified wines or sweet rums clouding that possibility. I love all casks, but this was a special experience. A marvellous whisky with a lot of potent presence and an almost cleansing level of spiciness.

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ARBIKIE UNVEILS FIRST-EVER SINGLE ESTATE SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKY

The Signature becomes the inaugural release in Arbikie’s much-anticipated single malt programme, marking a defining milestone for the independent Scottish farm distillery.

ANGUS, SCOTLAND – September 2026: Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery, the independent Scottish farm distillery, has launched The Signature, its first-ever Single Estate Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The release marks a defining moment for the family-owned business and for the small team behind it, bringing together more than a decade of whisky making and four centuries of family farming. Launching on the 7^th September 2026, the anniversary of Arbikie’s first ever cask being filled, The Signature lays the foundation for the distillery’s next chapter as the inaugural expression in its long-term single malt programme.

Produced from Odyssey barley grown on the Arbikie Estate in Angus, The Signature was grown, distilled, matured and bottled entirely on the family-owned farm. Matured for ten years in six bourbon casks and bottled at 48% ABV, only 1,000 bottles have been released worldwide, priced at £250 each.

Every stage of production took place on the Arbikie Estate, from barley grown in the family’s coastal fields to cask maturation in the estate’s former dairy warehouses. The result is a single malt shaped entirely by one place and by the people who know it best. The Signature opens with aromas of ripe peach, banana bread and lemon sherbet, leading to notes of brioche, apricot marmalade and citrus, before a finish of creamy vanilla, orange blossom and lingering spice.

“The Signature represents everything our team has been working towards since we filled our first casks ten years ago,” said Iain Stirling, Co-Founder of Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery. “It is our first Single Estate Single Malt Scotch Whisky, but more importantly it demonstrates what can be achieved when every decision, from the barley we grow to the casks we fill, happens on the same estate.

“We have never been interested in releasing a single malt simply because the market expected it. We wanted our first whisky to reflect our farm, our family, our philosophy and the dedication of everyone who has helped nurture it from field to bottle. After ten years of patience, we believe The Signature does exactly that.”

The launch builds on Arbikie’s growing international reputation for premium spirits, sustainability and single-estate distilling. The family-owned distillery is a certified B Corp and was named global Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the Icons of Whisky 2026.

The Signature marks the beginning of Arbikie’s Single Estate Single Malt collection, with future releases planned to explore the whisky’s evolution through age, cask character and the distillery’s field-to-bottle approach. Further details on forthcoming limited releases will be announced separately.

The Signature is available from the 7^th September 2026 at www.thearbikie.com and through Arbikie’s worldwide trade partners.

About Arbikie Distillery:

Arbikie Distillery is an independent, family-owned farm distillery on the Angus coast. Built around a field-to-bottle approach, Arbikie grows key ingredients on the estate and distils, matures and bottles its spirits on site. The distillery is a certified B Corp and was named global Sustainable Distillery of the Year at the Icons of Whisky 2026. Its customers include many of the world’s best resorts, hotels, bars, restaurants and retailers including Aman Resorts, Noma, Jean Georges, Fat Duck, Roka, Hilton, Marriott, Four Seasons, Wholefoods, Harrods, Atlas and the Connaught.www.thearbikie.com

About The Signature:

The Signature is Arbikie Highland Estate Distillery’s inaugural Single Estate Single Malt Scotch Whisky, crafted entirely from Odyssey barley grown on the family’s Angus estate. Distilled in 2016 and matured for ten years in first-fill bourbon casks, it is bottled at 48% ABV.

Nose: Ripe peach, banana bread and lemon sherbet.
Palate: Brioche, apricot marmalade and citrus.
Finish: Creamy vanilla, orange blossom and lingering spice.
RRP: £250
ABV: 48%
Availability: Limited to 1,000 bottles worldwide. Available from 7 September 2026.

Scottish oak and Glengoyne is the perfect match, let us tell you why

Known for their rounded, balanced and naturally fruity character – Glengoyne whisky provides a perfect canvas for Scottish oak which enhances and refines the spirit bringing a drier edge to the signature fruity liquid.  This 17 year old from Glengoyne is the fourth in their acclaimed Oak Masters’ Series, where they explore the world for outstanding virgin oak casks, and for this expression they haven’t had to look very far! The Scottish oak used in the maturation process was sustainably grown and harvested in Killearn, only 5 miles from the distillery – the rare wood is rich in natural tannin and provides structure to the whisky.

Any avid whisky drinkers will be used to seeing whisky matured in American or European wood casks, but maturing in Scottish oak is rare! Our trees grow slowly and with lots of twists, making them tough to turn into casks – but Glengoyne have persevered. Harnessing the natural resources Scotland has to offer, making this release all the more special. On the nose, you’ll find aromas of heather honey, stewed pear and oaty porridge. This opens into a full and beautifully balanced palate, with notes of toasted oak and fresh fruit, followed by a warming spice of ginger and nutmeg. The finish is long, gentle and nutty, with delicate tannins coming through alongside a lingering sweetness and subtle spice.

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