John Grant Awarded An OBE

Our Chairman, John Grant, has been awarded an OBE in the King’s Birthday Honours List, in recognition of his services to the Scotch whisky industry and to charity.

John has devoted more than 50 years to the industry and has been pivotal to the success of Glenfarclas. He is the fifth generation of the Grant family to run and manage Glenfarclas, one of Scotland’s few remaining independent, family owned distilleries.

As we celebrate 190 years of Glenfarclas this year, it feels especially fitting to recognise John’s lasting contribution to the business and to the wider industry.

Glenfarclas Glenfarclas Distillery Ballindalloch Banffshire, AB37 9BD United Kingdom

This festival season we’re asking the question: Are you into flavour or regionality? Earlier this week, we focused on the regionality side of the debate. Today we’re talking about all things flavour.

One of the benefits of navigating whisky by flavour is that it’s based on your own experience and that experience doesn’t necessarily need to include whisky. It’s in the foods you’ve grown up with, the new dishes you’ve tried while travelling, or scents that are entirely more universal such as flowers in bloom, freshly cut grass or woodsmoke.

Our eight flavour profiles are designed to help you navigate the wide world of whisky the Society offers – whether it’s a new and unfamiliar cask type or a distillery you haven’t tried. And even if you prefer regionality, there’s nothing make you choose one over the other.  In fact, you might even use both!

Explore the lens of flavour through our festival picks below…

READ ABOUT THE REGIONS

WATCH THE VIDEO

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

Are you into flavour or regionality? That’s the question we’re asking this festival season. So why might you favour regionality? Scotland has five whisky-producing regions. We feature them on our bottles. Some of you ask for whisky from them in our Members’ Rooms and festivals. But that’s a very simple way of touching on a very big debate.

In actuality, the debate about regions and their place in Scotch whisky can throw up some very big questions – especially as distilleries produce different styles of whisky that might not match broader regional brushstrokes. It’s a question Tom Bruce-Gardyne, delves into in this month’s Unfiltered. Watch our video, read the story and come back for more as we  explore the flavour side of this question later this week.

Explore the regions via our festival picks below.

READ THE STORY

WATCH THE VIDEO

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

Heaven’s Door 12 Year Old “Bootleg: Volume VI” Limousin Cigar Barrel Finished Straight Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey

$475.00

Heaven’s Door Bootleg Series Volume VI is the kind of whiskey release that could easily coast on the name attached to it, but this one has the specs to justify the attention. The sixth edition in Bob Dylan’s ultra-limited Bootleg Series is a blend of 12, 13, and 14 year old wheated bourbons, finished in Limousin oak “cigar” barrels, the tall, narrow casks prized for increased whiskey-to-wood interaction and a more assertive finishing impact. The result is a fascinating marriage of mature Kentucky bourbon depth and French oak refinement, with the naturally softer, sweeter profile of wheated bourbon given extra dimension from spice, dried fruit, polished oak, and a firm, elegant structure. As with previous Bootleg editions, the presentation is inseparable from the whiskey itself. Volume VI is housed in a ceramic bottle featuring Dylan’s Favela Villa Candido from his Brazil Series, making this as much a collector’s object as it is a serious bottle of bourbon. Fewer than 5,000 bottles were released worldwide, and while celebrity-backed spirits often deserve skepticism, Heaven’s Door continues to show that this is no vanity label. This is mature, carefully composed American whiskey with genuine ambition, impressive age, and a finish that adds complexity without overwhelming the bourbon beneath. A rare and compelling bottle for collectors, Dylan devotees, and serious bourbon drinkers alike.

This product is estimated to be available for delivery or pickup within 7 business days after your order is placed.

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

Mortlach
34 Year Old · 1989 Vintage
70cl · 40.1% ABV

£649.95

Distilled in 1989 and finished in Pedro Ximénez sherry octaves, this 34-year-old Mortlach balances richness and structure with remarkable finesse. Barley sugars and beeswax evolve into creamy fudge, dried apricot and fruity oak, while the PX octave finish adds luxurious depth. Orange peel and toasted malt linger gracefully on the finish.

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Mortlach was founded in 1823 on the site of a former illicit distillery, becoming the first legal distillery in Dufftown long before the town was known as the whisky capital of Speyside. Its history is closely tied to George Cowie and later Dr Alexander Cowie, who helped shape the modern distillery, and by 1897 Mortlach had expanded from three stills to six and gained its own railway siding.

To mark World Bee Day (sorry, we missed this date but felt this was important enough to be shared regardless of the date ~ WI), we have welcomed 15,000 Carniolan honey bees to new hives beside our wetlands, where they are settling into life at the distillery.

Installed with our partners PlanBee, the upgraded hives are designed to better protect the colonies through the seasons, offering improved insulation and a more resilient home. As summer unfolds, each colony will grow to around 50,000 bees, quietly supporting biodiversity across our grounds.

In the film above, PlanBee’s Principal Beekeeper, Jodie Harrison, shares a glimpse into life inside the Glengoyne hives and the careful balance that allows them to thrive.

Read more about our bees and our partnership with PlanBee.

READ MORE

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 BORDERS DISTILLERY APPOINTS GIANCARLO BIANCHI AS MANAGING DIRECTOR

Hawick distillery strengthens leadership team to drive next phase of growth and international expansion

The Borders Distillery has announced the appointment of Giancarlo Bianchi as its new Managing Director,  marking an important new chapter for the Scotch whisky producer, as it continues to scale its domestic and international presence.

Giancarlo brings more than 15 years of commercial and strategic leadership experience within premium spirits SMEs. Most recently at Penderyn Distillery in Wales, he progressed from operational and technical management into senior commercial leadership, developed international growth strategies, opened new export markets, and delivered sustained revenue expansion.

Giancarlo will take up his position with effect from 1 st April 2026.

Commenting on his appointment, Giancarlo said:

“It’s a privilege to be joining The Borders Distillery at such an exciting time in its journey. The business already has strong foundations, from production capability to brand authenticity, and there’s significant potential for growth both in the UK and internationally. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on that platform, strengthen our presence in key markets and drive the brand in a sustainable way, ensuring that whisky production becomes a landmark industry in this ancient and historic region.”

His appointment comes at a pivotal moment for The Borders Distillery; established in Hawick in 2018, the distillery has brought the craft of Scotch whisky making back to the Scottish Borders for the first time since 1837 and is currently gearing up to launch its first single malt Scotch.

Harvinder Hungin, Chairman at The Borders Distillery, added:

“Giancarlo’s combination of operational and commercial understanding together with international distribution makes him ideally placed to lead the next phase of our development. His proven ability to transform production led operations and grow branded sales aligns perfectly with our ambitions.” 

For more information on The Borders Distillery, visit www.thebordersdistillery.com

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About The Borders Distillery:

Located in Hawick in the Scottish Borders and opened in March 2018, The Borders Distillery revived Scotch Whisky distilling in an ancient and historic region, where Scotch Whisky was last made in 1837. Hawick is renowned for its world class tweed and cashmere industries. Using locally grown barley, mineral rich water and a dedicated team of young, local talent, The Borders Distillery has been quietly laying down stocks with a view to launching its Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The Borders Distillery Limited, Commercial Rd, Hawick, Scotland. TD9 7AQ

Compass Box “The Spice Tree/The Story of the Spaniard” Combo Pack Blended Malt Scotch Whisky