ARDBEG APPOINTS ITS FIRST FEMALE DISTILLERY MANAGER IN MODERN ERA

 < Bryony McNiven follows in the footsteps of historic sisters who ran Ardbeg almost 200 years ago >

Ardbeg’s very own Bryony McNiven is to become the Islay malt whisky’s next Distillery Manager – the first woman in the modern age to take command of the stills. An Islay native and the daughter of an Ardbeg stillman, Bryony follows in the footsteps of two legendary sisters who led the Distillery nearly 200 years ago. Having dedicated her entire career to Ardbeg, Bryony has a unique skillset and an unrivalled knowledge of the world’s smokiest, peatiest Islay malt whisky. She is the perfect peathead to lead Ardbeg’s production from 1^st January 2026.

Established in 1815 on the remote Scottish island of Islay by John Macdougall, Ardbeg has always had a pioneering spirit. By 1853, the Distillery was being run by John’s relations, sisters Margaret and Flora Macdougall, widely believed to be Scotland’s first female distillers. Bryony’s appointment makes her the Distillery’s first in recent times. Meanwhile, in keeping with its trailblazing approach, this month the brand opened Ardbeg House – the first world-class whisky and hospitality experience on the island, dedicated to Ardbeg.

For Bryony, Ardbeg is not just a whisky, but a way of life. She grew up down the road from the Distillery, where her father Ruaraidh MacIntyre was a mainstay of the production team for 35 years before retiring. So before she began studying chemistry at Glasgow University, it seemed only natural that Bryony should take a summer job at Ardbeg. That evolved into a stint as an Ardbeg brand ambassador in Sweden, before six years in Ardbeg’s Whisky Creation Team in Edinburgh alongside Director of Whisky Creation Dr Bill Lumsden and Master Blender Gillian Macdonald.

Bryony returned to Islay in 2018 as Ardbeg’s Visitor Centre Planner, where she has been responsible for organising tours and sharing drams with guests – as well as sitting on the Distillery’s all-important sensory panel which shapes future Ardbeg whiskies. Steeped in the world of Ardbeg, Bryony was the obvious choice to become co-chair of the brand’s loyal following, the Committee, alongside Gillian earlier this year. And, when applications for the role of Distillery Manager came flooding in, Bryony was the standout choice.

Ardbeg President and CEO Caspar MacRae said: “I can’t think of anyone better than Bryony to take on the role of Ardbeg Distillery Manager – surely the peatiest position in single malt. Not only is Bryony an extraordinarily talented whisky expert and a passionate Ardbeggian, but she knows our brand better than almost anyone on the planet. I look forward to working closely with Bryony as we forge a fabulously smoky future for Ardbeg!”

Bryony, who takes over from outgoing Distillery Manager Colin Gordon in the new year, said: “Ardbeg has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’m thrilled to be taking the reins at a Distillery which means so much to me and my family. Not only have I got some incredible female role models behind me in Flora and Margaret Macdougall, but I also have a fabulous team to work with. We are already hatching smoky schemes to bring even more exceptional Ardbegs to our fans. Watch this space…”

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Ardbeg

Ardbeg prides itself on being The Ultimate Islay Malt Whisky. Established in 1815, Ardbeg is revered by connoisseurs around the world as the peatiest, smokiest and most complex of all the Islay malts. Despite its smokiness, Ardbeg is renowned for its delicious sweetness, a phenomenon that has affectionately become known as ‘the peaty paradox’. During the 1980s and 1990s, Ardbeg suffered from an uncertain future, and it was not until the brand was purchased by The Glenmorangie Company in 1997 that the Distillery was saved from extinction. Since then, the Distillery has risen like a phoenix and today Ardbeg is well-established as a niche, cult malt, with a passionate following. Today, Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies. 

The Ardbeg Committee

The legacy of the whisky was safeguarded in 2000 by the formation of the Ardbeg Committee.  The Committee is made up of thousands of Ardbeg followers worldwide who are keen to ensure that “the doors of Ardbeg never close again”. Today there are more than 200,000 members of the Ardbeg Committee in over 140 countries.  Committee Members are regularly consulted on new bottlings and expressions and are offered exclusive Committee bottlings. Members also receive invitations to special gatherings, tastings and events. The Committee, chaired by Bryony McNiven and Gillian Macdonald, is free to join at ardbeg.com.

Ardbeg House

Ardbeg House is a world-class whisky and hospitality experience on Islay, which offers the island’s visitors an extraordinary opportunity to eat, sleep and drink Ardbeg. Situated in the bustling town of Port Ellen, this 12-bedroom boutique hotel blends the ultimate in Scottish hospitality with the flavours and legends of Ardbeg’s island world. Visitors and locals are welcomed to enjoy the best of Scottish food and drink at the House’s Signature restaurant and the Islay Bar, including exclusive Ardbeg drams.

To book, go to www.ardbeg.com

Awards

Ardbeg is one of the world’s most highly awarded smoky single malt whiskies.  Since 2008, Ardbeg has won more than 50 gold and double gold medals in key whisky competitions.  Ardbeg has twice been awarded ‘World’s Best Single Malt’ at the World Whiskies Awards (2010, 2013).  At the 2014 Global Icons of Whisky Awards, then Distillery Manager Mickey Heads was voted ‘Distillery Manager of the Year’.  The following year, Ardbeg’s expressions took the top three spots in Whisky Advocate magazine’s review of the best single malt Scotch whiskies under US$100.  Meanwhile, both Ardbeg Corryvreckan and Ardbeg Uigeadail have been awarded gold medals at the 2016 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg Ten Years Old also won the Best Single Malt Scotch 10 Year Old at the International Whisky Competition 2019, while the Ardbeg Distillery won the Distillery of the Year 2019. In 2020, the International Whisky Competition awarded Ardbeg Corryvreckan first place for Best Single Malt Scotch, Best Single Malt Scotch (No Age Statement), Best cask Strength (Over 57% ABV), Best Peated Scotch and Best Islay Single Malt. Ardbeg Wee Beastie also earned first place for Best Single Malt Scotch Under 10 Year Old and The Ardbeg Distillery achieved another Distillery of the Year award. In 2021, Dr Bill Lumsden was awarded Master Distiller of the Year for the fifth time, and Ardbeg Uigeadail won World Whisky of the Year in the International Whisky Competition. In 2022, at the International Whisky Competition, Ardbeg was awarded The Distillery of the Year Award, while Ardbeg Ardcore won first place in Best New Scotch Release, Best Peated Single Malt and Best Islay Single Malt. In 2023, Ardbeg was awarded four Gold and eight Silver medals at the International Spirits Competition, Silver in the International Wine & Spirits Competition and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Ardbeg 25 Years Old was named the World’s Best Scotch Whisky at the 2023 New York Wine Spirits Competition, and received a Platinum medal at the 2024 San Francisco World Spirits Competition. 

The Glenmorangie Company:

The Company is one of the most renowned and innovative distillers and marketers of Scotch whisky brands worldwide and is part of Moët Hennessy, the wine and spirits division of Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton. Headquartered in Edinburgh, Scotland, the Company produces Glenmorangie Single Highland Malt whisky and Ardbeg Single Islay Malt.

Responsible Drinking:

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

The Joker: The Crown of Ichiro’s Famous Playing Cards Series

Only at Iron Gate Auctions in Canada.  November 3-10, 2025.

The Joker whisky, crafted by the now silent Hanyu Distillery, is celebrated as the pinnacle of the legendary Ichiro’s Malt Playing Cards Series. This limited collection, conceived by Ichiro Akuto—the grandson of the distillery’s founder—has become a cult favourite among whisky enthusiasts and collectors alike.

Hanyu Distillery, located in Saitama Prefecture, Japan, was established in the 1940s, blending traditional Scottish whisky-making techniques with Japanese innovation. Though the distillery closed its doors in 2000, Ichiro Akuto salvaged remaining casks, ensuring Hanyu’s legacy would endure through exceptional bottlings like those found in the Playing Cards Series.

Ichiro’s Playing Cards Series is a collector’s dream.  Beginning in 2005, Ichiro Akuto released a series of single malt whiskies, each representing a playing card in a standard deck. The playing card theme chosen for its universal visual appeal and ease to order a dram at the bar.  Bottled from rare Hanyu casks, the series features various ages, cask types, and flavour profiles from the Ace to King in four suits, plus two Jokers.

The Joker: The Final Card

The Joker whisky, released in 2014, marks the grand finale of the series. Two versions were produced: a coloured label and a monochrome label. The coloured Joker is a vatting of multiple casks, offering a complex nose of dark fruits, spice, and oak, while the monochrome Joker is a single cask bottling, noted for its intensity and depth.

Iron Gate’s November Spirits auction will feature the coloured label of the Joker release.  Bottle #2947 or 3690.  57.7% ABV. Distillations between the 1985 and 2000, the last year the distillery operated.

Own the history of Japanese whisky: Innovative, artisanal, and deeply connected to heritage—a final flourish in Ichiro Akuto’s remarkable playing cards legacy.

Auction starts November 3, 2025.

Register here 

Contact for more Information:

Ajay Bhardwaj, Director Spirits, Iron Gate Auctions
www.irongateauctions.com
Email: ajay@irongate.wine

Happy Samhain From Lady of the Glen!

Our Quarter 3 releases, The Samhain Series, are now available in shops. The series celebrates Scotland’s rich folklore and eerie mythology, coinciding with the ancient Celtic festival of Samhain, the precursor to modern-day Halloween.

There’s a great event involving our latest releases at The Bow Bar in Edinburgh on Halloween night. More details below 👇

Steven Shand, the artist behind the labels, has created a 2026 calendar around these special illustrations. It is available to buy on our website here.

Recently Paul and Gregor were invited onto a spooky version of the Whisky Sisters Podcast to show off The Samhain Series and all things LOTG. You can find it here on Spotify or wherever you get your Pods.

Please note that in order to better support our retail partners this outrun and future outruns are not being sold through our website. Links to stockists can be found via the tab on our homepage. All releases were bottled at our site in Dalgety Bay by hand.

Bowmore 15-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask

Matured in hand-selected Oloroso Sherry and ex-Bourbon casks, with an Oloroso Sherry seasoned cask finish. Captures the elegance of our single malt, adding a layer of Sherry cask sweetness. Confidently rich, with natural smoke, and minerality alongside a woodier, sweeter, and fruitier finish. A showcase of masterful maturation, this deep and enigmatic 15-Year-Old Sherry Oak Cask beautifully reconciles its sweet and gently spicy persona.

43% ABV | SRP: ~$160.00 |

(Photo Credit: Suntory Global Spirits)

SIGNATORY

Signatory Vintage is widely regarded as one of the most discerning and respected independent bottlers of Scotch whisky in the world. With a commitment to quality and individuality, Signatory bottles one cask at a time—highlighting the distinct color, aroma, and flavor profile that each cask uniquely imparts.

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

Mark’s Whisky Ramblings 580: Ardnahoe 5 Year Old Inaugural Release

Mark Dermul, Belgian whisky blogger, tries an inaugural release from Islay. In the glass is the long-awaited first release from the youngest distillery on Islay: Ardnahoe. They certainly took their time, as they decided to bottle their first creation only after it had matured for five years (on a combination of ex-Bourbon and ex-Oloroso sherry casks). The bottle itself looks very good too. After all, aesthetics matter. But the most important thing is, of course, what’s in the glass (and this might be even more applicable to an Islay whisky than any other, given the island’s cult status and its smoky whiskies).

https://youtu.be/FaE5LEBL9Sw

Heaven Hill Distillery Announces First Release of Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Specialty Barrel Series

Three unique expressions aged in Chinquapin Oak barrels highlight craft, heritage, and innovation

 Bardstown, Ky. (October 14, 2025) – Heaven Hill Distillery announced today the inaugural release of the Heaven Hill Grain to Glass® Specialty Barrel Series, an extension of its acclaimed Grain to Glass line. This new series builds on the tradition of quality, sustainability, and craft that has defined the family-owned distillery since 1935, while showcasing the artistry of barrel selection and maturation.

 The 2025 Specialty Barrel Series features three Kentucky Whiskeys—Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey, Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey, and Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey, each fully aged for six years in Chinquapin Oak barrels hand selected by Heaven Hill’s distilling team in collaboration with Independent Stave Company. These unique barrels impart distinctive characteristics, delivering a rich and innovative dimension to the beloved Grain to Glass mashbills.

Honoring Legacy, Innovation, and Partnership

Heaven Hill Grain to Glass begins with a single seed. Each year, Heaven Hill partners with Beck’s Hybrids, a family-owned seed company in Indiana, to identify a corn varietal ideally suited for Central Kentucky soils. For the 2025 release, Beck’s 6225 was chosen and grown by multi-generational, family-run Peterson Farms in Nelson County, Ky. just across the road from Heaven Hill’s Bardstown campus.

“Since the founding of Heaven Hill, our family has remained committed to looking at the long term, building products and partnerships meant to endure,” said Max Shapira, Heaven Hill Executive Chairman. “The Specialty Barrel Series reflects both innovation and transparency, extending our Grain to Glass vision while honoring the legacy that defines our distillery.”

The Influence of Chinquapin Oak

Unlike the Traditional Grain to Glass releases, which are aged in #3 char white oak barrels, the Specialty Barrel Series explores new dimensions of maturation. For this inaugural release, the whiskeys were fully aged in Chinquapin Oak, a distinct species of American white oak native to Central and Eastern North America. Known for its higher vanillin content, Chinquapin Oak imparts butterscotch, crème brûlée, toasted nut, chocolate, and coffee notes, creating a bold mouthfeel and layered finish.

“Selecting Chinquapin Oak for the first Specialty Barrel Series was an exciting opportunity to deepen our exploration of wood and whiskey,” said Conor O’Driscoll, Heaven Hill Master Distiller. “These barrels highlight the interplay between grain and oak in a way that elevates the mashbills, allowing each whiskey’s character to shine at barrel proof.”

Expressions in the 2025 Specialty Barrel Series

• Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey – 105 proof
  Mashbill: 52% Corn, 35% Rye, 13% Malt
• Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon Whiskey – 105 proof
  Mashbill: 52% Corn, 35% Wheat, 13% Malt
• Kentucky Straight Rye Whiskey – 107 proof
  Mashbill: 63% Rye, 24% Corn, 13% Malt

Each expression was barreled at 107 proof, honoring the historic entry proof used by Heaven Hill’s founders, and bottled non-chill filtered at selected proofs to preserve the bold, distinctive flavors imparted by the Chinquapin Oak.

The 2025 Heaven Hill Grain to Glass Specialty Barrel Series is an allocated release available nationally beginning in November 2025 in limited quantities at an MSRP of $129.99. Each is offered in a 700ml bespoke bottle proudly embossed with “Family Owned Since 1935.”  The bottle features jewel-toned labels unique to each mashbill, a gold-coin cork insert, and a tax strip calling out the Chinquapin Oak barrels. In keeping with the brand’s focus on transparency, each label also details the corn varietal, mashbill, and distillation and release years, complemented by custom illustrations that nod to Bernheim Distillery and Kentucky’s farming traditions.

Recent Awards & Accolades

The Grain to Glass line has garnered widespread recognition in the past year:

• Grain to Glass Kentucky Straight Wheated Bourbon was a Double Gold winner at the 2024 SIP Awards and a Best of Class finalist at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
• At the 2025 World Whiskies Awards, Grain to Glass Wheated Bourbon earned Gold, while the Grain to Glass Rye Whiskey was named Best American Rye.
• Grain to Glass Bourbon was ranked #5 on Whisky Advocate’s Top 20 Whiskies of 2024, earning a score of 94.

These whiskeys reflect Heaven Hill’s dedication to transparency, family values, and whiskey-making excellence from seed to sip. For more information, visit: heavenhilldistillery.com/grain-to-glass

ABOUT HEAVEN HILL DISTILLERY: Founded in Kentucky by the Shapira family in 1935, Heaven Hill Distillery continues its legacy as one of the foremost American Whiskey producers. Heaven Hill has cultivated the traditions and history of America’s Native Spirit with its fierce independence, passionate family ownership, dedication to quality, and thoughtful innovation. Today, Heaven Hill Distillery maintains over 2 million barrels aging in more than 70 warehouses throughout Nelson and Jefferson Counties. It is home to an award-winning collection of American Whiskeys including Elijah Craig Bourbon, Evan Williams Bourbon, Old Fitzgerald Bottled-in-Bond, Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond, Henry McKenna, Parker’s Heritage Collection along with its extensive and diverse collection of unique and innovative products. In the past five years alone, Heaven Hill Distillery has been named Distiller of the Year eight times, including 2024 and 2023 Whisky Magazine Distillery of the Year. Other recent honors include 2024 and 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition’s Most Awarded Distillery and the 2023 Icons of Whisky World’s Best Small Batch Bourbon. For more information, please visit www.heavenhilldistillery.com.

Heaven Hill reminds you to “Think Wisely.  Drink Wisely.”

Douglas Laing & Co. Reveals The Gauldrons Eclipse: A Limited-Edition Orange Wine Cask Finish

Independent Scotch Whisky specialist Douglas Laing & Co. presents The Gauldrons Eclipse, the first-ever release of its kind within the Campbeltown-inspired range. This limited-edition bottling captures the enigmatic character of The Gauldrons, enhanced through a rare finishing period in Orange Wine casks.

The Gauldrons Eclipse represents a marriage of Single Cask Single Malts, sourced exclusively from Scotland’s smallest Whisky region, Campbeltown. For the first time, the Malt has been finished in Orange Wine casks, drawn from the historic cellars of Jerez de la Frontera, a city in Andalusia, Southern Spain. This distinctive influence is said to bring a daring new dimension to The Gauldrons, marrying heritage with the unexpected.

Bottled at a natural cask strength of 52.9% ABV, and offered without colouring or chill-filtration, Eclipse is a pure, uncompromising expression of craft, cask, and the enduring enigma of Campbeltown. Presented as a bottle-only release, it is accompanied by a premium neck tag hosting a QR code, which offers access to a dedicated tasting video hosted by Dougal Barr, Douglas Laing’s Global Ambassador.

This is a global release of just 3,000 bottles, underscoring its rarity and collectable nature.

On the nose, Eclipse is said to reveal “Malt, dried apricots, orange peel and toasted almonds.” The palate follows with “walnuts, honey, ginger and stone fruits,” before leading to “a lingering finish of spice, tangy orange and nutty depths that bring an almost otherworldly edge.”

Chloe Wood, Brand Manager, comments:

“The Gauldrons has always embodied a sense of mystery, rooted in Campbeltown’s rich Whisky heritage. With Eclipse, we have taken that story further, embracing the rare and the unexpected through Orange Wine cask finishing. Distinctive and enigmatic, crafted for those drawn to the unexpected.”

The Gauldrons Eclipse is available from select retailers, Whisky specialists, and online at a suggested RRP of £70.00 / €80.00.

ABOUT DOUGLAS LAING & CO. 

www.douglaslaing.com

Douglas Laing & Co. is a leading independent Scotch Whisky distillery, blender and bottler specialising in the selection and release of Single Cask Single and Small Batch Malt Scotch Whiskies.

The company was founded by Fred Douglas Laing in 1948 and is still owned and run by the Laing family – Fred Laing Jr and his daughter Cara Laing.

The company philosophy is to bottle the way the distiller intended – at a high strength and without chill filtration to preserve the robust and unique character of the Whisky. Douglas Laing’s industry reputation and many awards are a testament to this ethos.

Douglas Laing’s Remarkable Regional Malts, the Ultimate Distillation of Scotland’s Malt Whisky Regions, encompasses The Epicurean Lowland Malt Scotch Whisky, Timorous Beastie (Highlands), Scallywag (Speyside), The Gauldrons (Campbeltown), Rock Island (Islands) and Big Peat (Islay).

Beyond its Blended Malts expertise, the award-winning Douglas Laing portfolio also includes Provenance, Premier Barrel, Old, Xtra Old Particular, and XOP Black, collectively known as the firm’s “Exceptional Single Casks”.

Isle of Harris Distillery X Sunspel Collaboration

The Isle of Harris Distillery has collaborated with British Luxury clothing brand Sunspel to launch The Hearach x Sunspel Single Cask Whisky, a celebration of shared values in quality, authenticity and British craftsmanship.

The partnership grew organically through Sunspel’s Executive Chairman Nicholas Brooke’s long-standing admiration for the distillery and its connection to Harris Tweed. Alongside Design Director David Telfer, Brooke travelled to the Isle of Harris to experience its culture of making.

From handwoven tweed traditions to whiskies shaped by the island’s rugged landscape, what began as a journey of discovery evolved into a creative collaboration. Brooke and Distillery Blender Shona Macleod worked together to select a single cask and design the final product.

With just 243 bottles produced, this is a 7-year-old whisky, matured in a first fill ex-Buffalo Trace bourbon cask for a dram that is fruity, spiced and vanilla-led, with rich layers that unfold slowly.

This rare expression will be available exclusively through select Sunspel UK stores from 29 October 2025 priced at £95.

VISIT THE SUNSPEL WEBSITE

Hatozaki Omakase Collection Small Batch 15-Year-Old Whisky

Crafted by Master Distiller and Blender Kimio Yonezawa of Kaikyo Distillery, Small Batch 15-Year-Old is the fourth edition from the Omakase Collection. This limited release features a majority blend of the finest, hand-selected malt whisky, aged first in new charred oak barrels, then finished in traditional Mizunara casks in Japan. Rich flavors of sandalwood, vanilla bean, caramelized fruit, spice, and subtle smokiness, balanced with a smooth, long finish. Best served neat or on the rocks. 46% ABV | SRP: $149.99 |

(Photo Credit: Hatozaki Whisky)