Craft beer drinkers have it figured out: aluminum cans can go places where glass bottles can’t—piled into a backpack, relaxing by the pool, tossed at the ballpark. Wine lovers are also in on the act, with single-serve cans of wine, like Barefoot Refresh, catching on big at the beach this summer. And now, we whisky lovers finally have a portable package to call our own— a 100 ml can of rye whiskey cocktail called Hochstadter’s Slow & Low .

If you’re not already familiar with Slow & Low, The Cooper Spirits Company of Philadelphia crafts this pre-Prohibition cocktail using straight...

Laphroaig Cairdeas Madeira

Release: juli 2016 Price: $74 Proof: 103 Availability: “Very Limited” Style: Single Malt Scotch

Need to know: This Islay Single Malt Scotch is fully matured in bourbon barrels, then married together before a second maturation in Madeira seasoned casks.

Whisky Advocate says: The last incarnation of Cairdeas reviewed proved “youthful, vibrant, and thumping.” It should be interesting to see what Madeira imparts to this annual release, in terms of complementing Laphroaig’s characteristic peat and smoke. Don’t miss the full Buying Guide review and rating in Whisky Advocate , Fall 2016. Subscribe now.

Kilchoman Bourbon Barrel ImpEx...

Whisky Advocate reports that Evan Cattanach, prolific distiller and industry legend, has died at the age of 80. His long and illustrious career in Scotch whisky is made even more impressive by the fact that he got a relatively late start—at the age of 25, when he began his employment at Scottish Malt Distillers. Across his career in Scotland, Cattanach worked at fifteen Scotch distilleries, in four of the six Scottish whisky areas, including managing operations at Oban, Cardhu, Lagavulin, Caol Ila, Dalwhinnie, and Cragganmore. His name is also closely associated with the Classic Malts series, as he was involved...

Loch Lomond’s Island Collection will be released in the U.S. The single Maltwhisky collection includes three bottlings: Inchmurrin 12 year old, 18 year old, and Madeira Wood Finish. Each is non-chill filtered and has an ABV of 46%. Retail pricing for the 12 year old is $85, $160 for the 18 year old, and $95 for Madeira Wood Finish.

Garryana is Westland distillery’s newest American single malt release. It is the first in their Native Oak series. According to the press release Garryana, “… features a component whiskey matured in Quercus garryana, a  species of white oak unique to the Pacific Northwest.” Distribution of the 2,500 bottles begins...

Brian Nation has been the master distiller at Irish Distillers’ Midleton distillery since 2013, having joined the company in 1997 as an engineering graduate. Like a number of other distillery managers I’ve met, it seems he never intended to be a distiller. Softly spoken, but hugely enthusiastic about his whiskeys, he also became the first Irish Distiller to receive the Worshipful Company of Distillers award for achieving the highest IBD (Institute of Brewing and Distilling) exam results in the world.

Where were you born and brought up?

Born in Turners Cross in Cork City and brought up there.

So west...

In the current issue of Whisky Advocate , the burgeoning American single malt category was explored, showcasing not only a diverse range of whiskeys, but also that their producers were beginning to come together for the greater good.

“A lot of us have the same frustrations knowing we produce this product that gets unfairly lumped into these other categories,” says Matt Hofmann, co-founder and master distiller of Westland distillery.

“As a distiller of single malt, I think it’s a constant source of aggravation for me and everybody else that nobody really knows what American single malt is,” says Paul Hletko,...

I love barbecue. From the dry Memphis styles to wet-rubbed Saint Louis ribs, I could eat it every day, and it pairs so well with a good dram.

In an upcoming issue of Whisky Advocate , you’ll read about some great bourbon-related barbecue dishes, including mains, sides, and sauces. One thing I learned while writing the story is I need to start barbecuing more with the good stuff. So, I went to Louisville pit master Michael Mack, whose barbecue I eat every week at a farmer’s market, and asked for a bourbon-barbecue recipe.

At a glance, the recipe is a...

We have exciting news to share with everyone. Effective augusti 1 ^st ,  Jeffery Lindenmuth will be joining Whisky Advocate full-time as Executive Editor, working directly with me. Jeffery has nearly 20 years of writing experience within the M. Shanken Communications organization, including Whisky Advocate , Wine Spectator , Food Arts , and various special projects. He has also written for many other drinks publications (and major circulation magazines) over this timespan.

Specific to Whisky Advocate , Jeffery has been with us from the beginning; he was actually the magazine’s first designer and art director back in the 1990s. He’s since...

Michter’s announced that they will not be releasing their Toasted Barrel bourbon in 2016. In a press release issued today they indicated a shortage of bourbon as the reason. Michter’s distillery president, Joseph J. Magliocco, stated that it was a difficult decision to make, but necessary,  “The problem is every drop of our Toasted Barrel Bourbon that we release this year is one less drop of our Michter’s US*1 Bourbon that we have to allocate to our distributors and importers.”

Expansion is underway at Michter’s distillery to remedy the shortage. The current capacity of the Louisville, Ky. facility is 500,000 proof gallons...

In 2014 Buffalo Trace distillery purchased 293 acres of farmland adjacent to the distillery property for construction of additional barrel warehouses. While awaiting construction permits corn was planted on 18 acres of the property with the idea of creating a, “farm to table “single estate” bourbon experience,” according to the press release. See the full details below.

BUFFALO TRACE DISTILLERY DISTILLS FIRST CORN CROP  FOR FARM TO TABLE BOURBON

Second Year of Corn – A New Variety – Planted

FRANKFORT, FRANKLIN COUNTY, KY (juni 23, 2016) A little over a year ago, Buffalo Trace Distillery quietly purchased an additional 293...

As reported in Whisky Advocate magazine’s summer 2016 issue, Lagavulin distillery is celebrating its 200 ^th anniversary this year. As a tribute to the distillery managers throughout Lagavulin’s history, Diageo announced today the upcoming release of a sherry cask matured Lagavulin 25 year old. It is a limited edition cask strength bottling. Only 8,000 bottles produced, 1,200 of which will be released in the U.S. in early fall. It has a suggested retail price of $1,200.00 per 750 ml. See the press release included below for further details.

Lagavulin™ Releases 25 Year Old Limited Edition Bottling to Honour  200 Years...

Brown Forman announced the release of  Woodford Reserve Five Malt,  the latest expression in Woodford’s Distillery Series. Five Malt is distilled from a malt mash, aged in used double oaked barrels for 6 months, and bottled at 45.2%. It is available for purchase at Woodford Reserve distillery and select Kentucky retailers with a suggested retail price of $50/375 ml. See the press release included below for details.

Woodford Reserve Releases Latest Distillery Series Expression:  Five Malt

Whiskey distilled from malt mash showcases continued innovation

LOUISVILLE, Ky., juni 14, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Woodford Reserve unveils the most recent release in its Distillery Series...

Today, we’re highlighting 2 new whiskies announced this week: Dickel 17 year old and Toki from Beam Suntory.

A Tennessee-only bottling, George Dickel 17 year old , will be available this month at select retailers and the George Dickel Cascade Hollow distillery’s visitor center in Tullahoma. It’s bottled at 43.5% with a mashbill consistent with Dickel No. 8 and No. 12: 84% corn, 8% rye, and 8% malted barley. Dickel 17 year old is a limited release and carries a suggested retail price of $75.00.

See the press release for further details.

Suntory’s newest release, Toki , will be available in the U.S. this...

No modern distillery has influenced more American brands than the current MGP Ingredients distillery in Lawrenceburg, Indiana, which won last year’s Whisky Advocate Distillery of the Year award. They have provided whiskey to dozens of brands, ranging from Bulleit Rye to Templeton. All the while, some of the non-distiller producers (NDPs) were creating questionable marketing around the Lawrenceburg whiskey, often neglecting to include the required state-of-distillation on labels. But as indicated in our 2013 coverage , lost in the marketing backstories was master distiller Greg Metze and the whiskey.

Metze recently announced his retirement after a 38-year career at the...

Meet Andy Simpson, whisky expert and aficionado, writer and partner in Rare Whisky 101(RW101). A former banker, Andy saw the light and a way to a better life through Scotch whisky. The RW101 website (rarewhisky101.com) offers valuations for collectors and investors, brokering services, consultancy services on distillery design and the marketing of brands, and picks up where Andy’s previous business, Whisky Highland, left off.  He’s a busy man and the fount of knowledge in whisky valuations worldwide.

Where were you born and brought up?

Bradford, West Yorkshire

Far from whisky country. I’ve read you started collecting whisky at 16 – under legal purchase age. How did...

Glen Grant has announced the launch of three new single malts: a 12 year old, a 12 year old non-chill filtered, and an 18 year old. These whiskies will be available in juni. See the press release included below for details.

GLEN GRANT ADDS THREE NEW PREMIUM SINGLE MALT SCOTCH WHISKIES AND UNVEILS NEW PACKAGING DESIGN

Award-winning Glen Grant launches new premium quality whiskies: 12 Year Old, 12 Year Old Non Chill-Filtered and 18 Year Old

LONDON, 24 ^th maj 2016 – Award-winning single malt Scotch whisky, Glen Grant, today announces the launch of new 12 Year Old, 12 Year...

The Glenlivet has announced the release of three single cask whiskies: Pullman Club Car, Pullman Twentieth Century Limited, and Pullman Water Level Route. This is the Glenlivet’s first single cask release in the U.S. market. Each has a suggested retail price of $350.00 and availability is exclusive to the U.S. Further details are provided in the press release included below.

A One-of-a-Kind Journey Through History and Flavor, The Glenlivet® Honors its Past with the Release of Three Single Cask Whiskies For the First Time in the United States

Inspired by the Historical Connection to The Pullman Company, The Glenlivet Single Cask Edition...

Beam Suntory has announced two new releases:  Booker’s Rye whiskey and Knob Creek 2001 Limited Edition bourbon. Both are offered as a tribute to the late Booker Noe and are one-time, limited edition releases.

The first rye whiskey offered by Booker’s, Booker’s Rye, 68.1% is uncut and unfiltered. It has a suggested retail price of $300.00 and is available nationwide. 

Knob Creek 2001 Limited Edition, 50% has been aged longer than any other Knob Creek bourbon to date. It will be released in a series of three batches and carries a suggested retail price of $130.00.

See the press release below for more...

The Summer 2016 issue of Whisky Advocate magazine will be on newsstands in early juni. Here’s an advanced preview of this issue’s Buying Guide; the 10 highest-rated whiskies. Sadly, this Top Ten highlights the current state of the whisky industry: our highest rated whiskies are either limited releases and difficult to find on the primary market, not imported to the U.S., or rather expensive. However, be sure to check out all  115 reviews in this issue’s Buying Guide for quality whiskies that are more easily sourced (and more reasonably priced).

#10 –  Colonel E. H. Taylor Jr. Seasoned Wood, 50%, $70

A...

Today, Barton 1792 distillery announced the release of a full proof, limited edition bourbon.  1792 Full Proof Bourbon was bottled at barrel entry proof: 62.5%. It’s expected to be available for sale later this month with a suggested retail price of $45.00. See the full press release below for details.

New Limited Edition Full Proof Bourbon Released by 1792 Distillery 

BARDSTOWN, KENTUCKY (maj 17, 2016) – A stout 125 full proof bourbon is the latest limited edition release in the 1792 Bourbon line up.  Bottled at the same proof it was originally entered into the barrel, the bourbon was distilled, aged,...