It's been a busy start to 2026 in the whisky world. Distilleries are opening, closing, and being rescued. New bottles are landing on shelves. And the industry is grappling with tariffs, sustainability, and where to find its next generation of drinkers. Here's our roundup of the stories worth knowing about.
BrewDog Pulls the Plug on Spirits
BrewDog has confirmed it will shut down its distilling operation entirely, winding down production of its Lone Wolf gin, Abstrakt vodka, and associated spirits brands over the coming months. The Ellon-based craft beer giant launched its distillery back in 2015, but the venture never quite found its footing.
What makes this particularly notable is the timing. BrewDog had a single malt Scotch whisky in production, widely expected to launch in 2026. That release now appears dead in the water. Co-founder Martin Dickie, who led the distilling division as CEO, departed in August 2025, followed by managing director Steven Kersley in October.
For collectors keeping an eye on unreleased stock, this is one to watch - any remaining casks could become curiosities down the line.
Penderyn Makes Welsh Whisky History with 25-Year-Old
Penderyn Distillery marked St David's Day by unveiling its first ever 25-year-old single malt — drawn from Barrel No. 1, one of the earliest casks laid down when the distillery started production in 2000. Welsh whisky had been completely absent for over a century before Penderyn's revival, and this release represents a genuine milestone.
The distillery also launched new 12 and 21-year age-statement expressions alongside it. Previous limited editions have commanded around £3,000 at auction. With over 140 international awards and exports to 50+ countries, Penderyn has quietly become one of the most credible non-Scottish distilleries in the UK.
Scotch Exports Under Pressure as Industry Eyes India
Scotch whisky exports fell to £4.36 billion in 2025, with US exports declining 15% thanks to ongoing tariff headwinds. The numbers paint a challenging picture: 69 Scottish distilleries faced significant or critical financial difficulties by the end of 2025.
The industry's response has been to look east. India - with its enormous and growing middle class - is increasingly seen as the long-term growth market. It's a pivot that could reshape which expressions get made and how they're marketed over the coming decade.
Arbikie Unveils Its First Single Malt
Arbikie Highland Estate, the farm distillery already known for its single grain whisky, is stepping into single malt territory with three distinct releases. The lineup includes The Wild One, a 100-bottle limited run using wild fermentation; The Journey, an annual series showcasing different cask finishes across ages 10 to 18; and The Signature, a 10-year bourbon cask expression that will serve as the core range.
The distillery previewed the range at the World Economic Forum in Davos earlier this year - an unusual launchpad, but one that signals serious ambition. Everything is produced on-site from grain to glass, which remains a genuine rarity in Scotch whisky.
Compass Box Hedonism Gets a Hollywood Muse
Compass Box has named actress Karen Gillan - best known for Guardians of the Galaxy and Jumanji - as the muse for its 2026 limited edition Hedonism. The blended grain Scotch features components up to 30 years old from Strathclyde, Port Dundas, and Cameronbridge, bottled at 46% ABV with an RRP of £90.
This is the fourth annual Hedonism limited edition and the first under new creative director Angela D'Orazio. If you're a fan of rich, grain-forward Scotch - think clove, fruitcake, toffee, and cocoa - this is worth seeking out before it disappears.
Chivas Brothers Master Blender Retires After 40 Years
Sandy Hyslop, the master blender behind Ballantine's, Chivas Regal, and Royal Salute, has retired after more than four decades in Scotch whisky. He started his career in 1983 with Stewart & Son of Dundee, which was later acquired by Chivas Brothers in 2005.
His successor is Kevin Balmforth, who has been with the company for 25 years and trained under Hyslop for 20 of those. Hyslop stays on as "master blender emeritus" - a title that suggests the transition has been carefully planned rather than abrupt. For drinkers of Ballantine's or Chivas, the house style should remain consistent.
English Whisky Hits 60 Distilleries
A decade ago, English whisky barely existed. Now there are over 60 distilleries operating, with 38 actively producing and selling spirit. The Cotswolds Distillery, founded in 2014 by former New York financier Dan Szor, has become the sector's standard-bearer - winning gold at the World Whiskies Awards and attracting visitors from over 50 countries.
What's notable is the international interest: 40% of Cotswolds' tour visitors come from the US and Canada. English whisky is no longer a novelty; it's becoming a destination.
Brother's Bond Bourbon Lands in the UK
The bourbon brand founded by Vampire Diaries actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley has officially launched in the UK with four expressions, ranging from a straight bourbon at £50.95 to a bottled-in-bond 7-year-old at £61.50.
Celebrity spirits brands are easy to dismiss, but Brother's Bond has built a credible reputation stateside. The range includes a Regenerative Grain bourbon at £54.50 - made with grain from regenerative farming projects, with proceeds going back into those initiatives. Whether it can compete in a UK market already crowded with quality bourbon remains to be seen, but the pricing is at least in the right ballpark.
Powerscourt Distillery Rescued from Receivership
Good news from Ireland: Powerscourt Distillery, producer of Fercullen Irish Whiskey, has secured investment from Altiva Management after entering receivership in June 2025. The deal includes the distillery's brands, bulk whiskey stocks, intellectual property, and the leasehold on both the distillery and visitor centre in County Wicklow.
Powerscourt had been hit by cashflow difficulties and the uncertainty around global tariffs. The distillery has been producing since 2018 and makes blended, single malt, and single grain whiskeys under the Fercullen label. With fresh capital behind it, this looks like a genuine second chance rather than just an asset strip.
Islay Distillers Unite for Peatland Restoration
Suntory, Diageo, and The Glenmorangie Company have pooled £1.6 million to restore around 1,000 hectares of blanket bog at RSPB Scotland's Oa nature reserve on Islay. The project aims to improve peatland resilience and restore habitats for threatened species including curlew, hen harrier, and large heath butterfly.
It's part of a broader shift: Diageo has pledged £5 million over five years for Scottish peatland restoration, while Suntory has already dedicated US$4 million to conservation efforts. Peat is central to Scotch whisky's identity — these projects are about ensuring it's still there in 50 years.
Could Aluminium Replace Glass for Whisky Bottles?
Stirling Distillery has partnered with Heriot-Watt University to test whether aluminium bottles could work as a sustainable alternative to glass for whisky. The results so far are mixed but intriguing: in blind tastings, participants couldn't tell the difference between whisky stored in aluminium versus glass. However, researchers found aluminium levels in the spirit well above drinking water standards, and some flavour compounds — notably gallic acid — were reduced after prolonged contact.
Current bottle liners aren't quite up to the job, but improved coatings are the next research focus. Glass isn't going anywhere soon, but with the industry under increasing pressure to cut its carbon footprint, this is research worth following.
Johnnie Walker Launches 'Red Soul' in Affordability Push
Diageo has launched Johnnie Walker Red Soul, a new entry-level Scotch whisky positioned as part of the drinks giant's affordability drive under CEO Dave Lewis. The move signals a strategic shift toward accessible price points — a recognition that the premium-or-nothing approach of recent years may have left a gap at the bottom of the range.
For a brand that's spent the last decade pushing consumers toward Blue Label and high-age-statement expressions, this is a notable change of direction. Whether Red Soul can attract new drinkers without diluting the brand's premium positioning will be worth watching.