Benromach 25 Year Old: News Roundup With Crolly and Arran
Seven stories from the past few days: a new top of the Benromach range, Donegal's first licensed single pot still whiskey, a Jack Daniel's rye from its highest barrelhouses, two Arran single malts, a Wyoming distillery in a historic railyard, and the latest on Irish whiskey tariffs and Scotch protections.
Benromach adds a 25 Year Old to its Signature range
Benromach has released a 25 Year Old, now the oldest expression in its Signature range. The distillery in Forres, Speyside, is owned by Gordon & MacPhail. The whisky is matured in Bourbon and Sherry casks, bottled at 46% ABV and non-chill filtered. It joins the range as a permanent expression, and no bottle count has been announced.
It costs £250 for a 70cl bottle and is sold through the Benromach website, specialist retailers, the distillery visitor centre and selected international markets.
Source: TheDailyWhisky, 22 October 2026
Crolly Distillery launches Donegal's first licensed single pot still Irish whiskey
The Crolly Distillery has announced Croithlí Cognac Single Cask Single Pot Still, bottled at 53.9% ABV. It is made from malted and unmalted barley, unlike the distillery's single malt range, which uses malted barley only. The spirit was double distilled over direct fire in vintage Cognac Charentais copper stills from France.
It is fully matured in 300 litre, non-charred French oak ex-Cognac casks from Alter Oak Cooperage in Le Bouscat, Bordeaux. The first batch is limited to 1,000 bottles, with pre-orders open ahead of a 1 November release at an RRP of €139.
Source: The Whisky Wire, 23 October 2026
Jack Daniel's releases Coy Hill Rye as its 2026 Single Barrel Special Release
Jack Daniel's has announced Single Barrel Special Release Coy Hill Rye, a Tennessee rye whiskey bottled between 64.35% and 74.25% ABV. It uses the distillery's rye mash bill of 70% rye, 18% corn and 12% malted barley, and was charcoal mellowed before ten years in charred American white oak.
The casks came from Barrelhouses 1 to 13 at the top of Coy Hill, the distillery's highest elevation. It follows the 2025 Tanyard Hill Rye. It is available in limited quantities from selected US retailers at an RRP of $89.99.
Source: The Whisky Wire, 22 October 2026
Arran launches Barley Batch 002 and Sherry Serenade
Isle of Arran Distillers has launched two single malts from its Lochranza distillery. Arran Barley Batch 002 continues its partnership with Bellevue Farm, where the Currie family has farmed for six generations. It uses Concerto barley rather than Optic, is matured entirely in first-fill bourbon barrels and is bottled at 50% ABV, non-chill-filtered with no added colour.
Arran Single Malt Sherry Serenade is the fourth and final release in the Signature Series. It is a nine year old unpeated malt matured in first-fill Oloroso, Pedro Ximénez and Amontillado sherry casks, bottled at 50% ABV. The limited release is 13,971 bottles.
Source: DRAM Scotland, 21 October 2026
Alpine Distilling opens a second distillery in Wyoming
Utah's Alpine Distilling, founded in 2016 by Rob and Sara Sergent, has opened a distillery in Evanston, Wyoming. The site is the historic Roundhouse and Railyards complex, built in 1912 and spread over 27 acres. Alpine is the first operational business there in 50 years.
The new facility will expand production of the company's grain-to-glass whiskeys, gin and botanical spirits, and will open to the public for education, experiences and retail. Alpine also plans to expand its Main Street site in Park City, Utah.
Source: The Spirits Business, 23 October 2026
Talks on removing the US tariff on Irish whiskey are still ongoing
RTÉ reports that negotiations on removing US tariffs on Irish whiskey continue, a month after President Trump said at his Doonbeg golf course that he would take them off. Irish whiskey sold into the US currently faces a 10% tariff, while Scotch and whiskey made in Northern Ireland face none.
A spokesperson for Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said engagement with the US Trade Representative on technical implementation is continuing. The Irish Whiskey Association noted that a similar announcement for UK whiskey took three months to be fully implemented.
Source: RTÉ, 24 October 2026
UK ministers say Scotch protections are unchanged while the English whisky appeal runs
During oral questions in the House of Commons on 22 October, UK ministers said the Scotch Whisky Association's appeal over the geographical indication for English whisky is before the relevant court. They added that recognising English whisky does not alter the rules that protect Scotch whisky.
The government's position was that the appeal should run its course through the legal process. The dispute centres on how category terms such as single malt are defined.
Source: Vinetur, 23 October 2026
Sources
Image credit: "Benromach Distillery, Forres" by Scott from London, UK, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 2.0.
Comments