DramMaster Daily Whisky News — 17 July 2026

Bunnahabhain Brings An Cuan Garbh No.1 to the US — 15 Years, White Port Casks, $204.99

Bunnahabhain has launched An Cuan Garbh No.1 in the United States, a limited-edition 15-year-old single malt finished in White Port casks from Portugal's Douro Valley. The release marks the second chapter in the Islay distillery's three-part Westering Home Collection.

The whisky matured for 15 years in traditional oak before finishing in White Port casks. Bottled at 51.6% ABV, MSRP $204.99 for 700ml. Tasting notes: honeysuckle and elderflower on the nose, orchard fruit and candied citrus on the palate, a long finish with maritime salinity.

Master blender Julieann Fernandez said: "The White Port casks add fruit and softness, while the whisky remains grounded in Bunnahabhain's coastal style."

An Cuan Garbh translates as "The Rough Sea." The Westering Home Collection is a three-year series inspired by the Islay anthem of returning home. The 2025 debut, Turas Math, explored setting sail; the 2026 chapter shifts to challenge and discovery. Bunnahabhain sits on Islay's northeast coast, known for its predominantly unpeated style, and is owned by Distell (Heineken).

Murray's take: White Port casks are uncommon in single malt — most reach for Ruby or Tawny. White Port brings orchard fruit and floral notes rather than dried fruit and spice, which suits Bunnahabhain's unpeated, coastal character. $205 is premium territory, but this is a three-year collection — people who buy chapter two will want chapter three.

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Cooper King and Spirit of Yorkshire Release Many Hands — 1,922 Bottles, £95

Cooper King Distillery and Spirit of Yorkshire Distillery have launched Many Hands, a collaborative Yorkshire blended malt whisky at 48% ABV. Limited to 1,922 bottles, it retails at £95 RRP.

The release has a backstory worth telling. In 2021, Cooper King's Tasmanian copper pot still developed a fault and had to be sent away for repairs. The resulting nine-month production gap threatened the young distillery's future stocks. Founders Chris and Dr Abbie Jaume turned to their Yorkshire neighbours at Spirit of Yorkshire, who distilled spirit using Cooper King's own recipe. Four years later, eight casks of that spirit have been married with eight casks of Cooper King whisky — matched across the same cask types: 6 dark-fired Bourbon, 4 first-fill Bourbon, 4 rye whiskey, and 2 corn whiskey casks. All 16 casks were sourced from MB Roland Distillery in Kentucky.

Tasting notes: honeycomb, peach cobbler, and blackcurrant leaf on the nose; biscuit, toasted cashews, and cracked black pepper on the palate.

Dr Abbie Jaume said: "Distilleries have bought and sold spirit between themselves to cover production shortfalls for years. Traditionally, that spirit has been bottled under the purchasing distillery's own brand, with consumers none the wiser. We saw this as an opportunity to turn a challenging situation into something positive."

Joe Clark, whisky director at Spirit of Yorkshire, added: "Behind the scenes, the whisky industry is one of the most collegiate and supportive in the world." £1 from every bottle goes to the Yorkshire Dales Millennium Trust's Rural Apprenticeships Programme.

Murray's take: Spirit-swapping between distilleries is an open secret. Bottling it under both names and telling the story is the unusual part. Cooper King could have quietly filled the gap. Instead they made it the product. £95 for a 48% blended malt from two English distilleries is ambitious, but the story sells and 1,922 bottles won't hang around.

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SMWS Owner Reports Flat H1 2026 — Branded Growth Offset by Cask Sales Lag

The Artisanal Spirits Company (ASC), owner of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS), has reported flat revenue for the first half of 2026. Growth from its branded businesses was offset by lower trade cask sales.

For the six months ending 30 June 2026, ASC said revenue from SMWS, Single Cask Nation (SCN), JG Thomson, and Artisan Casks collectively increased by high single digits year-on-year, driven primarily by SCN and Artisan Casks (launched summer 2025).

Trade cask sales lagged due to "phasing," with ASC predicting H2 will carry more weight. Margins were lower, reflecting "softer cask-market conditions." EBITDA held steady year-on-year. Net cash flow improved by approximately £1.5m versus H1 2025.

SMWS bottle sales in the US were up 10%, with Australia also posting double-digit growth. UK venues, UK online, and China were flat. EU online declined approximately 10%. Global SMWS membership held just under 40,000 — up roughly 1,000 versus June 2025. Retention stayed at 70%, with new member recruitment up 15%.

CEO Andrew Dane said: "Revenue from our branded businesses increased by high single digits. Alongside continued cost efficiencies, this delivered improved profitability and a meaningful improvement in cash flow."

Murray's take: The cask investment market has cooled — "softer cask-market conditions" is the phrase that matters. The branded side is growing: US bottle sales up 10%, membership up 1,000, recruitment up 15%. The question is whether branded growth can carry the business while trade cask sales recover. EU online down 10% is the number to watch.

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Irish Whiskey Set to Outpace Scotch in Global Travel Retail — IWSR Forecasts 3% CAGR to 2029

Irish whiskey is projected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of 3% in volume across global travel retail (GTR) to 2029, outpacing Scotch at 1% over the same period, according to IWSR senior insights manager Charlotte Reid.

"Irish whiskey shows no sign of plateauing, with growth forecast within all price tiers driven by increased shelf space and activity for the category," Reid said. "The US is the largest market for Irish whiskey by volume, but growth is not just limited to the US or Ireland. Asia Pacific markets such as India, the Philippines, and Japan are gaining traction."

The category's growth in airports reflects broader industry shifts. Before 2000, GTR Irish whiskey rarely extended beyond Jameson, Bushmills, and Tullamore Dew. Now over 40 new distilleries have opened in Ireland this century. Pernod Ricard GTR launched its "Travel like a Jameson" campaign in March, with Triple Triple GTR-exclusive expressions remaining a focus. Jameson Black Barrel posted 17% year-to-date GTR growth (nine months to March 2026).

Proximo Spirits is gaining traction with Bushmills World Wood Series — a GTR-exclusive range of small-batch Irish single malts. Roy Summers, Proximo's head of GTR, said: "Irish single malt is now entering a territory that was traditionally dominated by Scotch." ARI reported Irish whiskey sales at Dublin Airport rose 2.1% last year, citing limited releases like Two Stacks' Flight Series and Teeling's 10 Year Old Celebratory Batch as drivers of discovery.

Murray's take: 3% versus 1% doesn't sound dramatic until you remember Scotch's GTR base is exponentially larger. The story here is premiumisation: Bushmills pushing 18 and 21 year age statements in airports, Jameson Black Barrel up 17%. Travellers are trading up, and Irish whiskey is giving them reasons to. Exclusives sell in airports — that's the lesson.

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Yellowstone Bourbon Releases 11th Annual Limited Edition — Ruby and Tawny Port Casks, $99

Yellowstone Bourbon has released its 2026 Limited Edition, the 11th in its annual series. Bottled at 50.5% ABV, the Kentucky Straight Bourbon combines whiskeys aged 7 and 14 years, finished separately in Ruby and Tawny Port casks before marrying.

Master distiller Stephen Beam said: "Using Ruby and Tawny Port casks allowed me to capture that contrast and translate it into a bourbon that feels dynamic and complete."

Tasting notes: charred oak, blackberry, plum, and piloncillo on the nose; caramelised sugar, dark fruit, dark chocolate, roasted nuts, and clove on the palate. Available from Limestone Branch Distillery at $99.00 RRP, with selected US retailers from August.

The annual Limited Edition series has run since 2016. Each release draws on a different aspect of Yellowstone National Park, the brand's namesake. Limestone Branch Distillery is based in Lebanon, Kentucky.

Murray's take: 11 years of annual limited editions from a Kentucky distillery most people haven't heard of — that's persistence. The Ruby and Tawny Port split is smart: Ruby brings fruit and colour, Tawny brings nuts and oxidative depth. Finishing separately before marrying gives both dimensions without muddying either. $99 for a 7-and-14-year bourbon at 50.5% is competitive in today's allocated market.

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