DramMaster Daily Whisky News — 17 September 2026

By Murray

The Glenlivet Launches 12 Year Old Provence Edition

The Glenlivet has released a 12 Year Old Provence Edition, the latest in its Beyond Speyside series. The single malt was finished in three French wine cask types: Château Sainte Marguerite white wine casks, Rivesaltes casks, and Sauternes casks. Château Sainte Marguerite is one of only 18 estates to hold the Cru Classé des Côtes de Provence designation, and this marks the first time French white wine casks have been used in a Glenlivet expression.

Each cask type contributes its own character: citrus and floral notes from the Provence white wine casks, nuttiness and spice from the Rivesaltes, and marmalade and crème brûlée from the Sauternes. The result layers white peach, nectarine, pear, and citrus over the distillery's house style. Cask Master Kevin Balmforth said the challenge was "introducing new layers of flavour inspired by Provence while remaining unmistakably The Glenlivet."

The whisky won a Gold medal at the 2026 Scotch Whisky Masters. The Glenlivet is owned by Pernod Ricard and produced in Scotland's Livet Valley. The Provence Edition is available in select markets globally at a recommended price of $54.99 (£40).

Murray's take: Three different French wine casks on a 12-year-old Speysider at £40 is ambitious for a volume brand best known for its Founder's Edition. The Beyond Speyside series is Pernod Ricard's attempt to give The Glenlivet craft credibility without abandoning its accessible price point. A Gold at the Scotch Whisky Masters means the liquid delivers.

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Sazerac Revives Historic Glenmore Whiskey Brand

Sazerac has relaunched the Glenmore whiskey brand, introducing a Kentucky Straight Bourbon and a Kentucky Straight Rye, both bottled at 100 proof with a suggested retail price of $19.99 per 750ml. The Glenmore Distillery in Owensboro, Kentucky, traces its roots to 1869, when Richard Monarch began distilling whiskey along the Ohio River. The distillery survived Prohibition by bottling whiskey for medicinal purposes and operated for more than 120 years before distillation ended in the early 1990s.

Sazerac acquired the facility in 2009 and has invested approximately $40 million since 2020 in processing, barrel equipment, and bottling lines. The new whiskies are inspired by the Glenmore heritage but are not made from an original-era mashbill. The bourbon carries notes of crème brûlée, toasted marshmallow, vanilla custard, and toasted pecan. The rye leans traditional: rye spice, black pepper, toasted grain, and a bold finish.

Lauren Selman, Sazerac's global growth and innovation director, said: "The Glenmore name has an incredible history, and we're honoured to help write its next chapter." Glenmore Bourbon is shipping now; Glenmore Rye follows later in September.

Murray's take: A 100-proof bourbon and rye at $19.99 is aggressively priced for today's American whiskey market, where a historic name usually carries a premium. Sazerac is positioning Glenmore as accessible, not allocated. Whether the liquid justifies the heritage is the open question.

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MGP Debuts First Namesake Bourbon: Out of the Shadows

MGP Ingredients has launched its first-ever spirits brand under the MGP name, debuting with a limited-edition 10-year-old straight bourbon called Chapter One: Out of the Shadows. The release coincides with the return of the MGP Distillery name to its historic Lawrenceburg, Indiana operation. For decades, MGP has produced whiskey for hundreds of brands while operating largely behind the scenes.

The bourbon is bottled at 111 proof from the historic LBSV mash bill of 60% corn, 36% rye, and 4% malted barley. Master distiller Ian Stirsman selectively blended barrels aged for a full decade in Rickhouse G. Tasting notes describe butterscotch, burnt sugar, molasses, and cherry on the nose, with a palate of cherry cola, raspberries, chocolate, sassafras, and leather. CEO Julie Francis said: "We've been making whiskey that others have proudly put their names on for decades. Bringing the MGP name back is an opportunity to share that story directly with consumers."

The bourbon will be available in limited quantities this fall at a suggested retail price of $69.99 (£52) per 750ml. MGP operates under the Luxco umbrella, with a portfolio including Penelope, Rebel, Remus, and Yellowstone bourbons.

Murray's take: MGP is the engine behind a staggering number of American whiskey brands, and most consumers have no idea. A 10-year-old, 111-proof bourbon at $69.99 from the source is a credible debut. The risk is that brands MGP supplies may not love their supplier becoming a competitor.

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Politicians Force Commons Question Over English Single Malt Definition

The UK Government faces growing political pressure over its decision to grant Geographical Indication status to English single malt whisky, with critics arguing the new definition weakens the established meaning of "single malt." Under the approved rules, English single malt need only be distilled at a single distillery. Scotch single malt must be mashed, fermented, and distilled at one site. The gap is the dispute.

Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Wendy Chamberlain, chair of the APPG for Scotch Whisky, secured an urgent question in the House of Commons forcing the Government to respond. She made clear she supports GI status for English whisky but said the definition "risks undermining that reputation and creating an uneven playing field for producers." SNP MSP for Moray Laura Mitchell called on the Government to "scrap this disastrous proposal." The announcement was made at 5pm on a Friday before recess, leaving limited parliamentary scrutiny before the 8 October appeal deadline.

The Scotch Whisky Association said the English rules are "entirely inconsistent with the reputation of single malt whisky" and warned the definition "creates confusion for consumers and jeopardises the category." The English Whisky Guild, which submitted its application over six years ago, called the approval a "landmark achievement." England has approximately 70 distilleries and £1 billion in maturing stock, exporting to more than 30 countries. Scotland has over 150 distilleries, with Scotch whisky Britain's most valuable food and drink export at £5.3 billion last year.

Murray's take: The core issue is simple: "single malt" means something specific to consumers, and that meaning was built by Scotch. Letting English producers distil at one site while mashing and fermenting elsewhere dilutes the term. The English Whisky Guild is right that its category deserves protection. The SWA is right that this particular definition creates a two-tier standard under the same label. The 8 October deadline gives the industry three weeks to push for revisions before the definition locks in.

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Aberargie Distillery Expressions Series Puts Barley Varieties Side by Side

Aberargie Distillery, near Perth, has launched its Expressions series — two single malts bottled separately from Golden Promise and Laureate barley, designed to show what grain variety does to flavour. Both whiskies are bottled at 48.3% ABV without chill filtration, available from 15 September at specialist retailers worldwide and direct from the distillery, with an RRP of £65 per 700ml.

The Golden Promise Edition is matured in 68% first-fill bourbon and 32% first-fill sherry casks, with notes of buttered pastry, stewed apples, brown sugar, and baking spices. The Laureate Edition is matured in 32% first-fill bourbon and 68% first-fill sherry casks, presenting candied orange peel, dried fruits, orchard fruit, and a honeyed finish. Golden Promise is a heritage barley introduced in the 1960s, once a staple for distilleries including The Macallan, prized for its full-bodied spirit. Laureate is a modern high-yielding variety widely used across the industry today.

Head of distilling Graeme Mackeddie, a third-generation farmer, said: "Barley is fundamental to Scotch whisky production, but its contribution to flavour is often overshadowed by maturation. By bottling Laureate and Golden Promise separately, we can demonstrate the distinctive character of each variety." Aberargie will donate £1 from every bottle sold in the UK to the Scottish Association of Young Farmers Clubs, supporting young people in rural farming communities. The distillery was founded by Morrison Scotch Whisky Distillers in 2017 and released its first single malt in March 2026.

Murray's take: Most whisky conversations about flavour focus on casks. Aberargie is asking a different question: does the barley itself matter? By splitting Golden Promise and Laureate into separate bottles with mirrored cask recipes, the distillery has built a controlled experiment you can drink. The cask ratios are inverted between the two, which complicates the comparison, but the intent is right. £65 is a fair price for a single-varietal single malt from a barley-to-bottle distillery. The £1 donation to young farmers is genuine, not gesture politics.

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