Whisky News — 14 February 2026
Murray
🥃 DRAM MASTER DAILY — Friday, 14 February 2026
LAPHROAIG CAIRDEAS 2026 RELEASED FOR FRIENDS OF LAPHROAIG Laphroaig has released the 2026 Cairdeas expression exclusively to its Friends of Laphroaig loyalty scheme members. This year's expression is a port wood finish at cask strength (57.8% ABV). Friends receive a ballot allocation link. Any unsold stock goes to general retail in March. Murray's Take: The Cairdeas series remains one of the better loyalty scheme benefits in the industry — the port finish on Laphroaig is an unusual combination that consistently delivers.
SCOTCH WHISKY TOPS SPIRIT GIFTING CHARTS FOR THIRD CONSECUTIVE YEAR Data from UK retailers shows Scotch whisky as the top spirit category for gifting in the Valentine's Day period for the third year running, overtaking gin which dominated the category between 2019–2022. Blended Scotch remains the most gifted sub-category by volume; aged single malts lead by value. Murray's Take: Whisky's transition from "dad's drink" to a genuine gifting category reflects real cultural change — a shift in who's buying and why.
INDEPENDENT BOTTLER SIGNATORY RELEASES CLYNELISH 32 YEAR OLD Independent bottler Signatory Vintage has released a single cask Clynelish 32 Year Old distilled in 1993, bottled at natural cask strength of 52.4%. The expression comes from a first-fill bourbon hogshead and is limited to 184 bottles. Retail price £650. Murray's Take: Old Clynelish at natural strength from Signatory is the kind of thing that reminds you what this industry can produce when everything goes right.
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