Whisky News — Monday, March 23rd

🥃 DRAM MASTER DAILY — Monday, March 23rd, 2026

────────────────────────────── ARDBEG TEN CASK STRENGTH LANDS WITH FULL ISLAY IMPACT Ardbeg just released a cask-strength version of its flagship 10-year-old single malt as a limited-edition Committee bottling: 61.7% ABV, ex-bourbon cask aged, £75 per bottle. This is Ardbeg unfiltered and undiluted—the classic smoke, iodine, and maritime character at maximum intensity. No age statement variations, no colour-adjusted marketing. Just the whisky as it comes off the stills. Murray's Take: Cask strength on an entry-level age statement is a risky move; Ardbeg pulled it off because the spirit doesn't fight the proof—it demands it. ──────────────────────────────

LAGAVULIN SWAPS SMOKE FOR SWEETNESS WITH 11-YEAR SWEET PEAT Diageo's Islay workhorse shook its old formula for the first time in nine years. Lagavulin 11 Year Old Sweet Peat matured entirely in ex-bourbon casks, layering pronounced smoke with notes of toffee apple, vanilla, and pronounced sweetness. 43% ABV, now in core range. The brand's last permanent expression was the Lagavulin 8. ──────────────────────────────

MAKER'S MARK STEWARDS RELEASE HONORS THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE BARREL Maker's Mark unveiled the third installment of its Wood Finishing Series: The Stewards Release, inspired by the distillery's operations teams. Bottled in two batches—59.4% ABV (109.6 proof) and 56.65% ABV (113.3 proof)—at $74.99 MSRP. Tasting notes feature cherry pie aromas, honey, toasted marshmallow, and candied ginger. Midpoint of a five-year journey, concluding in 2028. Murray's Take: A brand that spends time recognizing its staff is unlikely to cut corners on the whisky itself. ──────────────────────────────

KILCHOMAN RISKS MAURY CASKS FOR SOMETHING GENUINELY RARE Islay's farm distillery dropped its first limited edition of 2026: Kilchoman Maury Cask Matured, fully aged in ex-Maury fortified wine casks—a cask type the distillery has never used before. 50% ABV, non-chill filtered, natural colour. Retail: £75. Maury casks are unconventional and technically difficult to manage; when done right, they deliver something special. Kilchoman got it right. Murray's Take: Kilchoman doesn't chase trends; they chase casks that challenge them. This is what that looks like. ──────────────────────────────

MIDLETON VERY RARE 2026: THE 43RD ANNUAL IRISH BENCHMARK Midleton released its 43rd annual Very Rare Vintage—the sixth under Master Distiller Kevin O'Gorman. A marriage of five distillates: three single pot still, two single grain. The grain component grew this year, bringing enhanced floral notes, while careful increases in lighter pot still parcels deepened citrus character. 40% ABV, €240 / $240 / £220. Available from March 4 in Ireland and UK; US/EU markets follow in April. ──────────────────────────────

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