DramMaster Daily Whisky News — 24 April 2026

🥃 DramMaster Daily Whisky News — 24 April 2026

Laphroaig x Willem Dafoe Drop "Willem by Willem"

Laphroaig has teamed up with actor Willem Dafoe for a limited-edition 14-year-old single malt Scotch called Willem by Willem, finished in Oloroso sherry casks. It's the latest in a growing trend of celebrity-backed Islay collabs — but with an age statement and a cask finish that should keep purists on board. Expect it to move fast through specialist retail.

Laggan Bay Fills First Cask — Islay Hits 11 Distilleries

Islay's newest distillery, Laggan Bay, has officially come on stream and filled its inaugural cask. That makes it the 11th operational single malt distillery on the island — a number that would have seemed fantasy a decade ago. Early spirit is reportedly running in a classic Islay style, though the first bottlings are still years away.

Clydebuilt Unveils Six New Single Cask Scotches

Ardgowan's independent bottling arm Clydebuilt has released six new single cask Scotches, hand-picked by the team's whisky maker from distilleries across Speyside, Highland, Islay and the Islands. The range leans on long-aged stock and unusual cask choices — a strong play for the growing single cask collector market, where provenance and storytelling matter as much as the liquid.

Auchentoshan Adds Permanent Sherry Cask Finish

Lowland triple-distiller Auchentoshan has added a new permanent expression to its core range: Sherry Cask Finish at 40% ABV. It's a softer, more accessible sherry-influenced option aimed at the "gateway sherry dram" slot alongside Glenfiddich 15 and Dalmore 12. Core range additions from the Lowlands are rare — worth watching how it lands.

Fettercairn 12 & 16 Launch in the US

Whyte & Mackay's Fettercairn is finally rolling out its 12 and 16 Year Old expressions in the US market, bringing the Highland distillery's signature tropical character — partly credited to its unusual copper cooling ring distillation — to American shelves at scale. Fettercairn has been on a quiet premium push for two years; a proper US launch is the next phase of that strategy.

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