10 new Scotch whiskies for World Whisky Day 2026 - including ‘important’ first release
Rosalind Erskine checks out the new releases
World Whisky Day was set up in 2012 by author and consultant Blair Bowman, who, when he was at university, decided to buy the domain name and set up a website that explored our national drink.
Since then it has grown into a global celebration of Scotch whisky, with many brands and bars putting on events and deals in order to explore whisky.
With this in mind, I’ve picked a few of my favourite new Scotch whiskies to celebrate World Whisky Day with.
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Glen Moray Forbidden Fruit
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Glen Moray has recently launched Forbidden Fruit, a 7 year old whisky that has been finished in Calvados casks.
As the third whisky from the Distillery’s playful Xperience Collection, Forbidden Fruit continues Glen Moray’s journey of cask exploration and follows the acclaimed releases of Phoenix Rising and Twisted Vine - respectively tributes to charred oak and cognac cask maturation.
Using calvados casks from sister distillery Maison Busnel in Normandy - Glen Moray is owned by La Martiniquaise who also own Maison Busnel - the whisky has been matured for five years in bourbon casks before a two year finish in these calvados casks.
The resulting dram brims with notes of orchard fruits, sweet French pastries and fresh flowers, introducing an enticing new facet to the Elgin-based distillery’s much loved, easy drinking spirit. It’s a lovely sipping whisky that also works well in long drinks ideal for warmer days.
GlenAllachie 11-year-old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask
Building on the success of a trio of initial releases, The GlenAllachie has recently unveiled the fourth chapter in its celebrated Sherry Series: the new 11-year-old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky.
This new 11-year-old expression enjoyed a period of secondary maturation in Palo Cortado sherry casks and delivers a layered flavour experience with notes of ripe plums, dark mocha and warming cinnamon spice, balanced with refined dryness and depth.
Originally born of a happy accident in the mid 19th Century and now revered by connoisseurs, Palo Cortado is the rarest and most enigmatic sherry style. It begins as a young Fino (the driest and palest sherry style) before being refortified to 17.5-18% ABV, which causes the protective flor yeast to dissipate and triggers oxidative aging.
This unique process gives it a signature balance - the flavour profile sits between Amontillado and Oloroso, combining the aromatic finesse of the former with the structure, body and richness of the latter.
The GlenAllachie 11-year-old Palo Cortado Sherry Cask Matured Single Malt Scotch Whisky release is available now from The GlenAllachie Distillery and online with a UK RRP of £62.99.
Torabhaig Taigh
Torabhaig, the Isle of Skye Whisky Distillery, has introduced Torabhaig Taigh, its first core expression and the whisky that will define the distillery’s house style for years to come.
Pronounced “Tie”, Taigh means house in Scottish Gaelic. For Torabhaig, it represents more than the restored 19th-century steading that houses the stills. It speaks to home in a wider sense — the land, sea and community of Sleat, and the people who make the whisky.
Taigh establishes the clearest expression yet of the distillery’s philosophy: Smoke with Taste — an elegant, balanced approach to peat that enhances flavour rather than overwhelming it.
Crafted in small batches and matured in first-fill and refill bourbon casks with the addition of Madeira casks, Taigh delivers gentle smoke layered with vanilla custard, toasted almond, sweet dried fruits and warming spice. Bottled at 46% ABV, with no chill-filtration or added colour, it is both characterful and approachable.
Torabhaig Taigh is available now with an RRP of £40.
Glengoyne Signature
Glengoyne Highland Single Malt Whisky has introduced a new expression, Glengoyne Signature, a vibrant single malt with fresh apple notes layered with smooth vanilla, which has made its exclusive debut in Tesco stores across Scotland.
Glengoyne Signature (40% ABV) is a non-age statement, flavour-forward release created for consumers looking for an approachable flavour profile and great value. The expression has notes of crisp apple and vanilla, so prominent they are highlighted on the label, as well as fresh pears and plums.
The normal retail price of Glengoyne Signature is £35 for 70cl. Initially, there is an offer of £24 for Tesco Clubcard members in Scotland from 21 April – 15 June 2026.
Loch Lomond The Spirit of The Open whiskies
The Spirit of The Open, Loch Lomond Whiskies, has unveiled two new limited-edition single malts to mark The 154th Open at Royal Birkdale.
Presented in striking new illustrative packaging, the releases are: The Open Course Collection 2026 Tawny Port (£195, 46.9 ABV) and The Open Course Special Edition 2026 Argentinian Malbec (RRP £45; 46% ABV) and celebrate Loch Lomond Whiskies’ longstanding partnership with golf’s original championship, now entering its ninth year.
For 2026, both expressions are presented in a newly enhanced pack design inspired by vintage travel posters, bringing to life the true meaning of the ‘spirit of The Open’ and reflecting the timeless character of links golf on England’s north-west coast.
Lagg Manzanilla Sherry Finish
Isle of Arran Distiller’s Lagg Distillery recently released Lagg Single Malt Manzanilla Sherry Finish, a limited-edition small batch expression.
Following the successful release of the Lagg Palo Cortado Small Batch in 2025 - the distillery’s first small batch expression released worldwide - the team at Lagg continue their exploration of rare and unusual sherry casks, seeking out intriguing, umami‑rich and coastal flavour combinations that complement the character of Lagg Single Malt.
The latest release is focused on Manzanilla sherry, a style produced exclusively in the coastal town of Sanlúcar de Barrameda in Spain’s Jerez region.
The sherry develops under a layer of yeast known as flor, which protects the wine from oxidation and preserves its pale colour and delicate character. As a result, Manzanilla is typically lighter, drier and fresher than other sherries, often showing subtle saline and almond notes.
Glen Scotia 7 year old whisky - Campbeltown Malts Festival
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Multi-award award winning distillery Glen Scotia has revealed its limited-edition single malt whisky in celebration of the Campbeltown Malts Festival which draws whisky lovers from around the world to visit the region each May.
Glen Scotia’s annual festival bottlings have built a reputation for bold, intriguing flavours and the Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 release continues this tradition.
Aged for seven years, this medium-peated single malt was matured in first-fill bourbon barrels before being finished for six months in ruby port casks.
The distinctive dual cask maturation has resulted in big flavours of ripe red fruit, gentle sweet peat and warming spice, carried on a rich, coastal undertone that reflects Glen Scotia’s maritime trade history.
Glen Scotia’s Campbeltown Malts Festival 2026 release is non-chill filtered, bottled at cask strength (53.9% ABV) and is priced at £59.
Little Brown Dog 12 year old Aberdeenshire Single Malt
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Independent Scotch whisky producer Little Brown Dog recently announced the launch of its first-ever core expression whisky, Aberdeenshire Single Malt, marking what the company describes as its most important release in eight years of business.
Launched on 28 April 2026, the new whisky represents a major milestone for the Aberdeenshire-based business and a significant step in its continued growth from cult independent bottler to established name in modern Scotch whisky.
Distilled at Glen Garioch Distillery, just ten minutes from Little Brown Dog HQ, the whisky is a 12-year-old unpeated Highland single malt matured in a recipe of 60% first-fill bourbon barrels and 40% Oloroso and PX sherry casks.
Bottled at 46% ABV, natural colour and non-chill filtered, Batch One has been produced in hand-numbered runs of around 2,000 bottles - large by Little Brown Dog standards, yet intentionally small enough to celebrate subtle batch variation and character.
This whisky is available now priced at £50.
Glenmorangie The Thirty
Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky recently announced the release Glenmorangie The Thirty – now the oldest whisky in the distillery’s core range.
In contrast to the distillery’s signature style, The Thirty combines a parcel of whisky which has been finished in Burgundy red wine casks; combined with classic bourbon-cask matured Glenmorangie, to give notes of dark fruits, cumin and clove.
Glenmorangie The Thirty is available to buy now online, at the Distillery Visitor Centre in Tain and Glenmorangie’s Heathrow Boutique, with other markets launching throughout the year, RRP: £740.
Rhythm and Booze Records blended whisky - release 4
Rhythm and Booze Records, the world's first combination independent record label and spirits bottler, has released its fourth bottle: Rhythm and Booze Records #4: Nicole Cassandra Smit — Blended Scotch Whisky, created in collaboration with whisky consultancy company and indie bottler Cask Le Sens.
The release pairs an expertly crafted blended Scotch whisky with an exclusive collection of original songs by Edinburgh-based singer-songwriter Nicole Cassandra Smit, recorded specifically for this bottle and available nowhere else.
As with all Rhythm and Booze Records spirits, the bottle's front label showcases the featured artist, while a QR code on the back label leads to a private link where buyers can stream or download Nicole's new songs to enjoy as they pour themselves a dram. The music is exclusive to the bottle and will not be available on any streaming platform.
To create the whisky, she included a significant portion of 35-year-old Invergordon grain whisky which contributes creamy, buttery richness at the heart of the expression. Malts sourced from Speyside and the Highlands provide structural integrity and fruity character.
Rhythm and Booze Records #4: Nicole Cassandra Smit - Blended Scotch Whisky is bottled at 50% ABV with only 300 bottles available and is available for £65 on the website for Cask Le Sens' UK distributor Ruiseart Spirits as well as select retailers.
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