Whisky by Time News Round Up – November 2023
With Christmas festivities fast approaching it’s a busy time for whisky makers and investors.
In this November Round Up, we keep you updated on all the latest sector news. Including; Diageo’s sale of Windsor whisky brand, Amber Brand’s €35m investment into Irish whiskey and the first English whisky distilled using net zero energy. We also tell you more about how the Scottish Whisky Association has been lobbying the chancellor, ahead of the Autumn budget and share information on new launches from Indian, Scotland and Michael Bublé´. Who has announced his first whisky collaboration just in time for Christmas.
As we enter a period of high demand with Christmas, New year and Chinese New Year now is an optimal time for whisky cask investors to build their portfolios. You can read more about the reasons why. If you want to talk over with a member of the team please don’t hesitate to get in touch.
Oliver O’ Donovan
Founder of Whisky by Time
Amber Beverage plans €35m Walsh Whiskey distillery
In late October Global spirits producer Amber Beverage Group (ABG) announced they will invest €35 million (US$37m) to build a new Walsh Whiskey distillery at Dunleckney, Ireland.
Jekaterina Stuģe, CEO of Amber Beverage Group, said:
“This is ABG’s second major investment in the fast-growing Irish whiskey category following our acquisition of Walsh Whiskey and its super-premium Irish whiskey brands, Writers’ Tears and The Irishman, in 2021.
We will preserve the heritage of the historic site at Dunleckney, while introducing high-end production capabilities, married with a modern design to excite the senses of visitors to what will become a leading distillery and brand home for our whiskeys.”
Walsh Whiskey was established in 1999. Today, its portfolio consists of 25 expressions, matured in a mix of barrels and casks.
Diageo sells Windsor whisky arm
On 27 October, Diageo signed and completed the sale of the Windsor Global arm, which owns blended Scotch brand Windsor, to PT W Co, a South Korean company sponsored by Pine Tree Investment & Management Co.
The private equity firm now owns 100% of the shares in Windsor Global.
Chivas Brothers strike could impact Christmas
On the 30th October Spirit Business reported that Trade union Unite has confirmed Chivas Brothers members will be balloted for strike action over ‘unacceptable’ pay.
The Scotch whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, whose portfolio includes the Chivas Regal, Aberlour, Ballantine’s and The Glenlivet, employs around 1,500 workers in Scotland. The ballot opens on the 30 October and will close on 20 November.
Sharon Graham, Unite general secretary, said:
“Strike action at Chivas Brothers is a step closer following the failure of the company to make our members a fair pay offer. Any strike action involving hundreds of Unite members will undoubtedly hit hard the supplies of the company’s premier whisky brands over the festive season”
Yorkshire’s Cooper King Distillery launches net zero energy whisky
Whisky Magazine reported on breakthrough news that Yorkshire distillery Cooper King has produced the first whisky in England distilled using net zero energy. First Edition – Fruit + Spice, is the first release in its Expedition Series and every energy-related greenhouse gas emission from its production has been removed from the atmosphere. 589 bottles were produced from six small oak casks, with every bottle already sold.
Glasgow Distillery debuts cask strength series
The Glasgow Distillery has released cask strength editions of two of its single malts.
The releases, named Glasgow 1770 Peated Cask Strength Batch 01 and Glasgow 1770 The Original Cask Strength Batch 01, are the first in a new series of cask strength whiskies.
Mike Hayward, co-founder of The Glasgow Distillery, said:
“Every whisky we sample at the distillery is initially tasted at cask strength before dilution. We wanted to give customers the chance to experience amplified versions of two of our signature styles of spirit and an insight into what we get to taste day to day.”
Rampur expands Jugalbandi whisky line
Radico Khaitan has released a trio of Indian whiskies: Jugalbandi #3 and #4, and the 2023 edition of its Rampur Select.
All three are produced at the company’s Rampur Distillery, which is located at the foothill of the Himalayas in India. Anup Barik, master distiller at Rampur Distillery, said:
“We are always striving to continue innovating with each new release. I love marrying together pairs of different casks in the Jugalbandi series and am excited to have Rampur Select available again. We are looking forward to unveiling these three new
Michael Bublé releases whiskey
It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas especially as Michael Bublé has created a new whiskey brand called Fraser & Thompson. The brand describes its liquid as a North American whiskey, as it blends both Canadian whisky and Kentucky Bourbon.
