Whisky by Time News Round Up – October 2023
In this October News Round Up we update you on the latest news from our sector. Including the launch of the new Cask Whisky Association. Met with controversy from some sections of the whisky community, we share both perspectives.
Others news points to the continued confidence in the whisky sector. With increased investment from across the globe; including Pernod Ricard’s plans to open its first distillery on Islay. And the great news that Scottish Whisky Visitors centres are now Scotland’s top tourist attraction.
We also update you on a limited edition malt inspired by Jazz and an award winning Indian whisky. On Thursday 5 October the prestigious The Distillers One-of-One brings to auction a selection of ‘one-off, never-to-be-repeated Scotch whiskies’. With all the money raised going to the Youth Action Fund we wish all involved a very successful event.
Launch of Cask Whisky Association -21 September 2023
The 21 September saw the launch of the Cask Whisky Association (CWA). The CWA is made up of two boards of Members and Advisors and includes cask whisky businesses, distilleries, independent bottlers, whisky experts as well as legal and insurance professionals. It aims: “to protect private customers from unscrupulous business practices and traders and safeguard independent bottlers from over-inflated pricing.”
On the same day of the CWA launch, Wendy Chamberlain MP, Chair of the Scotch Whisky APPG, wrote to government, seeking clarification on whether the new consumer legislation will increase protections for investors in cask whisky.
She wrote:
“I am aware that there are many reputable organisations who want to provide good investment opportunities to enthusiasts and investors alike. The actions of bad actors in this field risk harming not only consumers, but the reputation of Scotch whisky and the long-term viability of the industry as a whole.”
You can read more about the launch in this article;
Following its’ launch, the CWA has called on the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) to back the development. Some from the whisky sector have challenged how independent the CWA can be. This is discussed in this Forbes article ‘Cask Whisky Association? No, This Is Not The Answer To Protecting Scotch Whisky’. Read more here.
Pernod to build Islay whisky distillery
On the 3 October the Spirit Business shared how Chivas Brothers, the Scotch whisky arm of Pernod Ricard, announced plans to open its first distillery on Islay. The site will focus on making Islay single malt and will also be carbon neutral, in line with the company’s ambition to be carbon neutral across all of its facilities by the end of 2026.
Pernod’s Scotch whisky business reached a 10-year high with sales up by 17% in the 12 months to 30 June 2023. You can read the article in full here:
Whisky visitor centres become top Scottish visitor attraction
Figures from the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) show that the visitor centres collectively have risen to become the top visitor attraction in Scotland, with footfall more than doubling (114%) compared to 2021.
Visitor spend per head at whisky visitor centres has risen by 8.65%, with more than £85m spent in total at sites across Scotland’s five whisky regions; up 90% since 2010.
The opening up of international travel following pandemic lockdowns has played a significant role in the recovery of whisky tourism, with visitors from the United States, Germany and France – all key export markets for Scotch Whisky – among the top five demographics. This news featured in the trade and consumer press. You can read more here on the Scottish Whisky Association website:
Indian whisky is awarded the best in the world
The Indri Diwali Collector’s Edition 2023 got the ‘Double Gold Best In Show’ award in one of the largest whisky-tasting competitions in the world, in which over 100 varieties of whiskies from across the globe compete every year.
Whiskies of the World Awards follows a rigorous blind tasting over several rounds across categories. A panel of some of the top tastemakers and influencers in the alco-bev industry declares one whisky as the best whisky in each class.
Lagavulin launches Islay Jazz 2023 whisky
Earlier in September, Diageo’s Scotch brand Lagavulin released a 15-year-old single malt whisky to mark the Islay Jazz Festival, which took place later in the month.
Exclusive to the Lagavulin Distillery on Islay, only 3,000 bottles were available.
