All Stories
The latest news, features, reviews and more from Whisky Magazine Australia.
Boots on, Sydney: Jack’s Southern Harbour Hoedown is coming
Boots on, Sydney! Jack’s Southern Harbour Hoedown hits the water on 12 November with live country music, line dancing and Southern-inspired bites aboard a three-hour harbour cruise.
Behind the data: the changing global map of Scotch whisky
The 2025 export report released by the Scotch Whisky Association revealed a major and uneven shift in the global Scotch whisky market, with overall exports down 1.8 per cent by value and 4.3 per cent by volume. Behind those headline figures was a much more complicated story with individual markets moving in very different directions.
Jance Distillery relaunches Double Oak ahead of single malt debut
Jance Distillery has re-launched its blended malt whisky Double Oak in a new-look bottle as it prepares to launch a single malt range.
Chris Thomson’s next chapter: From Lark to a whisky brand of his own
After nearly 20 years at Lark, master distiller Chris Thomson is preparing to leave and pursue his own whisky brand.
Callington Mill gets personal with fourth annual Festive Cask Single Malt
Callington Mill Distillery is getting ready for the festive season early with the launch of its fourth annual Festive Cask Single Malt and new festive personalised label options.
The Balvenie unveils world’s oldest single malt in 1931 Collection
Only 17 bottles of the 88-year-old exist
Beyond Kentucky: Bourbon finds its broader voice
The non-Kentucky bourbon brands flying the flag
The GlenAllachie returns to Australia after two-year hiatus
One of Scotland’s most celebrated independent distilleries is returning to Australian shores for the first time in two years thanks to a new national distribution deal with The Whisky List.
Lark dominates inaugural Royal Tasmanian Whisky Awards
Lark’s Wilderness Collection: Sea 08 - Antarctic Edge has dominated the inaugural Royal Tasmanian Whisky & Spirits Awards, outperforming 160 whiskies to claim four of the five trophies open to the category, including Best Overall Whisky in Show.
Introducing Ardbeg Dark Reserve – an Australia-Scotland collaboration
Ardbeg’s latest limited release is believed to be one of the darkest whiskies ever bottled by the distillery. It delivers everything the Islay peat specialist is known for, marrying its signature smoky profile with its propensity for innovation, in the form of rare black sherry casks. The result is a whisky with notes of treacle toffee, walnuts, earthy charcoal and spice. And it is exclusively available in Australia and New Zealand.
Family-owned WA distillery claims top honours at International Whisky Comp
A family-owned, small-batch whisky distillery from WA’s Great Southern region has been recognized on the world stage, taking home top honors at the 2026 International Whisky Competition.
A new oak adventure for The GlenAllachie
Sherry-cask richness meets rare Mongolian oak in the distillery’s latest 10-year-old single malt.
Woodford Reserve solves the age-old question: what do you wear when hosting?
Whisky Magazine Launches next weeToo formal for a robe, too relaxed for a dinner jacket? Woodford Reserve and Australian resortwear label COMMAS think they have found the answer.
Father’s Day Gift Guide
Four presents he’ll actually use - including one bottle worth hunting
Chris Hemsworth joins Archie Rose as Australian distillery sets its sights on the world
Chris Hemsworth has become co-owner of Sydney distillery Archie Rose as the award-winning Australian spirits producer prepares to launch in the US and expand worldwide.
Introducing Lark's first distillery-exclusive dram
Sourced from a single-cask hand-selected for its depth of character and rich flavour expression, Lark's newest limited-edition – Pontville Exclusive – is exclusively available from its namesake site and will never again be repeated.
Glenfiddich and Aston Martin F1 rev into gear with second 16yo collab
Glenfiddich is celebrating two years of partnership with Aston Martin F1 with a second collaborative limited-edition dram. And, at just $170 per bottle, this one offers not only incredible quality but incredible value.
Wild Turkey Unveils Rare 16-Year-Old Gold Foil Bourbon
Wild Turkey is bringing one of its most collectible bourbons to Australia. The inaugural Austin Nichols Archives Gold Foil Edition is a rare 16-year-old release inspired by the legendary "Cheesy Gold Foil" bottles of the 1980s.
Tasmanian Whisky Week 2026 opens: a decade of world-class spirit
Tasmanian Whisky Week has opened for its landmark 10th anniversary, running from 1–9 August 2026 with more than 30 events that put the island’s distillers, bars and whisky lovers in the same room.
Whisky Live Perth 2026
Whisky Live coming to Perth this September. Have you got your ticket yet?
Whisky Live 2026: Gold Coast this August
Whisky Live happening on the Gold Coast this August. Have you got your tickets yet?
Australia’s best drams crowned at Melbourne Royal Spirits Awards
Australia’s best distillers were celebrated last night at the 2026 Melbourne Royal Australian International Spirits Awards, one of the largest and most hotly-contested spirits competitions in the Southern Hemisphere.
Rare & Reserved: An Evening with Pappy Van Winkle
ESQ is opening one of bourbon's most elusive collections for a single night, with guests invited to experience the legendary Pappy Van Winkle Family Reserve 15, 20 and 23 Year Old Bourbons alongside a guided tasting and bespoke four-course menu.
Australia's top 5 single malts crowned in San Francisco
Five single malt whiskies from three distilleries across three states have been shortlisted for the Best Australian Single Malt Whisky title at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
LARK goes dark with bold new winter release
LARK Distilling Co. has unveiled the sixth release of its annual DARK LARK series, introducing its boldest expression yet.
Beyond the Glencairn, does glassware actually matter in spirits?
The mighty Glencairn has a long list of faithful servants in the global whisky community. As it should. Since 2001, its tulip shape has enhanced the aroma experience of more than 100 million drams of whisky – assuming every Glencairn sold has been used only twice. But what if, two decades later, the understanding of aroma theory has progressed to the point where a new glass could offer a perceptibly better experience? And what if that business was proudly owned and operated right here on our home turf?
Old dog new tricks: Introducing the first single malt from Robbers Dog Distillery
There is a new contender in the South Australian single malt whisky space, and as it turns out, the state’s most-robbed bank still has more gold to give. 204 bottles worth to be exact. This is the story of how husband-and-wife duo Rob and Cath cracked the code at the former Bank SA site.
Why 23rd Street Distillery Should Be on Every Whisky Lover's Travel List
23rd Street Distillery has been crowned Australian Distillery of the Year at the 2026 New York International Spirits Competition after its Australian Single Malt Whisky achieved the highest whisky score of the competition, earning Double Gold
Bottling light and dark with whisky’s ‘mad scientist' – Dr Bill Lumsden
If he wasn’t already the 'mad scientist of whisky', Dr Bill Lumsden would likely be the rockstar of Scotch. Only unlike most of the bands composing hits 30 years ago, the relevance of his whiskies has never once waned. This is the light-and-dark, the scientist-and-rockstar, and the Ardbeg-and-Glenmorangie of the person who pioneered modern wood management, Dr Bill Lumsden.
LARK Distilling celebrates five Gold medals at San Francisco World Spirits Competition
LARK Distilling Co. has claimed five Gold Medals at the 2026 San Francisco World Spirits Competition, with award-winning whiskies spanning its Signature Collection, Atlas Series and upcoming Cask Strength release.
There’s a new US whisky on the block – and it’s not bourbon
The Virginia Distillery Co story started in 2011 with a simple vision: to create single malt whisky that can go head-to-head with the best of Scotland, and toe-to-toe with the best of Australia. Its climate is warmer and maturation is faster, meaning a higher share for the angels and a very different conversation around age statements. Its approach to cask finishing is fun and fresh, and new make is a key talking point... If this has given you a feeling of deja vu you’re not alone – Virginia Distillery stands for almost all the same things Australian whisky stands for, and proudly.
Husk Distillers Sidetrack 8Malt – what happens when rum and beer makers make whisky
Husk Farm Distillery – best known for shaking up the Australian rum scene – has gotten sidetracked in a brewery for a second time. And, once again, what has come as a result is something all Whisky Magazine Australia readers would be happy to raise a glass to – an eight-malt mash bill, six year old limited release whisky.
Australia’s most awarded whisky is now Wallabies-approved
Starward is now the official whisky of Rugby Australia. Does this make Two-Fold Australia’s most scrum-ptious single malt? Maybe. Does it reinforce the Aussie-owned battler trope showing our whisky makers can head into the scrum with the world’s spirits giants and win? Most likely. Does it mean – if you haven’t already – now is the perfect time to give the Melbourne red wine-cask whisky specialist a try? Absolutely.
When stars align: How Amber Lane connected the dots between whisky and cognac
Rod Berry’s journey to founding and distilling at Amber Lane was far from traditional, even if his whiskies can be described that way. The story starts in 2017, when he was still running a successful law firm but decided to pursue a passion for whisky, despite neither he nor co-founder and astronomy club mate Phil Townsend having any prior distilling experience. And thus, Amber Lane was born. Fast-forward to April 2022, when its first whiskies hit shelves, and it became clear the stars had aligned.
Surf’s up: The new grom turning heads at Bondi
Surf’s up at Bondi and there is a new grom out in the lineup. His surfboard is still shiny and new, and his smile looks like it should be on TV. But the usual worries of being dropped in on quickly fade as set after set rolls in and etiquette prevails. And what’s more, he is going after waves the others have long since given up on.
Farm-to-glass distillery Il Signor Camillo releases “entirely Italian” inaugural whisky
Italy’s whisky scene has welcomed a remarkable new arrival with the debut of the first whisky from Il Signor Camillo, an ambitious farm-to-glass project born in the heart of the Ligurian mountains. Produced entirely from spelt, this spirit represents a distinctly Italian interpretation of whisky, shaped by terroir, local craftsmanship, and a profoundly agricultural philosophy.
100 years on: The Macallan’s single-cask ode to its greatest legend
Exactly 100 years ago, a whisky legend was born: The Macallan 1926. While rumours circulate of an immaculate conception, it was brand custodian Janet ‘Nettie’ Harbinson who laid it down in a Speyside ‘manger’. 60 years later it was her great nephew Allan Shiach who put it into bottle (40, to be exact) and revealed its magic to the world.
Callington Mill’s latest whisky is a history lesson worth going back to school for
Callington Mill has flicked to the sixth page of Oatlands’ history books and it is inviting you along. In this class there are no mid-year exams, only drams; and teaching is done through taste, not sound. What is the taste of the small Tassie town’s former state school? A single malt aged in Madeira casks, and bottled at natural cask strength.
Chris Thomson’s journey from rocking stages to rocking stills as Lark’s master distiller
On paper, Chris Thomson is one of the most revered forces in Australian whisky today. He has led the behind-the-scenes of the business that pioneered the industry we all love, helping it to take flight and sing its song globally for the past 19 and a half years. That’s more than half of the distillery’s total lifespan. But in person, the recently named Master Distiller of the Year - Rest of World is just a dude who really loves what he does.
Introducing the new face of Hibiki – Emmy-winning actress Anna Sawai
If we asked every Whisky Magazine reader what their favourite Japanese whisky is, there is a good chance that Hibiki would average out on top. If we did the same thing but for blended whisky, that result could well repeat itself. Despite only being founded 37 years ago, Hibiki is a whisky-household name. And for good reason.
How David Ridden and son Luke raised not just a glass but a distillery to Granddad Jack
To people in the Australian spirits industry, David Ridden will likely need no introduction. He is the President of the Australian Distillers Association and one of the strongest advocates for the golden nectar we all love. To everyone else, Ridden hopes it will be his whiskey that will tell his story, and his family's, for generations to come.
Amber Lane head distiller explains world-first Chartreuse cask whisky – V.2
Rue de la Liqueur was not the original name of the original release of this whisky. Nor was the original 2025 release something Amber Lane ever planned to make before the opportunity arose. Now back for a second and final time, we caught up with the man behind the stills, Rod Berry, to discuss the second edition of the world’s first-ever Chartreuse cask whisky.
Archie Rose wins World’s Best Rye Whiskey trophy… again
Archie Rose Rye Malt has earned the Sydney distillery yet another World’s Best trophy to add to its cabinet, this time at the London Spirits Awards.
Islay's newest distillery, Ardnahoe, now available down under
Two years after its first whiskies were released, the distillery built and opened by independent bottler Hunter Laing & Co will become widely available in Australia through new national distributor The Whisky List.
Fiona Coutts’ journey from microbiologist to Hellyers Road Head Distiller
Fiona Coutts on her career pivot, looking after Australia’s largest bond store of 18yo+ single malts, and playing "giant jigsaw puzzle jenga"
Fairways and Drams
The 19th hole has never been more refined. Golf and whisky share ancient Scottish DNA, both demand patience, precision, and an appreciation for wild, windswept landscapes shaped by nature’s hand
How many whisky-stained hats can one passionate ambassador wear?
Not only does Andrew Derbidge wear many hats within, and on behalf of, the Scotch whisky industry in Australia, but he has each type of hat in at least a handful of colours.
A decade in the making: Young Henrys releases rare whisky trio with Ester Spirits
Newtown’s most famous craft brewer and Marickville’s most awarded rum distiller walk into a whisky bar. The bartender asks, “What whisky do you want?” The duo responds, “Something that tastes like the Inner West.” The bartender hesitates. Then the brewer and distiller pull three samples from their pockets.
Getting to know the Australian Highwayman – Dan Woolley
Highwayman, the single-man whisky vision of one of Australia’s most influential whisky ambassadors, is celebrating its 10th anniversary
Why Scotch is for golf, not rugby, and manifesting the perfect ‘19th hole’ dram
In conversation with Iain Allan, the global ambassador for Glen Moray
How and why Deni Kay turned his whisky passion into a (not very profitable) business
What does the man behind the three oldest spirits ever bottled for Aus have to say about aged whisky? We decided to find out
Archie Rose adds a floral twist to its final Smoked Cask Series release
The fourth and final release in Archie Rose’s smoked cask series offers something truly unique: a single malt infused with the powerful and expressive nature of lavender
The Balvenie
Classic craftsmanship meets fresh thinking at The Balvenie, where new cask experiments and a changing of the guard signal an exciting next chapter.
Meet: In conversation with Bruichladdich’s Head Distiller Adam Hannett
From Islay roots to global innovation, Adam Hannett shares insights on Bruichladdich’s three distinct whisky styles and the ongoing evolution of Octomore.
Meet: Cask finishing bourbon with Angel’s Envy Master Distiller
Angel’s Envy Master Distiller Owen Martin discusses the brand’s Australian launch, cask finishing and the opportunity to premiumise bourbon in a growing local market.
Kanosuke Distillery Introduces Three Core Japanese Whiskies
Combining 140 years of shochu expertise with contemporary whisky-making, Kanosuke Distillery introduces a new core range that reflects a distinctly modern Japanese style.
Ardbeg fuses Sicilian sweet with Islay peat in annual Ardbeg Day release
Ardbeg’s 2026 limited release, Ardbeg Dolce, brings together Marsala cask sweetness and classic Islay peat, landing in Australia ahead of its global debut as part of the annual Ardbeg Day celebrations.
Meet: Matt Bailey
Matt Bailey has been appointed to lead the European operations of the Scotch Malt Whisky Society, marking a move from Sydney to the global home of whisky.
What Makes Australian Whisky Different?
From Tasmania’s small-batch roots to a new wave of innovation, Australian whisky is entering a more accessible era, driven by producers such as Starward and Archie Rose.
Grand Yozakura
From pioneering global single malt Scotch to pushing boundaries with rare cask finishes and collaborations, Glenfiddich continues to define what success looks like in modern whisky.
Ice, Water or Nothing
Few topics spark more debate than how to drink whisky, but whether it’s a lump of ice or a splash of water, the best approach is the one that works for you.
Whisky Festival Calendar: Every Australian Event Worth Your Time in 2026
From intimate distillery open days to major city festivals, plan your year of whisky.
Whisky Festival Calendar: Every Australian Event Worth Your Time in 2026
From intimate distillery open days to major city festivals, plan your year of whisky.
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