Whiskies - Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Arbikie goes against the grain with Scottish rye whisky

Published: 18 January, 2018

Scotch is one of the UK’s most formidable trademarks, with a global export presence worth £1.8 billion in the first half of 2017, according to HMRC.

Berry Bros. & Rudd goes Daft for new whisky addition

Published: 11 December, 2017

Berry Bros. & Rudd has revealed a new global distribution agreement with Daftmill Distillery - one of only two Scottish spirit distilleries that can use the term ‘single estate’.

Southern Comfort seasonal campaign goes back to its roots

Published: 06 December, 2017

A new marketing campaign for Southern Comfort centring on the spirit’s hometown of New Orleans is about to land in the UK.

Dingle Distillery to upscale production

Published: 13 November, 2017

The Dingle Distillery, the craft spirits producer, is launching an investment drive to scale up its production.

Plans revealed for The GlenAllachie Distillery

Published: 03 October, 2017

The new owners of The GlenAllachie Distillery have unveiled new plans for the Speyside site since taking over from Pernod Ricard in in July.

Johnnie Walker launches Blade Runner special edition 35 years after original film cameo

Published: 19 September, 2017

Diageo-owned Scotch, Johnnie Walker, has launched a special edition blend to coincide with the release of the Blade Runner sequel – 35 years after the spirit appeared in the original film.

SWA heads to Japan to insulate trade against Brexit

Published: 31 August, 2017

The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) chief executive Karen Betts is this week joining the Prime Minister Theresa May and International Trade Secretary Liam Fox on a business delegation to Japan to ensure that trade opportunities aren’t scuppered by Brexit.

UK sales of premium Japanese whisky soar

Published: 25 August, 2017

The demand for Japanese Whisky has seen a boom in the price of rare whiskies with prices up 65% in 12 months, to £450 a bottle.

Alcohol dominates list of top seven UK food and drink exports

Published: 18 August, 2017

Four out of the top seven performing export categories in the UK’s food and drink market are alcoholic, new figures have revealed.

Pernod aims to grow "massive" uplift in Christmas spirits with two premium focused campaigns

Published: 17 August, 2017

Pernod Ricard kicked off its Christmas briefing strategy this morning with a reminder of why Christmas is the most important period in the trade’s calendar.

Whisky Galore

Published: 07 August, 2017

First the bad news – on March 8, Chancellor Philip Hammond hit UK spirits with a near 4% hike in duty pushing the tax on the average bottle of Scotch to an eye-watering 79%. Having scrapped the duty escalator in 2014, followed by a cut the year after and then a freeze, this unexpected blow from “Spreadsheet Phil” provoked fury among distillers. “It is staggering that the Prime Minister stood up in Scotland on Friday [March 3] and said that Scotch whisky is ‘a truly great Scottish and British industry’ … and just five days later the Chancellor hammers this industry at home,” thundered Charles Ireland, managing director of Diageo GB.

Edrington receives boost from five-year plan as profits rise 32%

Published: 29 June, 2017

Scotch brand owner Edrington has reported seeing results from its five-year strategy plan after yearly profits soared 32% to reach £91m.

Brown-Forman acquires The BenRiach Distillery Company for £281 million

Published: 02 June, 2016

Brown-Forman announced yesterday it has completed the acquisition of the single malt Scotch whisky conglomerate The BenRiach Distillery Company for £281 million.

Recent decline in Scotch whisky exports slowing

Published: 23 May, 2016

Scotch whisky export value was down 2.4% in 2015 totalling £3.86 billion in custom value, but it is good news as the decline in recent years is slowing.

Maxxium UK launches Jim Beam Double Oak

Published: 21 April, 2016

Iconic US Bourbon Jim Beam has released the Jim Beam Double Oak, which is being launched into the UK later this month.

Inverarity Morton seals deal with Edinburgh Whisky

Published: 18 February, 2016

Scotland's Edinburgh Whisky, one the newest additions to the whisky scene, has signed a deal with Inverarity Morton, which now becomes the exclusive on-trade distributor throughout the UK

Insights: Is Scotch whisky fighting a possible hangover?

Published: 19 January, 2016

Increased competition from American bourbon and Irish whiskey producers are challenging the single malt Scotch whisky category, but could education and brand building initiatives help the category?

Analysis: Is the flavoured whisky and Bourbon drinks boom offensive to purists?

Published: 04 November, 2015

As flavoured whisky and Bourbon drinks sales boom, Dominic Roskrow looks at their impact on the category and how purists are coping with their popularity.

Insights: The 12 must have drams of Christmas

Published: 03 November, 2015

It's been another huge year for whisky, but how do you go about offering a comprehensive and exciting choice for your customers? Dominic Roskrow offers some advice.