Catching Up with Ardbeg’s Colin Gordon
It’s been three years since Colin Gordon left Islay’s Lagavulin Distillery to move down the road and take over for the retiring Mickey Heads at… Read More
budget
A Scottish Rye? Rye Not! (Episode 1002: April 30, 2023)
Rye hasn’t been widely used by Scotch whisky distillers for decades, but Inchdairnie Distillery is doing something different for its first release: A Scottish single grain distilled from 53% malted rye and 47% malted barley. The distillery contracted local farmers to grow the rye grain, and released its first batch of RyeLaw this week. Inchdairnie managing director Ian Palmer joins us to explain the reasons for starting with a Scottish rye whisky. In the news, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak says no to reconsidering a whisky tax hike set for August, while Diageo is joining the growing list of whisky Read More »
Thanks a Thousand! (Episode 1000: April 16, 2023)
We’re celebrating a major milestone this week with the 1000th episode of WhiskyCast! To mark the occasion, Mark went back through the archives to pick some memorable moments and interviews from the past 18 years for this special episode. You’ll hear from legends like the late Parker Beam and Michael Jackson, along with Jimmy Russell, Jim McEwan, Maureen Robinson, Fawn Weaver, and Richard Paterson…just to name a few. This episode is a lot longer than usual, and there’s plenty more that we could have included. In the news, Scotch Whisky Association leaders are hoping to persuade Parliament to reject a Read More »
Chancellor Slams Whisky Industry With Tax Hike
March 15, 2023 – The Scotch Whisky Association’s pleas for a freeze on excise duty fell on deaf ears, as Chancellor Jeremy Hunt’s new budget calls for a 10.1% increase in duty on whisky and other distilled spirits. Hunt’s budget plans a tax increase in line with inflation effective August 1 for all four alcohol categories (distilled spirits, wine, beer, and cider), with relief being offered for on-draught products sold at bars and restaurants. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, the duty rate on spirits will rise to £31.64 per liter of pure alcohol, raising the tax burden on an Read More »
Distillers Left Out of UK Energy Relief Program
February 17, 2023 – Wine, cider, and beer qualify for relief under the UK Government’s new energy relief program, but whisky distillers have been left out, despite the fact that distilleries use more energy than their competitors in the drinks industry. The government’s Energy and Trade Intensive Industries scheme is designed to provide financial support for industries hit hard by the rise in electricity and natural gas prices, with eligible companies receiving a discount based on the difference between wholesale prices and a set price threshold. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, 53 percent of distillers have seen their energy Read More »