Hello thirsty readers! For me, the history behind the whiskies we drink today has always been as fascinating as the liquid itself. Here’s a glimpse into the past, at an Aberdeenshire distillery that is no longer around.
Jericho & Benachie: A Lost Distillery Story
Founded in 1822 in Aberdeenshire by farmer William Smith, Jericho Distillery emerged during the early transition from illicit farm distilling to Scotland’s newly legal whisky industry that emerged after the Excise Act of 1823. Early production was decidedly small-scale, with a 244-gallon wash still and a tiny 67.5-gallon spirit still producing a heavy, oily spirit more akin to the robust farm whiskies of the era than the refined malts we know today.
The distillery relied on local peat and primitive fermentation methods, using a combination of wild yeasts and homemade cultures. Wooden washbacks and a hand-turned mash tun made consistency a challenge, but these traditional processes contributed to a characterful spirit that gained a loyal following across Aberdeenshire.
Under John Maitland’s ownership, Jericho underwent a major modernization. A new iron mash tun with mechanical rakes improved extraction efficiency, while larger washbacks more than doubled fermentation capacity. The biggest transformation came in the stillhouse: by 1884, the wash still had grown to 1,400 gallons and the spirit still to 706 gallons—five and ten times larger respectively than their predecessors. Although the new spirit still retained a squat shape, its taller neck encouraged greater reflux, producing a spirit that was slightly lighter while preserving the distillery’s trademark weight and richness.
Renamed Benachie, the distillery continued to produce whisky shaped by local peat and traditional malt-drying practices, earning a reputation for deeply flavoured, sherry-matured whisky. Production eventually ceased, and by the outbreak of the Second World War only a single cask reportedly remained. At a wedding held in the old malt barns, guests drank it dry—believed to be the final taste of Benachie whisky.
The Lost Distillery Company have attempted to recreate what this spirit may have tasted like. Find out more on their site, and in the Industry News section below.
Sláinte,
Mark
What’s In Mark’s Glass This Week
Single malts under R500 are hard to come by these days. The latest two releases from Private Barrel Co are below that price point and it turns out they’re good drinkers!
Private Barrel Co – No. 71 (46% abv, R499.99) – Raisins, burnt sugar, dark chocolate, a velvety mouthfeel. The first bottle of No. 71 that I tried had some very “off” notes, bad sulphur in a glass. Happily, the current bottle of No. 71 is much better.
Private Barrel Co – No. 104 (46% abv, R399.99) – Sweet vanilla, gentle smoke, a slight pepperiness, lingering finish. I find myself reaching for No. 104 more than the No. 71, the faint peat influence from the ex-Laphroaig quarter casks drawing me in.
As always, the distilleries are kept secret, and no amount of questioning and cajoling has shed any light. At R399.99 (No. 104) and R499.99 (No. 71), it’s hard to go wrong. And with Checkers Sixty60, you can chuck them into your cart and order and they’ll (most likely) be delivered to your doorstep before you’ve read to the end of this newsletter.
Industry News
Tormore launches its first official core range as “The Pearl of Speyside” — The long-silent Speyside distillery has finally emerged with a proper core range lineup, shedding its role as a workhorse blending malt to stand on its own. The range debuts with well-priced expressions designed to introduce drinkers to Tormore’s signature floral, clean house style. Spirit of Speyside festival visitors reportedly got first access this year. Worth watching as Tormore builds its single malt identity.
Read more — Whisky Magazine
Bacardi Becomes Sole Owner of Teeling Irish Whiskey
Bacardi has taken full ownership of Teeling, one of Dublin’s most prominent independent whiskey names, buying out the remaining stake. The move folds a marquee Irish single pot still and blend portfolio into the Bacardi stable and signals continued consolidation in premium Irish whiskey.
Read more — The Spirits Business
Inverurie Whisky Shop Revives the Lost Jericho Distillery
For its 10th anniversary, the Inverurie Whisky Shop has worked with The Lost Distillery Company on an exclusive “Jericho 10 Year Old” — a tribute to the long-closed Aberdeenshire Jericho distillery (1822–1913). A charming bit of whisky archaeology from the northeast.
Read more — Whisky Intelligence
Isle of Raasay to host Hebridean Whisky Festival 2026 Finale — Fresh off winning Visitor Attraction of the Year, Isle of Raasay Distillery has been confirmed as the closing venue for the Hebridean Whisky Festival 2026. The festival celebrates the growing cluster of island distilleries across the Hebrides and Raasay’s selection signals its rising status in the Scottish whisky landscape.
Read more — The Whiskey Wash
Loch Lomond’s Gary Mills Named Best Scotch Whisky Ambassador
Loch Lomond Group’s global brand ambassador Gary Mills has taken Best Scotch Whisky Ambassador at the Icons of Whisky / World Whisky Awards — a nice bit of recognition for a brand that keeps quietly punching above its weight, and timely given the Championship-sponsor releases now landing locally.
Read more — Whisky Intelligence
The Macallan Opens First UK Boutique at Harrods
Still worth a mention from earlier in the month: The Macallan’s first standalone UK boutique inside Harrods, anchored by a 100-bottle Rare Cask edition — a statement of intent as luxury whisky leans harder into flagship retail.
Read more — The Whiskey Wash
Ardgowan Distillery Secures Fresh Investment Ahead of First Release
The Inverclyde distillery — the area’s first new distillery in over a century, which began distilling in 2025 — has strengthened its balance sheet with new £4.2m investment, reinforcing its long-term foundations as it works towards its inaugural whisky.
Read more — The Spirits Business
New Releases
Old Pulteney 50 Year Old & 30 Year Old (200th Anniversary) — The flagship of the week: a 50 Year Old in just 200 decanters (£20,000) alongside a 1,000-bottle 30 Year Old (£1,750), marking the distillery’s bicentenary. Details
GlenAllachie Masters of Wood — Ex-Solera Sherry Cask — A new addition to GlenAllachie’s wood-led Masters of Wood series, this time a solera-sherry-cask-matured single malt from Billy Walker’s Speyside stable. Details
Living Souls × Little Brown Dog — 46 Year Old Blend — A genuine throwback: a 46-year-old blend marrying grain from closed Central Scotland distilleries with a late-1970s Aberdeenshire malt. Old, rare stock from two characterful independents. Details
Glen Scotia Malts Festival 2026 — Campbeltown festival bottling, landed at WhiskyBrother (R1,450) and already sold out — a measure of how hot Glen Scotia has become.
Loch Lomond The Open Special Edition 2026 — The Championship sponsor’s annual release, now landed locally at WhiskyBrother (R890). A keenly-priced way into the Loch Lomond range.
Glengoyne 16yo Mizunara Oak (R6,700, WhiskyBrother) — Glengoyne meets Japanese oak in this unusual expression. Mizunara is notoriously difficult to work with but imparts distinctive sandalwood and incense notes that can elevate a rich, sherry-influenced spirit like Glengoyne’s. At this price point it’s serious money, but Mizunara expressions are rarely plentiful.
Reviews Roundup
Dramface:
- Little Brown Dog Duo: Caol Ila Unpeated 12yo & Longmorn 11yo (23 Jun) — Charlie at Dramface attended the Campbeltown Malts Festival and came away with two Little Brown Dog selections that have apparently earned strong praise. The unpeated Caol Ila is a genuinely curious bottling — most Caol Ila drinkers are there for the peat, making this an interesting alternative expression of a beloved distillery. The Longmorn rounds out a well-matched indie pair. Read
- North Star Spirits Islay Connection 10yo (22 Jun) — Archie at Dramface uses this review to reflect on his life as a musician and the pre-digital era, while letting a well-constructed Islay indie bottling from North Star Spirits do the talking. North Star has built a quiet reputation for selecting excellent casks without fanfare. Read
- Arran 10yo Arran Barley (Batch 001) (19 Jun) — Broddy on why the Arran Barley is “emulation in a good way.” Read
- Mortlach 11yo Signatory 100º Proof (18 Jun) — Earie and Fergie find patience rewarded on a Signatory Mortlach. Read
WhiskyNotes (Ruben Luyten’s long-running whisky blog):
- Ben Nevis 1973 (Thompson Bros) (24 Jun) — A 52yo Dornoch Castle bottling; old, fruity Ben Nevis royalty. Read
- Glen Garioch 52 Years 1973 (Decadent Drinks “Whiskyland”) (23 Jun) — 53.2%, first-fill sherry butt, 240 bottles — the oldest Glen Garioch ever bottled. Read
- Bowmore 18yo 2007 “Gentle Giant” (Passion for Whisky) (22 Jun) — 50.3%, bourbon hogshead, 90 bottles; a Boogieman Whisky Society Islay pick. Read
Two WhiskyBros:
- Springbank & Longrow Open Day 2026 (15 Jun) — Two WhiskyBros covered the Campbeltown Malts Festival open days this year. The Springbank Open Day landing a standout 8.5/10. Read
- Hazelburn Open Day 2026 & Kilkerran Open Day 2026 (17 Jun) — Hazelburn scored 7/10; Kilkerran came in at the same mark — both respectable distillery-day bottlings that will appeal to Springbank devotees. Read
- Bruichladdich Fèis Ìle 2026: Yellow Submarine [Reclassified] & Octomore Black Art Redux (19 Jun) — A Fèis Ìle double-header from Two WhiskyBros, covering two of the most anticipated festival releases from Bruichladdich. Yellow Submarine scored 7.5/10; Black Art Redux landed at 7/10 — both worthwhile festival bottlings if you can track them down. Read
The Whiskey Wash:
Ampersand Malus Rye Whiskey & Calvados Blend — An unusual review from The Whiskey Wash covering a hybrid expression blending rye whiskey with Calvados (apple brandy from Normandy). Scored 9/10, this sits in interesting cross-category territory that whisky-curious drinkers might enjoy exploring. Read
Bourbon Corner
It’s been a busy week for American whiskey launches:
Barrell Bourbon Batch 038 — Breaking Bourbon reviewed the latest from Barrell Craft Spirits and called it a “banger of a batch” — high praise from a site not known for hyperbole. Barrell’s small-batch blending approach consistently delivers flavour-intensive results, and Batch 038 appears to continue that trend. Read
Pursuit Spirits × Meat Church “Honey Hog” Bourbon — A 105-proof, honey-finished bourbon built to pair with smoked meats, fusing Kentucky, Tennessee and Texas. Read
Blade and Bow 12 Year Old Solera Reserve — Diageo’s Stitzel-Weller brand debuts a solera-finished 12yo, an unusual technique for bourbon. Read
Coors Whiskey Co. 8 Year Old Blended American Malt — A limited release leaning on nearly 150 years of Coors malting expertise, riding the rise of American malt whiskey. Read
Brother’s Bond Bourbon Arrives in the UK — The brand co-founded by actors Ian Somerhalder and Paul Wesley finally lands with UK buyers after big US success. Read
Oaklore Story Series Port Finished Bourbon (Batch 003) — An intense port-driven profile that walks the line between overly finished and just right, per Breaking Bourbon’s review. Read
Available Now — Local Online Retailers
Another quiet week for new arrivals on the local scene. It seems like the Loch Lomond and Glen Scotia allocations have hit the shelves across the usual suspects (Whisky Brother, Norman Goodfellows ), with the Glen Scotia Malts Festival 2026 selling out quickly.
Bottega has a few interesting Arrans available at pretty decent prices, I’m sure they’ll get snapped up quickly.
Decanter has some Goalong Chinese Whisky – yup, you read that right. Who’s going to be brave enough to fork out the cash and be the Fellowship’s guinea pig? Be sure to let me know your thoughts if you do give it a try.
Upcoming Events
Nothing new on the events front that I could find. Please let brands/retailers/etc know that I’m happy to list their events, they just need to get in touch.
I’ll be attending the WhiskyShop Sip Street Fest on Saturday, I hope to see you there and share a dram with you!
WhiskyShop presents Sip Street Fest
Saturday, 27 June 2026 | 13h00–21h00 | The Gantry Lifestyle Centre
– GA Ticket: R490
– MasterClass Ticket: R2000 (includes a bottle of whisky)
Book tickets
WhiskyBrother’s Helden Distillery Day Trip
Saturday, 11 July 2026 | Parys Free State | R1,490pp
A full-day experience at South Africa’s Helden Distillery with an in-depth tour led by founder and owner Dr Pieter van Helden — ideal for anyone who hasn’t visited a working distillery before. Book tickets
The Only Whisky Show 2026
JHB: 13 & 14 August | The Galleria | R690pp
Book JHB
Cape Town: 20 & 21 August | CTICC | R690pp
Book CT
Worth Reading
African Grains in Distilling: Sorghum, Millet, Teff & Fonio — A look at indigenous African grains and their place in distilling, from the “cradle of humankind.” Featuring Helden’s founder and distiller, Dr Pieter van Helden, a good friend of the Fellowship. Read (Distilling.com)
America’s 250th Anniversary Whiskey Buying Guide — Breaking Bourbon surveys the wave of commemorative whiskeys arriving for the US semiquincentennial, from simple patriotic editions to once-in-a-generation blends. A useful map of a crowded, timely category. Read (Breaking Bourbon)
Why the Whisky Markets Should Settle Later in 2026 — GreatDrams makes the case that the current downturn is a correction, not a collapse, and that 2026 is shaping up as a drinker’s market. Read (Great Drams)
The Confluence Project: Where Collaboration and Competition Meet — How craft distillers New Riff and Chattanooga Whiskey set rivalry aside for a collaboration years in the making — a good read on the cooperative streak running through American craft whiskey. Read (Breaking Bourbon)
And That’s a Wrap!
Thanks for all the support, comments, suggestions and inspiration that helped produce this issue of the digest. What other community-related content would you like to see here?
And if you enjoyed it, please forward it on to your friends and family who would be interested. Let’s grow the fellowship.
Until next week, DRAM on!