Distillery & Whisky News October 2026
Hello whisky lovers, and welcome to our October edition of Distillery and Whisky News.
October has arrived, the nights are drawing in and, if ever there was a time for settling down with a good dram, this is surely it. As autumn colours sweep across Scotland, it’s also a beautiful time to get out and explore whisky country before retreating somewhere cosy afterwards.
This month we’re discovering a brand-new distillery in the Angus Glens, heading north for an unforgettable experience at Balblair and finding a new whisky haunt in the heart of Edinburgh. We also have a rather special Arran Single Malt to discover, a new Glenfiddich podcast to listen to and an autumnal twist on the classic highball.
And with Halloween approaching, there are treats rather than tricks in this month’s Date With A Dram, as we have a bottle of Tomintoul 16 Year Old waiting for one lucky winner.
So pour yourself a dram, find a spot by the fire and enjoy October with DistilleryTours.scot.
Slàinte!
October Highlights:
- The Bothy Distillery
- Whisky Quay
- Balblair Definitive Experience
- Win Tomintoul 16 Year Old
- Arran White Stag Single Malt
- Kingsbarns Balcomie & Tonic Highball
- Glenfiddich Podcast
Distillery of the Month - The Bothy
There’s a new whisky story unfolding in the Angus Glens. This month we’re heading to Bothy Distillery, a new Scottish whisky distillery in beautiful Glen Prosen, on the edge of the Cairngorms National Park.
Founded by the team behind Gin Bothy, the distillery began producing Glen Prosen Highland Single Malt Whisky in July 2026, using locally grown barley and carefully selected casks. It’s an exciting new chapter for an area with a long history of illicit distilling and whisky smuggling.
While we’ll have to wait to taste the whisky currently maturing in cask, there’s plenty to discover now. Visitors can go behind the scenes on a distillery tour, opt for a more in-depth premium experience or settle in for a Taste of the Glens guided tasting featuring four different drams.
And if one day in the glen isn’t enough, you can even stay over. Keeper’s Bothy, within the distillery grounds, sleeps up to six and comes complete with a wood-burning stove and wood-fired hot tub overlooking the glen – with a complimentary distillery tour included in your stay.
A new distillery, a spectacular Highland setting and a whisky journey that’s only just beginning – Bothy Distillery is definitely one to watch.
Find out more about The Bothy Distillery at its dedicated pages on the DistilleryTours.scot website.
Venue of the Month - Whisky Quay
There’s a new place to add to your Edinburgh whisky itinerary. Whisky Quay, from the team behind the Port of Leith Distillery, has opened in the heart of the Old Town, just moments from the Royal Mile.
Described as the distillery’s “Old Town embassy”, the St Giles’ Street bar puts the spotlight on a new wave of whisky, from emerging distilleries and innovative production methods to unusual casks and single-cask releases.
Look out for exclusive Port of Leith Distillery single-cask whiskies, some decanted straight from the barrel into impressive jeroboam bottles, alongside a carefully selected collection of drams from Scotland and beyond. There are also whisky cocktails and some fun pairings to discover – including whisky with a Tunnock’s Caramel Wafer.
So, whether you’re starting a day of whisky discovery in Edinburgh or looking for somewhere to settle in with a dram afterwards, Whisky Quay is well worth adding to the itinerary.
Find out more about Whisky Quay on its dedicated page at the DistilleryTours website.
Experience of the Month - Balblair Definitive Experience
This month we head to one of Scotland’s most beautiful distillery settings for The Balblair Definitive Experience. From tasting wort and wash to exclusive warehouse access, a special single-cask hand-fill and a guided tasting of the Balblair range, this is one for whisky lovers looking to delve a little deeper.
Date With a Dram - Tomintoul 16 Year Old
For October’s Date With A Dram competition, we have a bottle of Tomintoul 16 Year Old Single Malt up for grabs – a beautifully balanced Speyside whisky with notes of heather honey, vanilla fudge, crème brûlée and a warming hint of cinnamon and toffee.
Enter This Month's Competition...
To be in with a chance of winning a bottle of Tomintoul 16 Year Old simply follow DistilleryTours.scot on Facebook or Instagram and share our 'Date with a Dram' post dated 1 October. The lucky winner will be chosen at random and announced in our November newsletter.
Congratulations to Jane Morrice who won September's competition to win a bottle of Old Pulteney 15 Year Old.
You must be 18 years old or over to enter. Please note, we will never approach you for your credit card details or personal information, send you friend requests or ask you to click on a link. Please stay safe online and remember to drink responsibly.
.jpg)
Malt of the Month - Arran White Stag Eleventh Release
Rich, fruity and limited to just 2,000 bottles, Arran Single Malt’s latest White Stag release is one worth seeking out. Fully matured in Port Pipes and bottled at 52% ABV, expect dark berries, chocolate, spice and toasted oak.
Discover what makes the White Stag Eleventh Release our Malt of the Month.
Perfect Serve - Balcomie & Tonic
Who says highballs are just for summer? October’s Perfect Serve pairs Kingsbarns Balcomie Single Malt with tonic and a slice of orange for a simple, refreshing serve with just the right character for an autumn evening.
Podcast - Inside Glenfiddich Distillery
This month we head to Speyside to meet Tino Took of Glenfiddich Distillery, talking whisky, family ownership, craftsmanship and his journey from a whisky bar in Iceland to one of Scotland’s best-known distilleries. Plus, which bottle would he take to a desert island?
Looking for inspiration for your next Distillery Tour? Follow us on FACEBOOK and INSTAGRAM to hear more, and subscribe to this newsletter at DISTILLERYTOURS.SCOT/SIGNUP.