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Autumn Whisky Roundup 2026
The season turns — and Scotland’s distilleries deliver
Autumn has always felt like whisky’s natural home, but this year the season arrives with an official start date. The Whisky Equinox on 23 September marks the moment the year tips towards darker nights and warming drams. And this autumn across Scotland, distilleries are releasing new single malts, rare aged expressions, films, field‑to‑bottle projects and barley‑led experiments.
The Scotch Malt Whisky Society has created a new annual moment for whisky drinkers: the Whisky Equinox, celebrated on 23 September, in line with the autumn equinox. To mark the occasion, the Society is releasing two half‑size Equinox bottlings, Riesling Spritz in the Sun (12‑year‑old Speyside) and Spice It Up After Dark (11‑year‑old Highland).
Around 100 limited‑edition whiskies will follow through autumn and winter, alongside Equinox events in Edinburgh, Glasgow and London. It’s the first time whisky has had a seasonal “opening day”, and it feels like a tradition in the making.
Blind Summit
Independent bottler Blind Summit has released two extraordinary 35‑year‑old Macallans from a single 1989 cask, split and finished in Rivesaltes and Barbados rum. Only 30 sets exist worldwide, each with mirrored artwork across the pair. This is one release for the collectors amongst you.
Arbikie
Arbikie’s Single Estate Single Malt arrives after a decade of patience. The Signature is grown, distilled, matured and bottled entirely on the family farm in Angus, using Odyssey barley and six bourbon casks. Only 1,000 bottles have been released and it is a milestone for one of Scotland’s most sustainability‑driven distilleries.
Benromach New 12-year-old
Benromach’s new 12‑year‑old joins their flagship range, matured exclusively in first‑fill Sherry and bottled at 46%. It builds on their subtly smoky Speyside style and is a nod to the region’s character.
Tomintoul
Tomintoul has premiered Spirit of the Cairngorms, a short film made with Cairngorm Mountain Rescue. It’s a celebration of landscape, community and the people behind both organisations and is a reminder of how deeply whisky is tied to place.
Royal Lochnagar
Royal Lochnagar’s 26‑year‑old Pursuits Edition is finished in French oak Cognac casks and presented with a han
dcrafted leather pursuits pouch. Only 840 bottles exist, each shaped by one of Scotland’s smallest and most traditional distilleries.
Aberargie Laureate & Golden Promise
Aberargie expands its barley‑to‑bottle philosophy with the first two releases in its new Expressions series: Laureate and Golden Promise.
Laureate — 32% bourbon / 68% sherry; lighter, modern, clean.
Golden Promise — 68% bourbon / 32% sherry; richer, textured, heritage‑driven.
Both barley varieties are grown on the Morrison family farms, making this a rare chance to taste grain character in isolation and to understand how barley shapes flavour long before the cask does.
RAER / Jackton Distillery The Inaugural Release
Jackton Distillery’s first single malt, RAER: The Inaugural Release, lands this September and it’s one of the most anticipated Lowland launches in years.
Female‑led and rooted in the Kean family farm, Jackton brings a modern sensibility to heritage whisky making. Their circular‑economy ethos runs through everything. Jaynie Kean leads the distillery and is nominated for Young Talent of the Year at the Scotland Food & Drink Excellence Awards.
The whisky draws on Bourbon, PX, Amontillado and Oloroso casks, offering fruitcake, fig, treacle, roasted nuts and a mellow toffee‑spice finish. Natural colour, non‑chill filtered, 48.7% ABV, 6,000 bottles collectable, but also made to be opened and shared.
