Kristiane Sherry

Jan 21, 2025

New whisky: Meet the innovative young distilleries from Scotland and beyond

Whisky has a long, rich, history. But in the last 10 years, a cohort of new distilleries has sprung up all around the world. Each brings a fresh, new perspective to the spirit – here are six to get to know now.

Did you know that the earliest known distillation took place in Mesopotamia in 3500 BC? Inventive people have been making spirits for millennia. The first records of whisky-making are sketchier, but we know the Scots were at it at least as far back as 1494. With such a storied history, there’s no wonder there’s often a focus on legacy makers. The likes of Bowmore, Macallan, Glenturret and more have been around for over 200 years. Bushmills in Northern Ireland got its licence in 1608. And Buffalo Trace can trace its own ancestry back to 1805.

All this history means some newer makers can sometimes be overlooked. But a long heritage isn’t everything. The global distilling boom has meant that the last 10 years has seen an influx of bold, innovative makers, all around the world. Here are six to explore, from Scotland and beyond.

OUR FAVOURITE NEW DISTILLERIES

The Cardrona, New Zealand

Hailing all the way from New Zealand, The Cardrona started making spirit in 2015, high up in the Southern Alps. An eco-minded maker, it takes sustainability seriously and never ships anything by air. Get a taste of the landscape with Cardrona Full Flight Bourbon Cask #124, one of its older expressions at seven years old. Fully matured in ex-bourbon barrels, it offers rich orchard fruit and vanilla custard notes.

Bonnington Distillery, Scotland

In 2019, Bonnington became the first new distillery in Leith, for almost a century. While its certainly new, it takes its name from an old military HQ found up near Edinburgh Castle – an iconic landmark in the city. We rate Bonnington Sherry Cask, which makes use of Pedro Ximénez casks to deliver a bold red fruit-forward and confectionery-like flavour profile.

White Peak, England

Located in the Peak District, White Peak is a fledgling whisky-maker that has put itself front and centre of the English distilling scene. Its lightly peated spirit and use of live yeast from a nearby brewery gives it a profound sense of place. This shines through in Wire Works Whisky, its first release, which takes its name from the old wire factory that the distillery now calls home.

Lindores Abbey, Scotland

A fascinating old-meets-new story here. Remember we mentioned the oldest recorded Scotch distillation? That’s what inspired the team behind the modern-day distillery to bring whisky production back to the Abbey where it’s believed it all started in 1494. The stills were fired up once more in 2017, and one of the releases that’s come since is The Casks of Lindores Sherry Butts. It packs a flavourful punch with an abundance of ginger bread, dried fruit and milk chocolate notes.

RyeLaw, Scotland

Fife’s InchDairnie Distillery styles itself as an ‘ingenious’ whisky maker. And, ever since spirit first flowed from the stills in December 2015, it’s lived up to that billing. With RyeLaw, it created the world’s first malted rye-based whisky – making waves in a sector so dominated by barley. The result? A decadent expression with vibrant spice, vanilla and crème caramel notes. Delicious.

Spring Bay, Australia

Family-owned Spring Bay brought single malt production to Tasmania’s East Coast when the distillery build got underway in 2015. Every drop of whisky is made from local barley and rainwater, capturing the stunning location in every bottle. Spring Bay Bourbon Cask is a fantastic example what the team are capable of. Packed with peach, caramel and rich spices as well as herbaceous undertones, it’s a fascinatingly complex whisky.

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