As the days get shorter and the temperature drops, it’s an ideal time to cosy up in front of a fire with a dram or two.
Luckily, autumn is a busy time for new whisky releases, so why not try something new?
From peated island and highland drams to softer, sweeter whiskies, here are some of the best new releases to enjoy this autumn.
St Andrews-based Kingsbarns distillery recently announced a major milestone for its whisky with the launch of its Kingsbarns 10-year-old, its first age statement whisky.
Isabella Wemyss, blender, said: “This is a very personal moment for me. I’ve been with Kingsbarns since day one, shaping our spirit and choosing the casks we believed would let it shine. To see that vision now bottled as our first 10-year-old is incredibly special.
“We’ve always had a clear idea of the whisky we wanted to make - light, elegant and true to its Lowland roots - and we’ve never strayed from that.
“This release brings it all together. Matured predominantly in ex-Bourbon barrels with a touch of STR wine casks, it’s soft and balanced with summer fruits and vanilla, offering a greater depth, richness and complexity that only time can deliver.”
Priced at £65, you can buy a bottle here.
Last month Isle of Harris Distillery celebrated ten years since it opened its doors, with a special release of its award-winning single malt, The Hearach.
Marking a new chapter in the island’s whisky story, The Hearach Decade Edition is the first product to come from the distillery using peat hand-cut from the Isle of Harris itself.
In this limited-edition whisky, that same peat is used to dry the malted barley, giving the spirit a subtle, smoky character which brings quiet depth and warmth rather than dominating the dram.
This allows the softer island notes to shine through and acts as an ideal introduction to newcomers of peated single malt Scotch whisky.
Distilled in November 2018 and matured in just three first fill Oloroso sherry butts and two first-fill, ex-Heaven Hill bourbon barrels, The Hearach Decade Edition retains the complex and elegant character of The Hearach, with an added smokiness layered with caramel and spice, evoking memories of Hebridean peat fires and the mineral saltiness in the air along the island shoreline.
Priced at £75, this whisky is available exclusively from the distillery and online here.
Multi-award winning Campbeltown distillery Glen Scotia has introduced a new 12-year-old single malt whisky into its portfolio.
Fully matured in the finest first-fill bourbon casks for vibrant depth and richness of flavour under the watchful eyes of Glen Scotia’s small expert team, the 12-year-old puts the distillery’s big Campbeltown character in the spotlight.
This new whisky opens with fresh sea air, honeyed vanilla and hints of exotic tropical
fruit on the nose. On the palate, wonderful layers of caramelised sugar, tangy citrus
and vibrant pineapple are balanced with subtle toasted oak and a long warming finish.
Priced at £45, you can buy a bottle here.
Independent Scotch whisky producer The GlenAllachie Distillers Company recently announced the release of the Meikle Tòir Turbo 2025 Edition, the third instalment of its acclaimed annual small-batch peated series.
Mainland peat from St. Fergus lays the foundation for the whisky’s signature oaky, sweet smoky character, while five years in virgin oak casks and oloroso sherry hogsheads add layered richness and depth.
The name “Turbo” reflects the intense smoke character - 72 PPM compared to 35 PPM for the core range of Meikle Tòir bottlings - achieved by capturing the spirit cut at its peak phenolic level, the heart of the heart of the distillate.
Priced at £55, you can buy a bottle here.
This intriguing dram is the fifth expression in the single cask edition from Tulliebardine - the 2008 orange wine cask finish.
Now a staple of summer drinking, orange wine is known for its range of aromas and is made using skin and seed contact of the grapes during fermentation.
This cask delivers honeyed tropical fruit, balanced with lighter floral notes of honeysuckle and marries well with the signature Tullibardine profile, for a more-ish dram.
This 16 Year Old whisky was distilled in 2008 and is limited to just 339 bottles.
Priced at £125 you can buy a bottle here.
Glenmorangie Highland single malt Scotch whisky recently released a decadent 25-year-old whisky - The Altus 25 Years Old. Latin for “high”, the team say that the whisky embodies its creators’ tireless approach to excellence.
Bottled from a marriage of whisky matured in classic bourbon casks and whisky finished in Madeira wine casks, this permanent addition to Glenmorangie’s core range has sweet, fruity flavours, and butterscotch undertones.
Glenmorangie The Altus 25 Years Old completes a trio of flagship expressions in the Distillery’s core range, alongside Glenmorangie Original 12 Years Old and Glenmorangie Infinita 18 Years Old.
Priced at £550, you can buy a bottle here.
The Glenturret, Scotland's oldest working distillery, has recently announced its 2025 Annual Release of whiskies.
This year’s collection includes six core expressions and two extremely scarce expressions - including a limited edition 30 Years Old of only 50 bottles available worldwide.
The Glenturret’s Core 2025 Release includes the 10 years old peat smoked which was awarded IWSC Spirit Gold for 2025 scoring 95 points.
Priced at £62, you can buy a bottle here.
Ardbeg Islay single malt whisky has unveiled an aromatic and creamy 15-year-old limited edition – the finale to its Anthology series of rare and strange single malts.
Named after a mythological, serpent-like beast, Ardbeg Anthology: The Beithir’s Tale is the distillery’s first whisky matured in designer bourbon casks.
Matured for 15 years, the experiment has reached a sweet and aromatic peak. The Beithir’s Tale overflows with buttery notes, balanced by Ardbeg’s hallmark smoky tones and sharp tangs of eucalyptus and pine.
Priced at £125, you can buy a bottle here.
Lochlea – the award-winning farm-to-cask distillery in the heart of Ayrshire – recently released its first permanent core range of single malts, to sit alongside the much-celebrated Our Barley: The Lochlea Single Estate Range.
Following the acclaimed success of its limited edition seasonal releases, the new lineup of whiskies marks a milestone in Lochlea’s journey, offering whisky-lovers a flavour-rich, characterful selection curated entirely on-site from field to cask, available on a permanent basis.
All of the new expressions are distilled from 100% barley grown on Lochlea Farm, then matured and married on-site at the distillery.
This new range reflects not just provenance to its Ayrshire home, but a commitment to transparency, sustainability, and world-class quality that Lochlea has come to be known for since being founded in 2017.
The range includes Orchard & Oak, Dark Briar and Smoke without Fire and all are ideal for autumn but it’s Dark Briar with its rich and fruity notes that we love.
Matured in a combination of Pedro Ximénez, Oloroso sherry butts, and Port casks, tasting notes include red berries, vanilla, stewed plums, spices and caramel.
Priced at £50 per bottle, you can buy Dark Briar here.
Enjoy a dram and some music this autumn, with a new collaboration as The Glendronach have partnered with Emmy nominated composer Rob Lewis to create a piece of music inspired by sipping a dram, which is available on Spotify now.
The Glendronach set out on a mission to explore the inherent link between the senses, taste and sound, in whisky drinking.
The taste profile and mouthfeel of The Glendronach Aged 12 years is referred to by master blender, Dr Rachel Barrie as reaching a ‘sherry crescendo’, and the track created by Rob Lewis sets out to do the same.
It is designed to be enjoyed whilst sipping on a dram of The Glendronach Aged 12 years, to heighten the whisky drinking experience and evoke a sensual reaction that derives directly from the birthplace of the liquid, through to the nose and taste.
The Glendronach 12 Years old is priced at £49 and you can buy a bottle here. The track is on Spotify here.
Celtic rock band Skerryvore are marking their 20th anniversary with the launch of Skerryvore XX, a limited-edition single malt whisky created in partnership with Ardnahoe Distillery on Islay.
Formed in 2005 on the Isle of Tiree, Skerryvore have spent the last two decades touring the world and building a reputation for their unique blend of folk, trad, rock and pop.
This year they kicked off their 20th anniversary year with a performance in front of 7,000 fans at Floors Castle before embarking on a tour across the UK, EU and USA.
The Skerryvore XX whisky - a 5-year-old single malt - will launch at 10am on 9 October. Only 2,000 bottles are available, sold exclusively via Ardnahoe’s online shop and at the distillery itself.
Matured in a mix of ex-bourbon casks and ex-sherry casks, the whisky is golden in colour, with aromas of candied almonds and salted caramel. On the palate, it shows tropical fruit alongside savoury coastal notes, with a gently spiced finish.
Priced at £65, the whisky is available from 9 October 2025 via ardnahoedistillery.com or at the distillery shop.
The team behind the Isle of Raasay distillery recently announced the launch of their first ever Marsala Cask Single Malt whisky, matured exclusively in rare Marsala Vergine casks sourced from the historic Frazzitta winery in Sicily.
Bottled at 50.7% ABV and limited to just 12,300 bottles worldwide, this limited release also introduces a new look packaging, adding distinctiveness and clear identity to the distillery’s growing portfolio.
Master distiller Alasdair Day explained why the casks work so well with Raasay: “Marsala Vergine casks, particularly from a historic producer like Frazzitta, are rare in the whisky industry, and the cask characteristics have brought an exceptional depth of flavour to our Raasay spirit.
"The casks we’ve used to mature our whisky have been seasoned with the bone dry Marsala wine for up to 30 years. This adds beautiful layers of dried fruit, toasted nuts, and an oxidative depth.
"The result is a whisky that is rich and complex, with baked apples and maple syrup on the palate, balanced with dried pear, apricots, and a balsamic sweetness that all lingers into a long smoky finish with echoes of roasted coffee. It’s one of the most distinctive cask maturations we’ve ever released, elegant and assertive all at once.”
Priced at £75, you can buy a bottle here.
One for the big spenders, as The Dalmore has unveiled the third chapter in the brand’s prestigious Cask Curation Series.
Crafted in collaboration with French winemaker Château Mont-Redon, the collection showcases three single malts aged 24, 34 and 43 years.
Each whisky is finished in the same vintage red wine casks, offering a rare opportunity to experience the evolution of flavour over time. Only 150 full sets will be released globally, priced at £36,100 / $47,750.
Housed in a striking lapis-blue leather case, the collection has been handcrafted by renowned Italian luggage makers AB Florence.
