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New Whisky Releases May 2025
- Miona Madsen
- 2 minutes ago
- 13 min read
May 2025 was another crazy month for new whisky releases, not only because of festivals in Speyside and Islay. Whisky gods were generous from single bottlings to new core range expressions and limited edition collections. Here are the 32 new whisky releases that caught our attention this month.
For the 2025 Feis Isle bottlings, click here.
Scotch
Dalmore Luminary No.3
The third and final chapter in The Dalmore's Luminary Series, No.3, was revealed in an event in Venice on 7 May. Like the previous two chapters, the third includes two releases: The Rare and a more affordable limited edition. The artistic collaborative series with the Scottish design museum V&A Dundee concludes with The Rare piece, designed by English architect Ben Dobbin of Foster + Partners.
The Luminary No.3 The Rare is a 52-year-old single malt offered at 40.3% ABV, presented in a bronze sculpture by Dobbin. The whisky was initially matured in American white oak ex-Bourbon barrels, and finished in five different casks: 1980 Calvados, 1940 Colheita Port, Tawny Port, 40-year-old Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and Châteauneuf-du-Pape casks. The release is limited to only two sculpture sets, one auctioned by Sotheby’s Hong Kong for HK$500,000 (£47,000/US$63,800), and the other to be held at The Dalmore Distillery.
The more obtainable The Dalmore Luminary No.3 2025 Edition is limited to 20,000 bottles, retailing for £299 (US$399) each. Offered at 49.2% ABV, the 17-year-old whisky was initially aged in American white oak and finished in a combination of seven casks, including 1989 and 1999 vintage Calvados, Matusalem and Apostoles Sherry, and red wine casks from Bordeaux and Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
Images by Dalmore
Glen Scotia 50-year-old Elements of Campbeltown No.1 Air
In May 2025, Glen Scotia Distillery unveiled the first edition in its new luxury elements-inspired series, Elements of Campbeltown. The inaugural single malt, a 50-year-old, is inspired by the air element and features artwork by British contemporary artist Gina Parr.
The whisky was distilled in 1973 and aged exclusively in refill American oak hogsheads. Limited to only 100 bottles, the expression is offered at 42.3% ABV and has a recommended retail price of £35,000 (US$46,500).
Image by Glen Scotia
Bowmore ARC-54 Iridos Edition
After the launch of Bowmore ARC-54 in April 2025, the distillery released a one-of-a-kind bottling of the Aston Martin Valkyrie-inspired decanter for Sotheby's. Called Iridos Edition, the 54-year-old single malt was drawn from three casks: 1967 European oak butt, 1968 Sherry butt, and 1968 American oak hogshead. Unlike its ' less rare ' counterpart, the decanter is topped by an iridescent titanium top. The whisky is bottled at 42.3% ABV, and is expected to sell for £140,000-£220,000 (US$-$).
Images by Sotheby's
Duncan Taylor Bowmore 1982 42-year-old
Independent bottler Duncan Taylor released the third edition in its Rarest Reserve collection, presented in a gold bar box, in mid-May 2025. The single cask single malt from Bowmore was distilled in 1982 and aged in a Pedro Ximénez Sherry cask, number 89633, for 42 years. The whisky is offered at 50.8% ABV and in a 100ml bottle. Limited to 500 bottles, the release retails for £816 (US$1,093).
Image by Duncan Taylor
Glen Grant 1954 70-year-old G&M Mr George Legacy Series
The fifth and final release in Gordon & MacPhail's Mr George Legacy Series comes from the Glen Grant Distillery, just like the previous four. The series concludes with a 70-year-old expression, distilled on 24 April 1954 and aged in a first-fill Sherry puncheon #1823. The single malt was bottled in January 2025 at a cask strength of 50.5% ABV and is limited to 130 bottles worldwide. The release has an SRP of £8,000 (US$10,850).
The series is dedicated to George Urquhart, 'the father of single malt Scotch whisky', a second-generation member of the family that owns G&M, and the creator of the Connoisseurs Choice range by the independent bottler. All whiskies in the collection come from Glen Grant due to Mr George's love for the distillery's whisky.
Previous releases in the series include Glen Grant 1953 67-year-old and 1957 64-year-old bottled in 2021, Glen Grant 1959 63-year-old bottled in 2022, and Glen Grant 1958 65-year-old bottled in 2023.
Image by G&M
Tamdhu 21-year-old
The oldest core expression of Tamdhu was added to the distillery's range in May 2025. The 21-year-old single malt is predominantly aged in European oak Oloroso Sherry casks, with American oak Sherry barrels supporting. The whisky is offered at 47.5% ABV and is limited annually to 12,000 bottles. The 21-year-old single malt retails for £299 (US$403) and will be rolled out across markets worldwide, starting from Europe.
In addition to the core range expression, Tamdhu released a 250-bottle limited release 21-year-old cask strength expression (white label) for the Spirit of Speyside festival in early May. The release reportedly sold out quickly online for €476 (£400/US$543) per bottle.
Images by Tamdhu
Tamdhu 12-year-old Atlantic Salmon
To raise funds for the Atlantic Salmon Trust, Tamdhu partnered with UK retailer Waitrose to release a 12-year-old limited release called Atlantic Salmon. The whisky was aged in Oloroso Sherry casks and bottled at 41.3% ABV, retailing for £50 (US$66), with a portion of the proceeds going to the charity.
Image by Tamdhu
House of Hazelwood One For The Next Collection Chapter One
In an ambitious new chapter for the Gordon family, owners of William Grant & Sons, House of Hazelwood is setting out on a 40-year journey culminating in the release of 'the world's first' 100-year-old grain whisky. The new collection, One For The Next, set sail in early May 2025 with the release of Chapter One, a 1964 Girvan aged for 60 years. The release is limited to only 25 bottles, each selling for £10,000 (US$13,300).
The brand aims to release a new expression every decade until 2065, creating a collection of whiskies aged 60, 70, 80, 90, and 100 years. Building on the 60-year-old blend of whiskies distilled in 1964, the whisky will be stored in custom-made European oak hogsheads for future releases. Customers who purchase the 60-year-old whisky will have the exclusive opportunity to buy future bottles released in the series. Additionally, those who buy all five editions will receive a custom-built display cabinet made from wood sourced from the garden of Hazelwood House.
Image by House of Hazelwood
Tormore Blueprint 10-year-old trio
Elixir Distillers released its first official bottlings from Tormore in May, following the change of the distillery's ownership in 2022 from Pernod Ricard. The three 10-year-old single malt releases have been aged in different casks, teasing the first rebranded release due in 2026.
The Bourbon Barrel expression has been aged in first-fill Bourbon barrels. In contrast, the Cream Sherry Cask has been matured in casks that previously held a blend of drier Sherry, such as Oloroso, and sweeter wine, like Pedro Ximénez. The third and final expression, Toasted Barrel, is aged in virgin American oak barrels specially crafted, toasted, and charred according to the distillery's specifications.
All three single malts are offered at 48% ABV, limited to 1,500 bottles per expression, and available worldwide with a recommended retail price of £59.95 (US$81).
Images by Elixir Distillers
Kilchoman 20th Anniversary Cask Series
In celebration of the distillery's 20th anniversary, Kilchoman released four single malt bottlings made of 20 casks chosen by founder Anthony Wills. Each expression is a small batch release consisting of five casks.
Kilchoman 2010 14-year-old / Ex-Bourbon / 51.2% ABV / 1,120 bottles
Kilchoman 2011 14-year-old 100% Islay / Ex-Sherry / 55% ABV / 3,145 bottles
Kilchoman 2009 15-year-old / Ex-Sherry / 52.7% ABV / 3,153 bottles
Kilchoman 2006 18-year-old / Ex-Bourbon / 46% ABV / 1,209 bottles
The four releases were launched in the UK and Europe in early May 2025, priced between £120-£190 (US$159-$252).
Image by Kilchoman
Torabhaig Sound of Sleat
Sound of Sleat is the fourth edition in Torabhaig Distillery's Legacy Series, which debuted in August 2021. The release was inspired by the distillery’s home on the Sleat Peninsula in the Isle of Skye.
Made with Concerto and Laureate malted barley peated to more than 78ppm, the whisky was matured in ex-Bourbon and new American oak casks, resulting in a ppm of 14.5 on the final product. Torabhaig Sound of Sleat is offered at 46% ABV and limited to 45,000 bottles globally, with 7,000 allocated to the UK market. The release has an RRP of £57 (US$76).
Image by Torabhaig
KinGlassie eight-year-old
Inchdarnie Distillery unveiled its first two Scotch single malt expressions in early May 2025 under a new KinGlassie label. Both expressions are peated to 50ppm, aged eight years and bottled at 46.3% ABV.
The first new release, KinGlassie Double Matured, was aged in ex-Bourbon casks for five years and finished three years in Amontillado Sherry casks. The expression retails for £79 (US$105). The second single malt, Raw, presented in a black bottle, is aged eight years exclusively in American oak ex-Bourbon casks. KinGlassie Raw will be exclusively available for the first month from The Whisky Exchange for £76.95 (US$102), followed by the general launch.
Images by Inchdarnie
Smokehead 15-year-old
Following in the footsteps of the discontinued 18-year-old Extra Black, Smokehead's newest expression, 15-year-old, joins the brand's portfolio as the oldest and only age-statement single malt currently available. Offered at 43% ABV, the 15-year-old is available worldwide for £69.99 (US$94).
Image by Smokehead/ Ian Macleod Distillers
Ardnamurchan The Midgie 2025 Edition
'Celebrating' the mischievous little pest found in the Scottish Highlands, Ardnamurchan The Midgie made its debut in 2024 exclusively in the UK. The flying buzz returns this year on a global stage, available worldwide for the first time. The 2025 single malt is made with peated and unpeated spirits distilled in 2017, 2018 and 2019, and matured in a combination of Bourbon barrels and Port casks. Offered at 48% ABV and limited to 16,500 bottles, the release has a recommended price of £55 (US$74).
Image by Ardnamurchan
Aberfeldy 22-year-old Exceptional Cask Series
In celebration of the Dewar's Aberfeldy Distillery visitor centre's 25th anniversary, Aberfeldy released a 22-year-old single malt as part of its Exceptional Cask Series, finished in Oloroso Sherry casks from Jerez, Spain. Available at the distillery and its online store for £195 (US$260), the single malt is limited to 552 bottles worldwide. It carries an ABV of 53.1%.
Image by Aberfeldy
Laphroaig Elements 3.0
For the third consecutive year, Laphroaig Distillery released a limited edition in its experimental and exploratory Elements series. Elements 3.0 explores the ‘unexpected’ flavour impact of a kiln fire that burned longer and at significantly higher temperatures than usual. Offered at 55.3% ABV, the single malt makes its debut exclusively on the distillery's website for £170 (US$229), followed by a worldwide rollout.
Image by Laphroaig
Lochlea Cask Strength Batch 3
The third edition in Lochlea's annual cask strength series follows Batch 1 in 2023, aged in first-fill Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry, and Batch 2 in 2024, matured in STR wine, PX, and Oloroso Sherry casks.
Batch 3 represents the distillery's first release aged in both ex-Islay peated whisky casks and Oloroso Sherry butts. The non-chill filtered single malt is offered at 59.8% ABV and retails for £67 (US$91).
Image by Lochlea
Glen Moray 12-year-old Smoky
In May 2025, La Martiniquaise-Bardinet-owned Glen Moray Distillery added a 12-year-old peated single malt, Smoky, to its core Heritage line. The single malt is aged in American and European oak casks and bottled at 46.3% ABV. Available now in the UK, Smoky retails at around £49 (US$) for a 700ml bottle.
Image by Glen Moray
Irish Whiskey
Jameson 23-year-old
The oldest Jameson whisky to date was bottled exclusively for The Whisky Exchange. Bottled in 2024 at 55.1% ABV and released by the retailer in May 2025, the sherried 23-year-old Irish whiskey is a blend of pot still and grain whiskeys drawn from four casks. The limited small batch release retails for £325 (US$432).
Image by The Whisky Exchange
Hinch Inaugural Single Malts
Hinch Distillery in County Down, Northern Ireland, released its two inaugural single malts also in May 2025. Although there previously have been single malts released under the brand, the two new releases mark the first distilled at the distillery in Co Down, established in 2022, and aged and bottled by the distillery.
The inaugural Hinch Single Malt has been aged in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks. The second new release is a peated single malt matured in a combination of Ex-Bourbon American oak, Madeira, and Oloroso Sherry casks. Both single malts are offered at 43% ABV and retail for £31.99 (US$43).
Image by Hinch
McConnell's Cognac Cask Finish
Belfast-based Irish whiskey brand McConnell's concluded its five-year-old series in May with a Cognac cask-finished expression. The release is a blend of malt and grain whiskeys, initially aged in first-fill Bourbon casks. Offered at 46% ABV, McConnell’s Cognac Cask Finish has a suggested retail price of £45 (US$60).
Image by McConnell's
Proper No. Twelve 13-year-old Single Malt
Irish whiskey brand Proper No. Twelve ventured into malt whiskey in May 2025 with the release of a 13-year-old single malt limited batch release. The whiskey has been aged in a combination of first-fill American oak Bourbon casks and European oak second-fill ruby Port casks and bottled at 43% ABV. The 13-year-old will make its debut for US$60 (£44) in the US, available at select retailers in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Tennessee, and Texas.
Image by Proper No. Twelve
Bushmills 18-year-old Port Cask Finish
Bushmills announced the debut of its new 18-year-old Port cask-finished single malt in GTR as part of its World Wood TREX (travel retail exclusive series) in May 2025. Initially available exclusively across the Asia Pacific region, the release will be rolled out worldwide in GTR from January 2026.
The 18-year-old whiskey has been aged for a minimum of 17 years in Bourbon and Oloroso Sherry casks, and finished in Colheita Port casks (used for Port for 15-20 years) from the Douro Valley, Portugal – a first for the Irish distillery. The release is offered at 46% ABV and retails for US$140 (£103) for a 700ml bottle.
Image by Bushmills
The Whistler Triple Oak
Irish Boann Distillery added Triple Oak small batch 'triple blend' whiskey to The Whistler's core range. The Irish whiskey comprises 10% single malt aged in PX and Oloroso Sherry casks, 10% Bourbon-aged single malt, 10% single pot still whiskey matured in PX and Oloroso, and 20% Bourbon-aged pot still whiskey. The remaining 50% of the blend is single grain whiskey matured in ex-Bourbon barrels. Offered at 40% ABV, the non-age statement release retails around €26 (£22/US$30).
Image by Boann Distillery
Bourbon & American Whiskey
McLaren Racing x Jack Daniel’s 2025 Edition
For the third consecutive year, Jack Daniel's and McLaren Formula One team have rekindled their bromance for a limited edition release. The 2025 limited release is offered at 86 proof (43% ABV), compared to the usual 40%. The limited edition bottle will be available in the UK from Tesco, Asda, Sainsbury’s, and Morrisons, retailing for around £29 (US$39).
Image by Jack Daniel's
Old Commonwealth 2025 DH Cromwell 15-year-old
Old Commonwealth Distillery, located in Lawrenceburg, Kentucky, was established in 1889 and has been associated with several brands, including Hoffman Distillery, Ezra Brooks, and Commonwealth Distilling. In 2019, the distillery was acquired by Zachary Joseph and Andrew English. Now, the distillers have resurrected an old label, Dirty Helen Cromwell, as a 15-year-old straight Bourbon.
The label was first introduced in 2000 by Louisville liquor retailer Gordon Jackson, who won a full barrel of 15-year-old Bourbon from Julian Van Winkle III and released only 72 bottles. The Bourbon retailed for US$60 (£45) at its release, but remaining bottles can fetch more than US$18,000 (£13,373) today at auctions.
Unlike the original wheated Bourbon, the new release of DH Cromwell is a straight Bourbon with a mashbill of 75% corn, 13% rye, and 12% malted barley. The whiskey was sourced from an undisclosed Kentucky distillery and finished six months in new, charred oak barrels before being bottled at 106 proof (53% ABV). DH Cromwell was drawn from only four barrels and will be available in the US in select states with an SPR of US$299 (£222).
Image by Old Commonwealth
Rebel 100 Childress Vineyards Cabernet Franc Barrel Finish
In May 2025, the official Bourbon of Richard Childress Racing Nascar team, Lux Row-owned brand Rebel Bourbon, partnered with North Carolina-based Childress Vineyards to create a limited edition finished in Cabernet Franc wine barrels. Offered at 100 proof (50% ABV), the release is limited to 500 six-bottle cases (3,000 bottles) and is available at North Carolina ABC stores and Lux Row Distillers with a minimum suggested retail price of US$39.99 (£30) per 750ml bottle.
Image by Rebel Bourbon
World Whisky
Sullivans Cove 24-year-old Apera Finish
Following the release of a single cask 24-year-old single malt in 2022 (the distillery's 30th anniversary), aged in an American ex-Bourbon cask, and #HH0004Â second-fill American oak in 2024, Australian Sullivans Cove Distillery added another jewel to its oldest whisky releases crown in May 2025.
Distilled in 1999, the whisky #HH0005 was initially aged in a 300-litre American oak cask and recasked to a 225-litre ex-Apera cask in 2017. Finished in an Apera fortified wine cask for seven years, the single malt was decanted in October 2024 after 24 years and nine months at 51.1% ABV. The release is limited to 324 bottles with a suggested retail price of AU$2,273 (£1,091/US$1,459).
Image by Sullivans Cove
Chichibu 7even Gods of Fortune Jurojin
Jurojin is the seventh and final release of the Dutch whisky bottler and spirits distributor Salud's Chichibu 7even Gods of Fortune series. The release concludes the series, which made its debut in 2022. Distilled in 2016, the Japanese single was aged in a single first-fill ex-Bourbon barrel and is limited to 157 bottles at 63.3% ABV.
Image by Excellent Rum/ Youtube
Cotswolds Hearts and Crafts Calvados Cask Finish
The sixth limited edition in the English distillery Cotswolds' Heart and Crafts series was finished in French Calvados apple brandy casks. Offered at 55% ABV, the release retails for £100 (US$133). The single malt is limited to 1,500 bottles, available at the distillery and its associated outlets in the UK.
Image by Cotswolds
The London Distillery Company Renascence – The Revival Release
In 2011, The London Distillery Company (TLDC) became the first new whisky distillery founded in the capital since 1903. Unfortunately, the distillery went into administration in 2020 and was acquired by The British Honey Company. Unfortunately, the new owner never brought back the operations in the Battersea-based distillery. In 2023, the distillery was acquired by Gleann Mòr Spirits.
In May 2025, the distillery released its single malt bottling under the new owner. Renascence – The Revival Release is made using Plumage Archer barley, distilled from 2011 to 2020, and aged in a combination of refill barrels and first-fill Sherry casks. Limited to 410 bottles at 58% ABV, the London single malt is available exclusively from Berry Bros & Rudd for £89 (US$120).
Image by Gleann Mòr Spirits
Ki One 'animals' whisky trio
South Korean Ki One Whisky Distillery, part of Three Societies, unveiled three animal-inspired single malt releases in May: Tiger, Unicorn, and Eagle.
The first of the trio, Tiger, is a sweet and fruity expression aged in Sherry and wine casks and bottled at 46% ABV. The Unicorn, on the other hand, is described as smoky and earthy. Unicorn was made with peated malt in South Korea and is offered at 46% ABV. The last expression, Eagle, was matured in Kentucky Bourbon casks and Missouri new oak barrels before being bottled at 43% ABV.
Available on select markets, Ki One Tiger and Unicorn are currently listed on La Maison Du Whisky's Singapore shop for SG$160 (£92/US$124). Eagle has a price of SG$150 (£86/US$116).
Images by Ki One Whisky
Bonus: Glen Moray Maple Syrup Cask Editions
Why not list this below Scotch whisky since Glen Moray is a single malt distillery? It has all to do with casks.
In early May 2025, Glen Moray released two limited edition spirits for the Speyside Festival: an unpeated and peated version, finished in Canadian maple syrup casks. Due to regulations set by The Scotch Whisky Association, only oak casks are permitted for maturing what can be labelled 'whisky'. Furthermore, maple syrup can be seen as a flavour-enhancing component, which is not allowed in Scotch whisky.
The peated version is offered at 59.1% ABV and the unpeated at 50%, both expressions limited to around 200 bottles. The releases were available at the festival for £90 (US$120).
Image by Glen Moray
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