It seems the hot topic in the whisky world for some years now has been one of inaugural releases. With the boom in new distilleries over the past decade or so, we have seen dozens of new producers join the ranks at Nickolls & Perks, their launch releases quickly snapped up by avid whisky fans eager to own a piece of each distillery’s history. This is not to detract from the industry veterans, who have continued to impress and even stir similar hysteria with notable anniversaries and commemoratory releases. However, with estimates of somewhere around 100 new whisky distilleries established in the UK alone in the past decade, it’s easy to see why this has become a focus. This excitement for new distilleries was further fuelled by the growth in new enthusiasts discovering whisky, folk who often want to follow distilleries from the start of their journey.

However, if previous years have been a story of new, then 2026 is one of maturity. Questions around inaugural releases have largely been answered, and a new audience has been honed. As we step into a new year, we are reaching for the crystal ball at Nickolls & Perks to give you a few names, both old and new, that should be on your 2026 watch list.

White Peak Distillery

Readers will not be surprised to find White Peak (Wire Works) on our hit list. They have been a familiar face on our shelves ever since their inaugural release in 2021 and were even featured in our 2024 independently bottled whisky outturn, a release that remains the only example of single-cask Madeira-matured White Peak.

Their core range Bourbon Barrel expression has won the Online Scotch Whisky Awards (OSWAS) Best World Whisky category two years in a row now, as well as Best English Single Malt in the inaugural English Whisky Awards. What is particularly significant about these awards is that they are both voted on by the public, rather than a private panel of judges, making them a great reflection of what consumers enjoy.

Despite the economically challenging times we are living in, White Peak are thriving. Considering their oldest stock was distilled as recently as 2018, yet they are already cleaning up on the awards, we are excited to see what’s next for White Peak as the distillery and their stock continue to mature.

GlenAllachie

There are many awards in the whisky industry, but perhaps the most coveted is the prestigious World’s Best Single Malt, awarded by the World Whisky Awards. Since industry legend Billy Walker took over GlenAllachie in 2017, the distillery has won this elusive prize twice! Once for the fourth edition of their 10 Year Old Cask Strength in 2021, and again in 2025 for their core range 12 Year Old expression. Suffice to say, GlenAllachie are going from strength to strength.

A simple grasp of mathematics will reveal that most of what we have seen from the distillery thus far is re-racked stock from the days of Pernod Ricard ownership. It’s a well-known fact that the GleAllachie distillate has indeed changed somewhat since the acquisition, honed by Mr Walker’s 50 years of experience in the industry. This was made abundantly clear with the release of the Meikle Toir range a few years ago, showcasing the brand new peated distillate crafted under the new stewardship, presented with a 5-year age statement. With 2026 edging us ever closer to the 10th anniversary of the takeover, what treats will this year yield?

Tormore

Perhaps the prettiest distillery in Speyside, Tormore was once one of the best-selling Speyside “pure malts”, this being a time before “single malt” came into the vernacular. It later faded as a frontrunner, finding its place in the world as a core component in Pernod Ricard blends.

In 2022, Tormore was purchased by Elixir Distillers, who are drawing the distillery back into the limelight and relaunching the single malt range. 2025 gave us a glimpse of this future, showcasing various pre-releases that showcase the styles of cask the new owners are harnessing, as well as vintage releases that present the various styles of malt whisky produced at the distillery in years gone by; the distillate is crisp and fruity, with some vintages presenting a thick and porridge-y malt due to a historically cloudy wort.

With the 2025 pre-releases selling out within the blink of an eye, fans will be eagerly awaiting what treats 2026 holds in store.

The Glasgow Distillery

Starting a whisky distillery is a notoriously expensive venture. The costs and timescales involved can often result in the malts of newer distilleries asking high prices, much to the dismay of drinkers. In this vein, The Glasgow Distillery have impressed audiences with their particularly accessible pricing. From peated malts, triple-distilled expressions, age statements, and a wide array of cask types, the distillery has shown incredible breadth whilst remaining comparatively affordable in a time when whisky as a whole has become increasingly dear.

Last year, fans were treated to several new age-statement releases, including the distillery’s first 10-year-old expression. This year shows no signs of slowing down for the distillery, and Glasgow should be on the list of any whisky drinker.

If you’re local to our Stourbridge shop, know that we are celebrating the Glasgow Distillery on January 23rd with a special Burns Night tasting event. Just a handful of tickets are available, so purchase yours now to avoid disappointment.

Buffalo Trace

For the American whiskey lover, Buffalo Trace holds a place of near mythology. The distillery produces everything from bar staples such as Buffalo Trace and Sazerac Rye, to some of the most highly sought-after expressions in the world, like the Buffalo Trace Antique Collection and Pappy Van Winkle.

When found at retail, many of these rarer expressions are surprisingly affordable, but the reality is that sensibly-priced retail offerings are somewhat of a unicorn, and secondary market prices are often astronomical.

At Nickolls & Perks, we are proud to work closely with Buffalo Trace’s UK distribution partner, Sazerac UK, bringing these products to market at an accessible price point, as well as collaborating on special projects, such as the single barrel program (pictured above). The team have worked hard to better the UK’s representation of such products, increasing the allocation so that we may all enjoy these delightful expressions without breaking the budget. As such, products such as Weller and Colonel E.H. Taylor will be enjoyed in greater quantities in 2026.

If you’re particularly keen to enjoy the extraordinary rarities from Buffalo Trace, we will be running campaigns in 2026, such as ballots based on sales of core range products, like Eagle Rare. Make sure you sign up to our newsletter and follow Nickolls & Perks on social media to hear first about such opportunities.

A Year of Intrigue

The above is not an exhaustive list, but at the very least lends some inspiration as to what excitement we are due. This year will be one of consolidation, of price streamlining, of greater maturity, and, ultimately, of delightful whisky. Here’s to a new year of fine drams.