2025 began with a burst of fresh whisky releases. From several editions from Kavalan and Buffalo Trace to the oldest single malt ever produced by Highland Park distillery, 2025 looks to be defined by exceptional whisky releases to challenge the competition.
These are our best choices for upcoming January 2025 new whisky releases.
Highland Park 56-year-old
Edrington-owned Highland Park unveiled its oldest single malt to date: 56-year-old – taking the crown from a 54-year-old expression released in February 2023, so starting the year on a high note.
The unusual whisky originates from the same line of 10 casks as other historic expressions from the distillery. Every whiskie was distilled in 1968 and selected by Gordon Motion, a veteran whisky maker, during his first year in the post in 2008.
The 56-year-old produced 170 bottles from finishing in a first-fill sherry-seasoned barrel. With 47.1% ABV, the single malt shops for £40,000 (US$49,427).
The Glenlivet 40-year-old
In mid-January 2025, The Glenlivet added a 40-year-old single malt to its core menu. Originally just available as a limited edition within the Cellar Collection from the distillery and a single cask edition, the new expression joins the permanent range at 46.9% ABV.
Extra layers from finishing in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez-seasoned sherry casks abound in the whisky. Displayed in a copper-coloured container, the statement retails for US$6,000 (£4,600).
Buffalo Trace Prohibition Collection No.2
Buffalo Trace debuted the second five-bottle Prohibition set in mid-January 2025 following the October 2023 launch of the collection. The collection honors once produced or bottled brands once owned by George T Stagg distillery (renamed Buffalo Trace in 1999). From 1920 until 1933, the distillery was among only six in the United States authorized to bottle medicinal whisky under Prohibition.
Mirror Brook bottled-in–bond mix of Kentucky whiskeys (50% ABV), Very Oldest Procurable VOP barrel-proof Kentucky Straight bourbon, Anderson’s Belle bottled-in–bond bourbon (50% ABV), Old Fashioned Mountain Corn Kentucky straight corn whiskey (55% ABV) and Silver Wedding Rye Whiskey (62.5% ABV). Five whiskeys in 375ml bottles make up the second set.
Starting January 2025, the whisky set will be sold in the US and has an advised retail price of US$ 999.99 (£800). Buffalo Trace also teamed with the Scandinavian Tobacco Group to create a limited edition cigar set of five distinctive blends housed in 750 individually numbered boxes reflecting the whiskey collection packaging.
Buffalo Trace Experimental Collection No.26
Another new release from Buffalo Trace is the distillery’s 26th edition in its Experimental Collection. Called Spirits Distilled from Grain and Hops, the limited release was made by infusing Saaz noble hops, a Czechoslovakian variety commonly found in Bohemian pilsners, and Zythos, an American hop with tropical and subtle herbal notes, into a raw distillate for 30 minutes. The spirit was then redistilled and aged in charred white oak casks for 11 years and seven months before bottling at 45% ABV. Offered in a 375ml bottle, the release is priced at US$46.99 (£38).
The Whisky Exchange Winter Collection
London-based spirits store The Whisky Exchange announced in January 2025 the third chapter of a 12-bottle own-label The Seasons collection. Called Winter, the trio of single-cask, single-malt releases comprises Blair Athol 2007 sixteen-year-old, Laphroaig 2015 eight-year-old, and Orkney 2013 ten-year-old.
Only sold from the retailer, the 10-year-old Orkney retails for £69.95 (US$87) and boasts 57% ABV. The 16-year-old Blair Athol retails for £110 (US$136), while the Laphroaig bottled at 66% ABV retails for £79.95 (US$99).
Isle of Tiree First Release
The first single malt release from the Scottish island of Tiree was released in early January 2025. The island was once home to 50 illicit stills, but it took almost 200 years for the first distillery and official whisky to be released.
Established in 2019 by traditional folk artists Alain Campbell and Ian Smith, the distillery generates just 2,000 litres of pure alcohol annually. There are only 800 bottles for the first single malt release; 400 of them were sold in less than two hours last year in a pre-sale; the first ten bottles auctioned on January 31. The whisky is offered at 47% ABV and retails for £199.99 (US$247) on the distillery’s website.
Stranahan’s Founder’s Reserve
Stranahan’s developed a commemorative Founder’s Reserve to mark the formal category designation of American single malt by the US government’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau (TTB). The verdict was given on Friday, 13 December 2024, and took into force on 19 January 2025.
The 12-year-old single malt was initially matured in fresh charred oak barrels and completed in ex-Bourbon and blonde ale casks. Bottled at 60% ABV, the release is the highest proof the company has released nationally. Founder’s Release is available for a suggested retail price of $199.99 at select stores in Colorado, California, Texas, Florida, and New York, as well as at Stranahan’s brand homes in Denver and Aspen.
Royal Salute Lunar New Year Edition
One of Pernod Ricard’s blended whisky brands, Royal Salute, unveiled a limited edition 21-year-old Signature Blend for the Lunar New Year, Year of the Snake. Chinese illustrator Jason Lyon devised the gift set. Since 2020, Royal Salute has produced a Lunar New Year edition specifically.
Published in January 2025, the edition is sold globally and has an advised retail price of US$200 (£161).
Lochlea 6-year-old
Starting the year with a six-year-old single malt to honor its sixth anniversary, Scottish Lochlea distillery produced its second age-statement edition. Lochlea unveiled a five-year-old to mark the fifth anniversary of the distillery last year.
A five-cask small-batch edition, the six-year-old release is The expression calls for two first-fill ex-Bourbon barrels, one first-fill Oloroso sherry cask, a double-matured Oloroso sherry cask, and a double-matured Pedro Ximénez sherry cask.
Released on 25 January 2025, the 50% ABV whisky bottle has RRP of £89.99 (US$ 114).
The Original Santa Fe Whiskey
Santa Fe Spirits debuted its fresh appearance in January 2025. The distiller changed the Colkegan single malt line The Original Santa Fe Whiskey under part of rebranding. The overhaul tracks Stockwell Reserve’s acquisition of the cooperative of craft distilleries in April 2024. Six whiskies—including Mesquite Smoked American Single Malt, the flagship expression—are produced by the distillery.
Sexton 11-year-old
Offered at 43% ABV, the triple-distilled whisky was aged in Oloroso sherry-seasoned French oak barrels from the Antonio Paez Lobato family bodega in Jerez, Spain. Offered at Dublin and Cork airport duty-free, it retails for €41 (US$42.25/£34). Sexton’s 11-year-old new Irish single malt marks the brand’s arrival into global travel retail (GTR).
Kavalan 2025 Gift Sets
In early January, the yearly gift sets were unveiled by the Taiwanese Kavalan distillery to begin its 20th anniversary year. The 2025 collection comprises three of the distillery’s single malts: Triple Sherry Cask, Solist Vinho Barrique Single Cask Strength, and Concertmaster Vinho Barrique Cask Finish. Taiwan, Mexico, Guam, Germany, and Australia are the latest countries to get their hands on the special sets.
Kavalan Grand Reserve Series
Kavalan developed her first completely fresh emotions just for Lotte Duty Free in 2025. The new Grand Reserve series started with two single malts, No.1 and No.2, both first matured in Vinho STR barrels. Grand Reserve No.1 is further matured in Spanish Amontillado sherry casks and No.2 in Madeira and Portuguese ruby Port casks.
Both whiskies are offered at 40% ABV with a suggested retail price of US$127 (£102). The releases are accessible in South Korean airports through Lotte Duty Free starting January, followed by Singapore, Guam and Australia.
Brave New Spirits Cask Masters
Glasgow-based independent bottler and distiller Brave New Spirits released a new bottling series in January 2025. Called Cask Masters, the collection features eight single malt expressions, aged or finished in different casks.
Craigellachie, 9-year-old, 48.1% ABV Chateau Larose-Trintaudon barrique finish
Inchmurrin 10-year-old from Loch Lomond, 48.1% ABV, first-fill American Bourbon barrel
Benrinnes 13-year-old, 51.9% ABV, first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead
Teaninich, 50.1% ABV, first-fill Oloroso sherry barrique finish 14 years old
First-fill Muscat Blanc barrique finish Croftengea 8-year-old from Loch Lomond, 57.9% ABV.
First-fill Tokaj wine barrique finish 13-year-old Tamnavulin 13-year-old 54.9% ABV
Blair Athol, 13 years old, 57.3% ABV first-fill Oloroso sherry hogshead
Glenlossie 14-year-old, 54.7% ABV, first-fill White Port hogshead
Retribution English Whisky
English Retribution Distilling Co in Somerset revealed its first public single malt release in January 2025. The single barrel expression was matured three years and two months in an ex-Bourbon quarter cask from Jim Beam. With an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 63.3%, this release is priced at £110 (US$136) per bottle and is limited to 151 units.
