Whisky and brewing specialist Lisa Matthews has been appointed assistant blender at Islay's Bruichladdich, also becoming its first woman distiller, marking what the Scotch producer called “the latest chapter” in its commitment to developing the next generation of whisky makers.
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The ready-to-drink category is undoubtedly having a moment. Double-digit growth over the past year has seen it become a vital off-trade asset, for multiple retailers and independent merchants alike. According to analysis of NIQ off-trade data in the WSTA’s Sip 2 report, sales for the format grew 12% in volume and 17% in value during 2025. In total it generated £704m for the off-trade. As CEO of the trade body Miles Beale puts it: “It is welcome news to see a bright spot in the sales data.” By contrast, the overall spirits category lost around £40m in sales in the final three months of 2025 alone.
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Islay distiller Bruichladdich has unveiled its first-ever ready to drink (RTD) SKUs. The four-product line has been created in collaboration with Whitebox, a RTD drinks specialist.
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