WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN 2015 // NEW YEAR & NEW PREDICTIONS

It’s a new year, and 2015 holds a world of promise for whiskey appreciators across the globe. We’ve pooled our resources, speaking with our own experts and friends at brands both large and small, and have compiled our predictions for the Whiskey World in 2015.

When it comes to American producers, we’ll be seeing a host of new bottlings coming to market from the big houses and small distillers alike. These new expressions run the gamut from the recently announced rye expansions from Jim Beam and Woodford Reserve, to the huge number of American craft distillers who’ve been aging their juice for the last few years. Expect to see experimentation at every step of the process; non-standard mash bills and new grains, blending, barreling, aging, and finishing techniques - it’s all on the table for 2015. Additionally, a focus on value with quality will be key to the market as the younger (20-30) whiskey consumer continues to explore within their means.

In both the Irish and Canadian genres, we’ll see not only new releases to the global market, but an increased amount of noise being created by the producers. Irish has a solid and storied global reputation, and 2015 will be the year that newer labels expand in big ways, hoping to take their place among the long-standing major brands. With that said, don’t expect the Jamesons and Bushmills to rest on their laurels. Canadian whisky will also be making a major play as a genre in response to increased global demand for whiskey of all types. While some might say that Canadian whiskies have been overlooked by the market for a while, this smooth-sipping genre will fight hard for its share of the global market.

Scotland’s whisky producers will also continue to answer the world’s dram demand in 2015 with even more movement than years prior. While single malts will continue to reign supreme for many whisky lovers, to answer both the supply challenges of an aged product and an influx of new appreciators, blends and No-Age-Statement bottlings will grow at a rapid pace. Blends in particular, having taken a back seat to Single Malts in global focus for the last two decades will be pushing for a resurgence in the marketplace as they aim to appeal to the new consumer who may not be versed (or interested) in heavier peat or smoke, but also as an easier or more ‘go-to’ sip for even the single malt connoisseur. 

Looking to the rest of the world, Japan will continue to gain ground in well-earned global reputation thanks to a number of factors, not the least of which is the increased distribution networks of the Beam Suntory merger, as well as a certain yearly publication’s 2014 declarations. For the World whisky genre, Tasmanian and Australian product coming off a banner 2014 and the hopes of better global exposure will make an even bigger splash, while other locales like Taiwan, Spain, France, England, Belgium, Sweden (the list goes on) will expand to surprise the market not just with new bottles, but with continued focus on quality and growing reputations.

Looking for your next great sip, or just interested in learning more about the whiskey world? That’s what Distiller is here for! Get a recommendation, search for that bottle you just heard about, or just read up on a great spirit. Cheers!