Episode 13 of Whisky & Smoke News Network, hosted by Chris Kumnick and released on February 22, 2026, delivers the latest whisky, premium cigar, and pipe tobacco news, new releases, upcoming events, and a remote interview with Drew Newman, co-owner and General Counsel of JC Newman Cigar Company in Tampa, FL—covering his background, the new book Cigar City, core cigar lines, and more. This week’s whisky highlights include Penderyn’s 25th anniversary age-statement launches (starting with 25-Year-Old Barrel No.1), Diageo’s CA$23M Ontario settlement for Crown Royal shelf placement, Compass Box Hedonism 2026 with Karen Gillan muse artwork, Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival details, Kavalan’s UK partnership with Marussia Beverages, Loch Lomond Brewery crowdfunding for Levenbank Distillery, Bruichladdich Rock’ndaal festival, World Whiskies Awards America 2026 winners, Rebel Bourbon Kyle Busch Single Barrel, Glenfiddich visual redesign, Welcome to Whisky show, Hotaling & Co distillery closure, Diageo UK retail team expansion, Rocky Patel Year of the Horse, Micallef White, Romeo y Julieta Reserva Real Nicaragua Profundo, Dunbarton StillWell Star revamp, Casa Carrillo Pledge Purple, German Engineered RVGN Extrem, La Aurora Anthony Muñoz 78, and USDA/DISCUS export funding. Upcoming events include Bourbon Classic, Garrison Brothers BIB launch, Welcome to Whisky, Muletown Pipe Show, Finck’s Cigar Lounge Crawl, Galena Whiskey Weekend, Great Smoke festival, Whisky Riot Dallas/Houston, Beam Institute Conference, Independent Spirits Festival, Whiskyschiff Lucerne, Whisky Live London, DailyCon, Texas Whiskey Festival, PCA Trade Show, Chicago International Pipe Show, Spirit of Speyside, Whisky Live Melbourne, Maltstock Down Under, and Summerton Whisky Festival. Chris shares a head cold update (no dram, stick, or pipe review this week) and reminds viewers to subscribe, like, comment, review, and drink & smoke responsibly.Social Media LinksWhisky & Smoke News NetworkInstagram - / whiskynsmokenn Facebook - / whiskynsmoke Please subscribe, ring the bell, like, and comment below!!

Episode 12 of Whisky & Smoke News Network, hosted by Chris Kumnick and released on February 15, 2026, delivers the latest whisky, premium cigar, and pipe tobacco news, new releases, upcoming events, and an exclusive in-person interview with Jack Breslin, co-founder and CEO of Uncharted Whisky Company from Scotland—covering his background, the brand’s core lines, and more (with a note on audio levels and plans for a future Scotland redo). This week’s whisky highlights include Barrell Craft Spirits selling its Jeffersontown blending facility, WhistlePig’s CEO departure and CFO promotion, the US-India trade deal slashing tariffs to 18%, Mangrove Global’s Nick Gillett on the $22 billion spirits inventory crisis, Kentucky Bourbon’s record $10.6 billion economic impact, Ardbeg Ten Cask Strength for the Committee, The Whisky Exchange Zodiac Series debut, The Macallan Diamonds Are Forever 55th, Karuizawa cask auction, Eau Claire Ploughman’s, GlenWyvis funding, Arbikie pre-orders, Kirin selling Four Roses, Lagavulin Sweet Peat, The Spirits Embassy Imperious Reserve, BTG distress report on Scottish distilleries, Redbreast Moscatel, Aberargie inaugural, The London Distillery Ten Times Around the Sun, Michter’s Celebration, Traveller Full Proof, Archie Rose Batch No.3, SWA 2025 export decline, Highland Park Year of the Horse packaging, AWA-America250 partnership, alcohol social effects research, Steve Forbes on liquor commerce, King of Kentucky Small Batch, and Lost Lantern Far-Flung Rye II. Cigar news covers the Habanos Festival postponement, Alec Bradley Fat Pack, Crowned Heads Juárez Mini-Dozer, Pangea inaugural, PCA-Honduras festival partnership, Trinidad Corcel, Don Carlos Sangre de Toro, Ferio Tego Metropolitan 30 Years, Romeo y Julieta in Switzerland, Plasencia barn fire, EGM Ninfa, Atabey Black Ritos, Freud Elvis, Avowed New Dawn Corona Gorda, AGANORSA Supreme Leaf Toro 109, Gran Habano Corojo #7 Corona Especial, Smoke Inn acquiring Protocol, Paul Stulac Blue Lightning Sky, El Mago Beach Blend, and Klaro Mission Zero. Upcoming events include tastings at The Algiers Club, Garrison Brothers BIB launch, Welcome to Whisky in London, Muletown Pipe Show, Galena Whiskey Weekend, Great Smoke festival, Whisky Riot Dallas/Houston, Beam Institute Conference, Whiskyschiff Lucerne, DailyCon, Maltstock Down Under, and Summerton Whisky Festival. Chris reviews Nikka From The Barrel Extra Marriage (93 points, his first Japanese whisky) and Bariay 1492 Red (medium-bodied favorite), with a reminder to subscribe, like, comment, review, and drink & smoke responsibly.Social Media LinksWhisky & Smoke News NetworkInstagram - / whiskynsmokenn Facebook - / whiskynsmoke Please subscribe, ring the bell, like, and comment below!!

Episode 11 of Whisky & Smoke News Network, hosted by Chris Kumnick and released on February 1, 2026, is your ultimate weekly roundup of the latest news, new releases, upcoming events, and exclusive interviews in the worlds of whisky, premium cigars, pipes, and pipe tobacco. This entertaining and sometimes irreverent show delivers in-depth coverage of major industry developments—including the Kentucky Distillers’ Association naming Gigi DaDan as new board chair, Benriach’s rejected warehouse expansion due to transmission line conflicts, Glencadam’s refreshed packaging and new 17-year-old Calvados cask finish, ongoing Uncle Nearest legal battles, Diageo’s Clynelish visitor centre closure proposal, Powerscourt Distillery’s rescue by Altiva Management, Lark Distilling’s luxury Tasmanian single malt relaunch, a record-breaking $2.5 million Sotheby’s American whiskey auction, the EU-India free trade agreement slashing spirits tariffs, Bardstown Bourbon’s packaging refresh, Radico Khaitan’s new Scotch whisky division, Starward’s return to founder ownership, Johnnie Walker Blue Label’s Year of the Horse collaboration with Robert Wun, The Dalmore’s 17-year-old addition, a proposed Ardrishaig Distillery in Scotland, the Kentucky Bourbon Country Auction for veterans, UK-China Scotch tariff cuts, Kentucky Bourbon Trail expansions, Dewar’s Lunar New Year GTR release, Winchester Bourbon’s SHOT Show debut, and Garrison Brothers’ first Bottled-in-Bond Texas bourbon—plus a deep dive into cigar launches like Pangea Cigars, Davidoff ownership transition, Cigar Insider’s 2025 retailer survey, Illusione Group of Five SE, Bentley Short Corona, Quality Importers’ Year of the Horse accessories, Visol Viper lighter, AGANORSA JFR Lunatic Maduro Hombre Libre, Crux Passport update and Marblehead line, Tradecraft The Vitruvian, Isabela The Mammoth 2026, Punch Egg Roll XL, S.T. Dupont Le Grand Cling lighters, and RoMa Craft CRAFT 2026, alongside pipe tobacco news on Cornell & Diehl Firebird Flake. The episode features an in-person interview with Troy Bolotnick, CEO and co-founder of Filmland Spirits, discussing his background, the brand’s movie-inspired whiskey lines, ingenious marketing, and more, plus Chris’s tasting notes on Shiner Texas Bourbon (young but minty and promising), Don Blas Chocolate San Andreas Maduro Robusto cigar (mint-chocolate delight), and plans for Firebird Flake pipe tobacco. Tune in for upcoming events previews, responsible drinking reminders, and a fun, educational vibe—subscribe, like, comment, and review to support the channel!